Playbooks

Verticals Dig

Shotgun·Y Off Trips·11
DigFour VertsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Verticals Dig from Shotgun Y Off Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Colts OffenseOffenseNFL Live Colts OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Verticals Dig is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Y Off Trips that combines vertical stretch with an intermediate crosser. The backside X releases straight up the numbers on a go route while the lone receiver to the trips side also runs a vertical seam, and the slot receiver runs a deep dig that sits down across the middle of the field. The remaining trips receiver checks down on a shallow drag underneath, and the backfield player releases on an angle route to the flat as a checkdown against pressure. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater that stresses the deep middle and the seams, with the primary read progressing from the two verticals to the dig sitting down in the void behind linebackers.

Defensive Reads

Read safety depth and width at the snap since Cover 2 safeties who widen to the vertical routes open a throwing lane for the dig route immediately. Watch linebacker drops on the snap because a shallow or lazy drop from the middle linebacker leaves the dig wide open right behind him. Identify Cover 3 by a single high safety staying in the deep middle, which tells the quarterback to work the dig into the void between the underneath zone and deep third. Look for user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the passing lane of the dig route, since a smart user will jump this route if the quarterback stares it down. Man coverage with press corners and no safety help over the top can shut this down quickly, since both verticals get contested and the dig has to fight through traffic across the field.

Usage Tips

Take a pre-snap look at safety depth before the snap because two deep safeties or a single high safety both tell you where the dig route will find grass against zone coverage.

Work your first read to the vertical seam against Cover 2 since the safety has to widen for the outside go route, opening the seam behind the corner and in front of the safety.

Against Cover 3 or single high shells, work the dig route across the field since it settles right behind the linebackers and in front of the deep third defender.

Use the shallow drag and angle route as checkdowns versus man coverage or when you feel pressure off the edge, since both routes clear out underneath quickly.

Pair this play with Four Verticals or Deep Stick from the same set to keep the defense guessing between four vertical shots and the dig sitting down, forcing linebackers to widen their drops.

Other Plays in Y Off Trips