Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Sail Dig runs out of Singleback Wing Slot 12 personnel off play-action, holding the linebackers with the run fake before the routes develop. The outside receiver runs a deep corner-style sail route to clear the top of the defense, the slot receiver from the wing breaks in on a dig route across the middle at intermediate depth, and the backside X runs a deep post to stress the far hash safety. The single back releases to the flat for a checkdown while protection stays in to sell the fake, making this a two-level flood concept designed to beat Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells with the dig as the primary read, the sail as the vertical clear-out, and the flat route as the outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and leverage, two deep safeties shading the sail side signals Cover 2 and opens up the dig window underneath. Watch the flat defender or curl-flat player after the snap, if he widens to carry the sail the dig has room to sit in the vacated zone. Man coverage with an inside linebacker matched on the dig is a green light, the in-breaking route creates natural separation against man leverage. A sky safety or cheating corner on the wing side pre-snap suggests the defense is keying the play-action and jumping the flat or dig, consider checking out to a play like Slot Post or Y-go Slot Cross instead. Watch for a delayed inside blitz off play-action since the running back staying in to block for a moment can leave a hole for a blitzing linebacker if the offensive line does not pick it up quickly.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs like first or second and medium to keep the defense honest with the run fake before committing to zone coverage.
Read the flat defender first, if he widens with the sail route the dig window opens up behind him for your primary throw.
Against Cover 3 with a static Mike linebacker, hot route the dig to sit down in the hole if the underneath defender carries the route too far.
Pair this play with HB Zone Wk or 26 Duo earlier in a series so the run fake actually holds second level defenders and linebackers bite on the play-action.
Sequence this with PA Y Cross Flood or PA Boot Y Sail later in the drive since the initial run action and route concepts look similar but attack different levels, keeping defenders guessing.
