Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Flanker Dig lines up out of Singleback Doubles 11 personnel with the WR to the closed side running a deep dig that crosses the middle of the field, while the inner slot runs a shallow drag underneath to clear space. On the backside, the outside receiver runs a deep post/crosser and the TE releases into a corner route while the RB checks into a flat route off play action protection. This is a man beater built to attack the middle of the field, with the primary read progressing from the deep dig coming across, down to the shallow drag as the safety valve if the window is not there.
Defensive Reads
Check the free safety depth pre-snap since a deep single high shell tells you the dig window in the middle of the field will be tighter and contested. Watch the underneath linebackers post-snap since a hard shallow drop by the Mike or Will linebacker signals zone coverage sinking to take away the dig throw. Identify man coverage by seeing the cornerback mirror the outside receiver step for step on the post/corner route, which opens the dig behind him. This play struggles against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties since they can rob the dig route from the top down. Watch for a blitzing linebacker off the edge since the flat route RB is your outlet if the protection breaks down before the dig fully develops.
Usage Tips
Look for single high safety shells pre-snap since the dig sits down in that vacated middle void created by the post and corner routes pulling defenders vertically.
Motion the backside TE or use a hot route on the flat route RB to create a natural rub against man coverage if you see man alignment pre-snap.
Use this on second and medium or third and medium since the dig needs time to develop and the sit route underneath gives you a checkdown against a hard blitz.
Pair this with Flanker Drag or Flanker Drive from the same formation to keep the defense guessing on route depth while showing the same initial receiver stems.
If you see Cover 3 sink underneath the dig, drop your eyes to the shallow drag crossing route immediately since that beats the flat defender in most zone drops.
