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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Fl Short Dig is a trips-based dig concept out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk that isolates the backside flanker on a dig route while the trips side clears space with vertical and underneath routes. This is a man beater and zone beater hybrid, since the dig route sits down in soft spots against zone and creates natural separation off the break against trailing man defenders. The primary read progression starts with the backside dig, then works to the trips side underneath routes if the middle of the field is closed off by a robber or hook defender.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, since a shallow drop signals zone coverage that will try to squeeze the dig window. Key the safety rotation post-snap, since a robber sitting in the intermediate middle can jump the dig route and turn it into a pick six if you stare it down. Against man coverage, look for a slower linebacker matched on the dig runner, since the route breaks flat across the field and creates instant separation. This play struggles against cover 3 sink zones where the flat corner and hook defender pattern match the dig, so be ready to check down to the trips side. Blitz packages with a spy up the middle can undercut the dig, so have a hot route ready for the running back to leak out and beat the pressure.
Usage Tips
Attack this play on second or third and medium when you need a chain-moving completion over the middle. Presnap, identify whether the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since a single high shell tells you the dig should have a clean throwing lane behind the linebackers. If you see press man on the flanker, throw a quick out hot route to counter the jam and beat the corner before the dig develops. Use Fl Short Dig early in a series to set up Fl Dig or Curls X Go later, since defenses that overplay the dig will open up deeper shots down the field. Motion the flanker before the snap to check for man coverage, since if a defender follows the motion you know to expect man principles and can trust the dig to win on the break.
