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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
PA Fork Y-Dig is a play-action pass out of Singleback Wing Slot 12 personnel that fakes the run to draw linebackers up before working a deep dig from the backside. The play design shows a fork concept on the left with one receiver breaking outside on a corner/out route while the other stems vertically then breaks back across the middle on the dig, while the tight end runs a shallow drag underneath and the flat route to the right clears out space for the boot action. The primary read progression starts with the dig sitting down over the middle against zone drops, then works down to the shallow drag as a checkdown, and finally to the flat route on the play-action rollout if the dig is not open.
Defensive Reads
Identify single high safety alignment pre-snap since Cover 3 and Cover 1 leave the dig route the most window to work across the middle. Watch linebacker depth at the snap. If they bite hard on the play-action fake, the dig route will open up quickly behind them. Key the flat defender on the right side. If he sits and reads the quarterback's eyes instead of respecting the flat route, the boot action can get shut down and force a checkdown to the drag. User the middle linebacker or a lurking safety to sit in the passing lane of the dig route, since that is the primary throw and jumping it can bait an interception. Beware of Cover 2 or Cover 4 zone shells with underneath linebackers spying the play-action fake, since that combination clogs both the dig and drag routes and forces the quarterback to the flat as a checkdown.
Usage Tips
Use the play-action fake to hold linebackers on early down and distance, ideally on 1st or 2nd and medium to keep the defense honest against the run.
Read the middle of the field pre-snap. Against single high safety looks the dig has room to sit down in the void behind linebackers, while against two high shells you may need to lean on the underneath drag or flat route instead.
Hot route the flat route into a quick out if you see man coverage with no underneath help, since the dig can get picked off by trailing linebackers in tight man concepts.
Pair this play with HB Dive or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series so the play-action fake carries more weight and linebackers bite harder on the run fake.
Combine with Four Verticals or PA Y Cross Flood later in a drive to keep defenses guessing between shallow dig concepts and deeper shot plays out of the same formation.
