Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Post Y Dig out of Shotgun Trey Y-Flex sends the Y (in-line TE) on a deep post from the middle slot while the outside receiver from that same side runs a deep dig that settles across the field, creating a natural high-low stretch on any single-high safety. On the boundary side, the X receiver runs an out route breaking to the sideline off a quick out cut, giving you a built-in zone beater against Cover 3 rotation, and the HB releases out to the flat for a checkdown or screen release against blitz. This is a man beater against Cover 1 and Cover 3 look because the post clears the middle safety while the dig sits down in the vacated zone behind the linebackers, and the primary read progression starts with the post shot deep, then works down to the dig sitting in the void, then checks to the HB flat route as the outlet.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a single-high safety cheating toward the post route, since that opens up the dig sitting behind the linebackers in the vacated middle zone. Cover 3 defenses with a hard flat-footed corner on the dig side struggle to close the throwing window before the ball arrives, so attack that soft spot with anticipation. If the defense shows Cover 2 with two deep safeties, the post route gets squeezed between the safeties, so be ready to check down to the dig or the HB flat route instead of forcing the deep shot. User-controlled lurk defenders sitting in the middle of the field can jump the dig route, so scan for a defender sitting flat-footed in the throwing lane before committing to that read. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the post, but a disguised zone blitz with a linebacker dropping into the dig's landing spot can bait an interception if you rush the throw.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the safety is rotating to single-high or staying two-high, because a single-high shell tells you the post has a one-on-one shot down the seam.
If the corner is playing off coverage on the dig side, take the free access underneath and let the dig sit down in the soft spot for a quick, high-percentage gain.
Use this play on second and medium to second and long, since the deep post and dig routes need time to develop and a clean pocket to hit their windows.
Hot route the HB from a flat release into a stick or angle route if you see man coverage matched up on him, giving you another quick option against blitz-heavy calls.
Pair this with Empty Y Cross or Dagger from the same set to keep the defense guessing between deep shots and quick-game answers, since both stress the middle of the field differently.
Against aggressive user blitzers, get the ball out on the dig quickly before the interior pressure has time to collapse the pocket.
