Playbooks

PA Dig

Shotgun·Wing Slot Offset·12

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

PA Dig is a play-action pass out of the Shotgun Wing Slot Offset set that uses a run fake to hold linebackers before working a deep dig route across the middle of the field. With 12 personnel on the field, the extra tight end gives you a strong play-action shell while also providing an underneath option if the dig window is late developing. This is primarily a zone beater, since the dig sits down in the soft spot between the linebacker level and the deep safeties, but it can also work against man coverage if the receiver can create separation on the break. The primary read progression starts with the dig route working across the field, then works down to any underneath crosser or check down against pressure.

Defensive Reads

Read the middle linebacker depth at the snap, since a linebacker who steps up on the run fake creates the throwing lane for the dig. Identify single high versus two high safety shells before the snap, as single high defenses with the deep safety biting on run action leave the dig wide open in the intermediate middle. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in a lurk or hook zone, since a smart user will jump the dig route if they read play action quickly. Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone shells with linebackers who bite on the run fake are the easiest coverages to exploit with this concept. Man coverage with a spy or a linebacker staying home against the run, along with disciplined zone drops that do not overreact to the fake, will take away the dig and force you to check down.

Usage Tips

Sell the run fake with your left stick hesitation before releasing into the drop, since the play action window is what opens the dig against aggressive linebackers.

Use this on early downs, especially first and second and medium, when the defense is more likely to respect the run and bite on the fake.

Check pre snap for two high safety shells, since that usually means the underneath defenders are more susceptible to the run fake and the dig can sit in a bigger window.

If you see man coverage indicators like tight press corners and safeties shaded to a single receiver, hot route the dig runner into a speed out or use a different concept from this set since the dig takes too long to develop against man.

Pair this play with Same Side Zone or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series to establish the run tendency, then call PA Dig to punish linebackers who start flowing hard on run fakes.

Other Plays in Wing Slot Offset