Playbooks

Smash Digs

Shotgun·Spread·10

Smash Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Dig Corner Flat In

Play diagram for Smash Digs from Shotgun Spread in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread

Personnel

101 RB · 0 TE · 4 WR

In 6 playbooks

Fix OffenseOffense Balanced Run OffenseOffense Run N Gun OffenseOffense Superstar QB Gunslinger Superstar WR Deep Threat Superstar WR RAC

Breakdown

Smash Digs is a two level Cover 2 beater out of Shotgun Spread, 10 personnel with no backfield help on the route concept. The backside runs a classic Smash combo with the corner sitting on the low hitch and the outside receiver stemming into a deep corner route, while the front side stacks two dig routes at different depths that break inward toward the middle of the field, with the inside slot running a shorter drag underneath to occupy linebackers. The primary read starts with the Smash side to attack a hard cloud corner or squatting flat defender, then progresses to the deep dig if the safety bites on the corner route, sitting in the void behind the linebackers and in front of the deep safety.

Defensive Reads

Watch the corner over the Smash concept before the snap, a corner playing seven yards off with outside leverage signals Cover 2 or Cover 4 and tells you the flat route or dig will be open. Post snap, track the flat defender on the Smash side, if he widens with the corner route the hitch is open underneath, if he sits the corner route wins over the top. Key the deep safety rotation, a single high safety rotating late means Cover 1 or Cover 3 is in play and the dig route becomes the primary answer against man or zone drops. Beware disguised Tampa 2 or Cover 4 shells where a linebacker sits in the dig throwing lane, since a user controlled lurk defender can jump the inside dig if you stare it down. This concept struggles versus press man Cover 0 or aggressive nano blitzes, since the digs need time to develop and the quarterback has no built in hot route protection against overload pressure off the edge.

Usage Tips

Presnap, identify if the corner to the Smash side is aligned tight or soft, since a soft corner opens up the deep dig read immediately instead of forcing you through the flat first.

Against Cover 2 shells, key the flat defender on the Smash concept, if he sinks under the corner route throw the hitch, if he sits flat throw the corner over top.

Use the deep dig as your money throw versus single high safety looks (Cover 1 or Cover 3), since the route sits down right past the linebacker level and in front of the free safety.

Hot route the shallow drag into a spot or hook route if you are facing zone heavy defenses that clog the middle, giving your quarterback a checkdown against Tampa 2 lurk defenders.

Pair this play with Curl Flats or Y Stick in your play calling script, since both attack similar zone landmarks and force the defense to declare coverage shell before you commit to the dig read.