Playbooks
PA X-Dig is a play-action pass out of Weak I with 20 personnel that sells the run fake to the fullback before working the X receiver on a deep dig route across the middle. The play-action fake from under center holds linebackers and safeties for a beat, opening throwing lanes over the middle and behind underneath zone defenders. This is primarily a zone beater, since the dig sits down in the soft spot behind linebackers and in front of deep safeties, though it can also work against man coverage if the X receiver wins his release and creates separation on the in-cut. Your primary read starts with the X-Dig, then progresses to any underneath crossing routes or the checkdown to the backfield if the middle is jammed.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap, a two high shell tells you the dig has a bigger throwing window since no single defender is robbing the middle deep. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the play-action fake you get a clean throwing lane to the dig before they can recover. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 1 shells before the snap since the deep middle defender in those coverages can sit on the dig route and jump the throw if you telegraph it. Look for user-controlled defenders spying the middle of the field or lurking in the dig window, since a good lurk player can bait you into a turnover on this route. Recognize blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the play-action fake slows your quarterback drop and can leave him exposed if the protection does not hold up against a nano blitz.
Sell the play-action fake by not immediately flicking to pass, let the animation play out enough to freeze linebackers before you look to throw.
Use this on early downs like first or second and medium when the defense is more likely to respect the run threat from Weak I personnel.
If you see a two high safety shell pre-snap, expect the dig to have room to work in the intermediate middle, but if you see a single high safety like Cover 3 or Cover 1, be ready to climb the ladder or hit an underneath option since the deep defender can rob the dig.
Hot route the backside receiver into a shallow drag or spot route if you anticipate man coverage, giving yourself a quick outlet if the dig is taken away.
Pair this with HB Gut or Power O earlier in a series to establish the run threat, then call PA X-Dig once the defense starts keying run fits, and mix in Mesh Z-Dig from the same set to keep defenders guessing between the two dig concepts.