Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Pivot Dig out of Shotgun Split Flanker Close is a pure dropback pass concept designed to attack man and zone coverage with a horizontal stretch on one side and a vertical shot on the other. The backside receiver runs a pivot out that breaks back inside on a dig, the middle slot works an under route crossing the field, and the frontside receiver stems into a deep corner while the running back and remaining receiver check into the flat and a shallow drag underneath. Primary progression starts with the pivot to dig as the first read against man coverage leverage, then works to the deep corner if the safety bites down, and checks down to the flat or drag against a soft zone drop.
Defensive Reads
Look for the corner aligned outside the pivot receiver pre-snap, that leverage tells you the offense wants to work the dig break underneath him. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, a shallow drop signals zone and opens throwing lanes for the crossing under route. Watch the safety over the deep corner route, if he stays flat footed in the middle of the field the quarterback will likely climb the progression to that shot play. User lurk defenders sitting in the throwing window of the dig route can jump this concept, spy the middle of the field with a linebacker or safety in man coverage situations to bait this exact route. Disguised Cover 2 with a jam on the flat runner takes away the checkdown and forces the quarterback to hold the ball, setting up a delayed blitz timing to affect the throw.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second or third and medium when you need a stick concept that can hit multiple levels of the field.
Pre-snap, identify if the corner over your pivot receiver is playing outside leverage, that alignment tells you the pivot to dig will have room to break open.
If you see two deep safeties, look to the corner route on the backside since one safety will be forced to widen and vacate the middle of the field.
Hot route the flat runner to a flat and go route if you diagnose Cover 3 to give yourself an extra vertical stress on the boundary corner.
Pair this play with Read Option or Inside Zone Lt earlier in a series to get linebackers cheating up on run fits before coming back to this dig concept over the middle.
