Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Mesh Dig runs a classic mesh crossing concept underneath with a dig sitting behind it, plus a deep clear-out and a comeback/out from the backside receiver to stretch the field horizontally and vertically. The two inside receivers cross paths tight to the line of scrimmage to create natural traffic against man defenders while the third receiver runs a dig behind the mesh to settle into any void created by the crossing action, and the far outside receiver runs a deep vertical to hold the safety and clear space underneath. This is a man beater first and foremost, with the mesh forcing picks and rubs, though the dig sitting down behind it gives you a zone beater window too. The primary read progression starts with the mesh crossers underneath, then works to the dig sitting behind the traffic, and finally to the deep clear-out route if the defense sells out on the shallow stuff.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers sitting in shallow zones or robbing underneath crossers, since that indicates zone coverage and you should immediately look to the dig sitting behind the mesh traffic. Man coverage with tight bump alignment on the inside receivers is the green light for the mesh to produce a natural pick, so expect a wide open crosser if defenders trail through traffic. If a user-controlled defender sits in a lurk spot over the middle of the field, avoid the dig route and take the shallow mesh crosser away from that defender instead. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with a deep safety sitting over the top will bait you into throwing the dig into a passing lane, so read the depth of the underneath zone defenders before pulling the trigger. Blitz-heavy fronts with no deep help are the ideal situation for the deep clear-out route to hit for an explosive play if the defense fails to disguise the pressure and leaves a corner isolated deep.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and medium to third and medium situations where the mesh concept can pick up a chain-moving completion underneath.
Before the snap, check for man coverage indicators like tight press alignment or a single high safety, since the mesh action creates natural rubs that man defenders struggle to fight through.
If you see two deep safeties presnap, look to the dig route as your primary target since it will settle into the zone window vacated by underneath defenders.
Hot route the deep clear-out into a shorter route like a curl if you are getting man coverage with no safety help over the top, giving yourself a quicker outlet.
Pair this play with Mesh or Y Shallow Cross earlier in a series to condition the defense to jump the shallow crossers, then come back to Mtn Mesh Dig to hit the dig route behind them once linebackers start cheating up.
