Playbooks

Digs H Option

Shotgun·Spread Y-Slot·11
Option RoutePass PlayDig
Play diagram for Digs H Option from Shotgun Spread Y-Slot in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Digs H Option is a two-man dig concept out of Shotgun Spread Y-Slot with both outside receivers running dig routes that break in from opposite sides at the same depth, crossing near the middle of the field. The X on the left has a red option route breaking vertically underneath, while the H on the right runs a similar option route breaking up and away from the flat, giving the quarterback a shallow underneath answer versus zone drops. This is primarily a zone beater that stresses the linebackers and the middle of the field with two in-breaking digs sitting on top of the option routes underneath, and the primary read progression starts with the dig away from initial safety rotation before working down to the H option route in the flat or seam if the digs are covered.

Defensive Reads

Watch for two deep safeties pre-snap, since split safety shells leave the seams and intermediate middle open for the crossing digs to settle into. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he drops hard to the strong side dig, immediately look weak side to the other dig or the H option route. Beware of a user-controlled linebacker sitting in the throwing lane of the crossing digs, as this is the single biggest threat to this concept and can bait an interception if the quarterback locks onto the first read too early. Cover three zone with a rolled down safety can clog the intermediate middle and force the quarterback to check down early to the H option route in the flat. Man coverage with no help over the top is where this play struggles most since there is no true vertical stretch, so expect defenders playing tight man to sit on the option breaks and undercut the routes.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high shell, since this concept thrives against split safety looks that leave the middle linebacker isolated on the crossing digs.

Use the dig away from the strong safety rotation as your first read, then progress to the H option route if linebackers sink deep enough to take away the in-cut.

Hot route the running back into a check release or flat route on third and long to give yourself an extra outlet if both digs are blanketed by underneath zone defenders.

Pair this play call with Cross Dig or Y Shallow Cross earlier in a series so the defense starts keying on shallow crosses, then hit them with the deeper digs off Digs H Option once linebackers start jumping underneath routes.

Best used on second and medium to third and medium distances where the sit-down digs at intermediate depth consistently move the chains against zone coverage shells.

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