Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flanker Dig lines up out of Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex Wk with 11 personnel and attacks the middle of the field with a dig route as the featured concept. The backside receiver runs a deep dig that breaks across the field over the middle, while the frontside stacks a corner route from the outside receiver behind a flat route out of the backfield, and the inside slot runs a quick out to the sideline with the other inline receiver clearing vertically up the seam. There is no visible pass protection breakdown or blocker assignment shown beyond the five offensive linemen holding in, confirming this as a dropback passing concept rather than a run or screen. The primary read starts with the dig route working across the middle against zone, then progresses to the corner route if the defense rotates a safety over the top, and checks down to the flat or out route against aggressive man pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify the safety alignment: two high safeties signal Cover 2 or Cover 4 and the dig will need to sit underneath, while one high safety signals Cover 1 or Cover 3 and opens up the corner route behind it. Watch linebacker depth at the snap since sitting linebackers can jump the dig route if they read the quarterback's eyes early, so look off the middle before delivering the throw. Man coverage on the corner route receiver with no safety help over the top is the biggest defensive fit against this play and shuts down the deep shot, forcing the check to the dig or flat. Zone defenses that spin a safety down late or run Cover 6 quarters concepts can rob the dig route by dropping a linebacker into the throwing lane, so watch for a hook defender sitting in the middle third. If the defense brings a blitz off the edge or a nano blitz look, the dig route becomes the emergency answer since it clears out quickly and gives a rhythm throw before pressure arrives.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second or third and medium when you need a chain-moving in-breaking route that can also hit a big play over the top. Check the middle of the field pre-snap: if you see a single high safety or MOFC shell, the dig sits down right in the void behind linebackers and in front of the safety. If the corner playing over your dig receiver is showing hard outside leverage, hot route the flat route to a slant to give yourself a quicker man beater against press. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells, key the dig to break into the open window between the underneath zone defenders and the deep third defenders. Pair this play in sequence with Mtn Drive or Slants Middle to keep the defense honest on short and intermediate zone drops, then come back to Flanker Dig once linebackers start sitting on shallow crossers. If you are getting user pressure off the edge, consider motioning or adjusting protection before snapping since there is no screen or check-down safety valve built into the base concept.
