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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Flanker Dig is a man beating dropback concept out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex Wk with 11 personnel that attacks the middle of the field with a deep dig route breaking across the hash. The flanker runs the dig as the primary read while underneath crossers and an outlet route occupy linebackers and hold the safety, giving the quarterback a clear throwing lane once the dig sits down in the zone or breaks away from man coverage. Protection is a standard 5 man slide, so the primary progression starts with the dig, works to the underlying crosser if a linebacker walls off the middle, and checks down to the flat or backfield option versus a hot blitz.
Defensive Reads
Read the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow in a hook zone he can undercut the dig route and force a checkdown Identify single high safety alignment, this usually signals Cover 1 or Cover 3 and opens up the dig against man coverage or in the seam of a three deep shell Watch for a user controlled safety flying down to rob the deep in route, if the user shows late movement toward the middle of the field, work the checkdown or the underneath crosser instead Cover 2 shells with two deep safeties can squeeze the window for the dig, so key the flat defender and throw with velocity to fit the ball before the corner or safety closes Blitz packages with a linebacker spy or double A gap pressure remove the deep drop, forcing a quick decision to the checkdown route before the pocket collapses
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, since the flanker's release will get jammed or pressed if the defense is playing man across from the slot corner
This play thrives on second and medium to second and long, where defenses often sit in zone shells expecting a rhythm passer, so time your throw to the dig as it crosses the opposite hash
If the defense shows single high safety with press corners, expect man coverage and prepare to user the flanker off the line to beat the jam before he threatens the dig window
Pair Flanker Dig with Quick Slants or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a series to bait linebackers into sitting shallow, then hit the dig over the top once they cheat up on run and screen action
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone drops, throw the dig with anticipation right as it clears the hook zone defender, before the deep zone defender can drive on the throw
