Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Read Dig out of Shotgun Trey Open lines up with three receivers to the trips side and a single receiver plus the back to the boundary. The trips side runs a vertical clearout on the outside, a deep dig sitting down in the middle of the field, and a shallow drag underneath, while the backside single receiver runs a deep comeback and the back releases on a check release flat route. This is a route combo built to attack zone coverage by using the vertical to clear out the deep third and the dig to settle into the void behind underneath defenders, with the shallow drag serving as a man beater outlet against blitz or press. Primary read progression starts with the dig, works to the shallow drag if the middle is clogged, and comes back to the backside comeback or check release as the final outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and spacing. A two high shell that rotates late can signal a robber sitting in the dig window. Watch the middle linebacker's initial drop. If he sinks hard to the dig window immediately, that defender is likely playing a Tampa 2 or Cover 4 match rule and will jump the throw. User controlled defenders sitting at the second level are the biggest threat to this concept since they can lurk the dig route and undercut the throw if the QB delays. This play struggles against Cover 2 or Cover 4 with disciplined linebacker drops because the dig has to fit into a tight window between the underneath zone and the deep half safety. Man coverage with an aggressive blitz behind it can beat this if the shallow drag and back's route are picked up quickly, forcing a hurried throw into the dig or comeback.
Usage Tips
Use this on second or third and medium to long distance when you expect a zone shell since the dig needs the defense to be sitting off the ball.
Read the middle of the field pre-snap. If you see a single high safety, expect the underneath zones to be tighter and prioritize the dig hitting the seam before the backer can wall it off.
Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells, trust the vertical clearout to pull the deep defender and throw the dig with anticipation as soon as the receiver crosses the opposite hash.
If the defense shows man coverage or press at the line, hot route the shallow drag into a quicker option or check to the back's flat route as your first read instead.
Pair this with Curls or Quick Slants from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and the deeper dig concept, then mix in HB Draw or RPO Alert Draw Draw to punish linebackers who sit too deep on the dig look.
