Playbooks
PA Dig Deep Out is a play-action shot play out of Singleback Doubles Y Off Flex that uses run fake to hold the linebackers before attacking the intermediate and deep middle with a dig and a deep out working the boundary. The design pairs a deep dig from the slot to sit between zone drops with a deep out breaking to the sideline, giving you a full field stretch off the play-action bootleg-style pocket. Primary read progression starts with the dig over the middle against zone drops, then works to the deep out on the boundary if a corner overplays the underneath, and finally checks down late if the pocket collapses.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, two high safeties usually mean Cover 2 or Cover 4 which favors the deep out sitting outside the cornerback's zone drop. Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if they are sitting shallow expecting run they will bite on the fake and open the dig lane. Man coverage with press corners is where this play struggles most since there is no built in quick man beater, be ready to check down immediately if you see man alignment pre-snap. Look for a user lurking underneath in the middle of the field, a smart user defender can undercut the dig route so double check the deep out as your counter if that lane is jumped. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge can collapse the pocket before the play-action fake finishes, know your protection and be ready to throw the dig on time if the interior holds up.
Sell the run fake by letting the animation play out fully before your first read, this manipulates linebackers and opens the dig window against zone coverage. Use pre-snap motion or a shift to identify man versus zone, if the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell the dig will settle into the seam for an easy completion. Hot route the underneath checkdown to a flat route if you are facing a heavy blitz look, this gives you a safety valve when the play-action fake gets picked up quickly by aggressive defenders. Best used on early downs or second and medium when defenses are more willing to bite on run fakes, avoid calling this on clear passing downs where defenders sit back and read your eyes. Pair this with Wide Zone or HB Pump Draw earlier in a series to sell the run threat, then hit them with PA Dig Deep Out once linebackers start creeping up on run fits.