Playbooks
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Dig Slot Out is a five-man route concept out of Shotgun Split Y Off Close with 11 personnel. The backside receiver runs a corner route while the slot runs a deep dig that settles across the middle, the play side receiver breaks on an out route flat to the sideline, and the backfield releases a wheel route up the seam with a shallow drag underneath crossing the formation. This is a man beater built around the dig sitting down in the window created by the corner route clearing the deep third, with the primary read starting on the slot dig before working down to the out and wheel combo against man leverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high safety alignment since that shell allows the dig to work into the void vacated by the safety cheating toward the corner route. Watch for cornerback press alignment on the backside receiver, which signals man coverage and makes the wheel route out of the backfield the most exploitable route against a linebacker in coverage. Post-snap, track linebacker depth on drop since shallow zone drops from linebackers will collision the drag route and force the quarterback to hold the ball, so a delayed blitz off the edge can capitalize on that hesitation. Cover 3 with a sky safety rotating over the top of the out route can take away the sideline throw, forcing the quarterback back to the dig or wheel. A user controlled lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle zone directly threatens the dig route, so if the user shows a lurk drop, work the wheel or out route instead of forcing the dig into contested space.
Usage Tips
Check the middle of the field pre-snap because a single high safety tells you the dig has room to sit down between the linebackers and the deep corner route occupying the safety.
Against man coverage, key the wheel route out of the backfield since a linebacker in man will get stacked and beaten vertically on the release.
Use the out route as a quick hot read versus blitz looks since it develops fast to the flat and beats off man leverage or a soft corner.
Pair this play with Portland HB Angle or Mtn PA HB Swing earlier in a series so the defense respects the checkdown and bites on flat routes, opening up the dig behind linebackers who jump underneath routes.
Best called on second or third and medium since the dig needs a couple seconds to develop and the sideline out gives a built in checkdown against a blitz.
