Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
X Dig out of Shotgun Tight Slots HB Wk sends the X receiver on a deep dig across the middle while the outside slot yellow receiver runs a corner route and the inner slot yellow receiver works a wheel from the flat, creating a natural high low stretch on that side. The TE runs a square in from the line while the HB releases on a wheel route out of the backfield to the opposite side, giving you a five man route concept with no dedicated max protect look shown in the diagram. This is a man beater first because the dig sits down against man leverage and the wheel underneath punishes linebackers who try to carry it, but it also holds up against zone thanks to the corner route stretching the deep quarter. Primary read progression starts with the dig coming across the middle, then works to the corner route if a safety jumps the dig, with the backside wheel as a checkdown against blitz.
Defensive Reads
Check the middle linebacker depth at the snap, a shallow drop signals zone coverage and the dig may sit in a soft spot, while an aggressive blitz call means you need the backside wheel as a quick outlet. Watch the safety rotation post snap, if the deep safety cheats toward the corner route the dig window opens up, if he sits centered the corner route becomes the better target. Identify user controlled defenders lurking in the shallow middle zone since a smart user can jump the dig route and bait a pick six if the quarterback stares it down too long. This play struggles against a hard cover 2 shell with linebackers sinking deep into the underneath passing lanes, since it clogs both the dig and the wheel routes simultaneously. Man coverage with inside leverage on the X receiver and a spy underneath will force you to rely on the corner route or check down to the HB wheel instead of forcing the primary dig read.
Usage Tips
Take a pre-snap look at the safety alignment, if you see two high safeties sitting deep the dig has room to sit down in the window between the linebackers and the safeties. Against single high shells, prioritize the corner route since the deep half defender has to choose between the dig and the corner, opening one of them up. Use this play on second and medium to second and long where you have room to let the dig develop, since the route takes a few extra beats to break open compared to quick game concepts. If you see man coverage indicators presnap such as tight alignment on the outside receiver, key on the dig immediately off the snap since it wins hard against trail technique. Pair this with a quick game play like Stick Switch or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a series to set up defenders expecting a quick throw, then hit them with the dig once they start jumping routes.
