Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Cross Dig runs off play action out of Singleback Y Off Trio 11 personnel, selling the run fake before the quarterback works a three level passing tree. The backside receiver runs a deep vertical up the numbers while the frontside tight end and outside receiver combine on a dig and crosser, with the dig sitting down over the middle as the crosser drags underneath from the opposite side. The remaining back releases to the flat as a checkdown outlet, and the primary read progression starts with the dig sitting in the intermediate window, works to the crosser working away from underneath defenders, and ends with the flat route as the safety valve if the middle of the field is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Read the linebacker depth at the snap: shallow, aggressive linebacker drops signal man coverage or a robber look that will jump the crosser Watch the single high safety pre snap; if he is stacked in the deep middle, expect Cover 3 or Cover 1 and target the crosser working away from the middle defender Identify two high safety shells pre snap since Cover 2 and Cover 4 leave a natural throwing window for the dig route between the hashes Key the play action fake response from linebackers post snap; if they bite hard on the run fake, the dig and crosser both open up before the defense can recover User controlled defenders sitting in the shallow zone or spying the crosser are the biggest threat to this concept, so account for user lurks before committing to the crosser read
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in medium yardage situations (2nd and 6 or longer) where the play fake still has run threat credibility and defenses respect the box count
Check the middle of the field pre snap: if you see a single high safety cheating over the top, prioritize the crosser since the dig will run into the deep defender's window
Against two high shells, the dig becomes the primary target since it settles into the vacated middle void created by split safeties
Hot route the flat route into a deeper option like a corner or out if you diagnose zone coverage with linebackers sinking hard into the shallow crossing lanes
Pair this play with Y Shallow Cross or Mesh earlier in a series so linebackers start jumping shallow crossers, opening up the dig window for PA Cross Dig later in the drive
