Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Fork Z-Dig lines up in Shotgun Tight Y Off Wk with 11 personnel and features a route concept built to attack the middle of the field on a horizontal stretch. The outside receiver to the boundary runs a deep fork route splitting into a corner and post look off the same stem, while the slot receiver runs a deep in breaking dig route across the field underneath that fork. The tight end releases into a flat route to the sideline as an underneath outlet, and the running back checks protection before leaking out on a swing route to the flat, giving the quarterback a full-field read from deep to short. This is a man beater and zone beater combo play where the primary read progresses from the Z dig crossing the middle to the fork route on top before working down to the flat and check down options.
Defensive Reads
Key the middle linebacker and safety rotation at the snap since Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with a deep middle safety are vulnerable to the dig sitting between the hook and deep zones. Watch for a user controlled linebacker sinking into the dig lane because that is the number one lurk threat that can jump the throw if the quarterback locks on too early. Against Cover 2 the fork route on top can overload the deep half defender, so track whether the corner or safety carries the corner breaking portion of the fork. Man coverage with no safety help over the slot is the biggest green light for this play since the dig will win against most man matchups given the natural rub near the line. Blitz heavy fronts with off man corners give the quarterback the flat and swing route as a quick answer, so recognize pressure early and be ready to check down instead of forcing the deeper read.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safety shells since the dig route sits down in the void created by a single high safety rotating late. Against man coverage look immediately for the dig crossing the field because the natural pick from traffic near the formation creates separation off the break. Hot route the running back into a quicker flat release if you see a slot blitz coming off the edge to buy the quarterback an outlet against pressure. This play pairs well with Smash Dagger and Z Dagger in your call sheet since all three attack similar zones with different timing, keeping linebackers guessing on drop depth. Use this on second and medium to second and long situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells and open the window for the dig route to sit down.
