Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Hi Lo Dig runs a two level crossing concept on the right side paired with an outlet route to the left. The TE runs a dig that sits down over the middle while the outside receiver on that side runs a deep in breaking route over the top, creating the hi lo read against zone or man leverage. On the backside the receiver stacks into a corner route while the other backside receiver runs an out and up, giving the quarterback a quick outlet if the dig window is not there. The primary read progression starts with the deep dig on top, works down to the underneath dig, and comes back to the backside out and up as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap: shallow drops signal he is keying the underneath dig, so look to attack the vacated area behind him with the deep in breaking route. Two high safeties who stay static after the snap usually indicate a zone shell, which this play is designed to punish with the hi lo dig stretch. A single high safety who breaks hard downhill on the snap is a strong indicator of man coverage, which opens up the deep dig against trailing defenders. If the defense shows a corner blitz off the edge, expect pressure to arrive quickly, so key the backside out and up route for a fast answer before the pocket collapses. Lurking linebackers who sit in the passing lane between the two dig routes can bait the quarterback into a turnover, so confirm the linebacker has fully committed before pulling the trigger on the underneath route.
Usage Tips
Use this play on second and long or third and medium when you need a horizontal stretch on a linebacker or safety sitting in the middle of the field.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: a single high shell tells you the deep dig has room to sit behind the linebackers, while two high shells mean you should focus on the underneath dig sooner.
If you see man coverage across the board, prioritize the deep dig since it naturally works away from trail technique and creates separation off the break.
Hot route the backside out and up receiver into a quick hitch against aggressive corner blitzes to give yourself a faster answer than working through the full progression.
Pair this play with Curls Combo or Stick from the same set so you can alternate between horizontal stretches and quick game answers without changing personnel or tipping your play call.
