Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flanker Dig comes out of Shotgun Spread 10 personnel with four receivers running a route combo built to attack the middle of the field. The two outside receivers to the left cross paths with a corner route and a wheel/post combo stacking vertically, while the slot receiver on the right runs a deep dig that sits down across the field behind the underneath zones. The single receiver furthest right runs a go route up the sideline to clear out the cornerback and hold the deep defender, and the red route shows the running back releasing on a check release out to the flat as an outlet. This is primarily a zone beater, with the dig sitting in the soft spot between linebacker and safety zones, and the primary read progression starts with the dig, works to the go route on a vertical shot, and checks down to the running back in the flat if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and spacing since two deep safeties with soft zone drops from the linebackers will open the window for the dig route to sit down cleanly. Watch the middle linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the deep middle hole, since a fast triggering user lurker can jump the dig route and bait a turnover. If the defense shows Cover 3 with a single high safety, the underneath flat defender and the deep third defender on the right sideline determine whether the go route or the dig has room to work. Man coverage with underneath help, like Cover 1 or Cover 0, is dangerous for this concept because the crossing routes on the left can get picked off by trailing defenders and the dig has less natural separation. Post-snap, key the strong safety or slot cornerback rotation, since late rotation toward the dig route signals a disguised zone blitz or robber concept designed to take away the primary read.
Usage Tips
Use this on second and medium to second and long when defenses are more likely to sit in zone coverage rather than crash the box.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties, since the dig route thrives against Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells where the underneath zone defenders have to widen for the crossing routes on the left.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the slot, hot route the running back into a quicker flat release or check to the dig immediately since the crossing routes on the left will occupy man defenders and clear space.
Pair this play with Curl Flats or Y Stick earlier in a series to condition linebackers to sit shallow, then hit Flanker Dig to attack the void they leave underneath.
Watch for user-controlled linebackers sinking into passing lanes and use pump fakes or subtle ball placement to freeze them before delivering the dig throw on time.
