Steelers Playbook: The Post-Dig concept

In today’s installment of Steelers Playbook, we’re looking at the Post-Dig pass concept, which Pittsburgh used in a variety of fashions last season, and should use again widely in 2025.

Philosophy

Post-Dig is most often drawn as a zone-beater. It attempts to conflict a pre-determined defender, usually a safety, by running a high route (post) and an intermediate route (dig) into his area, then forcing him to defend one or the other. If the safety jumps the dig, the quarterback will throw the post over his head. If he sinks with the post, the quarterback will come down to the dig.

Many teams will add a play-action element to slow down linebackers and keep them from sinking under the dig. Others will teach their quarterback to look first at the post, and if the safety has taken it away, to bring their eyes to the linebacker responsible for getting under the dig. They’ll scheme it so a low route, often a crosser of some sort, works in front of the backer. If the backer takes away the dig, the crosser should be open. If the backer jumps the crosser, there should be a window to throw the dig.

No matter how it’s designed, post-dig creates conflict for a specific defender by outnumbering him in his zone, then throwing opposite of his reaction.

The Scheme

There are several pass concepts that incorporate the post-dig philosophy, and the Steelers run versions of many of them. Dagger, Drive, the Yankee route and the “Mills” concept all incorporate post-dig in some fashion. Dagger is probably the most commonly used of these in Pittsburgh.

I’ve drawn a version of Dagger below. The post-dig combination occurs between the slot (#2) and inside receiver (#3) to the trips side. Some teams scheme it so the dig comes from the outside receiver (#1), with a flat route from #3. Others run it from a 2×2 set and bring the post and dig routes from opposite sides.

Pittsburgh hit this exact version of Dagger for a touchdown in Week 13 against Cincinnati last season. Calvin Austin III aligned as the Y (#2), while Pat Freiermuth was the TE (#3). Quarterback Russell Wilson read off of the free safety to the trips side. When the safety grabbed Freiermuth, Wilson threw over him to Austin for the score.

Use in Pittsburgh

As I mentioned above, the Steelers incorporated post-dig into a variety of their pass concepts last season. They appear to have adjusted who ran the post and who ran the dig by formation and opponent, seeking to disguise their tendencies or isolate particular defenders. Austin’s speed made him a good candidate to run the post, while the size of bigger pass-catchers like Freiermuth, George Pickens and Van Jefferson made them more visible on the dig. Neither Wilson nor Justin Fields were especially great at attacking the middle of the field from the pocket, so when the Steelers ran post-dig they often threw the post. That became a source of frustration for some of the receivers, especially Pickens, as the dig was often open but not targeted.

Outlook for 2025

I’d expect the Steelers to continue to use Austin as a post-runner from various alignments, and to work Roman Wilson into that role as well. DK Metcalf is a big, fast target who makes an attractive post option, too. Metcalf can also be used to run the dig, as can Freiermuth and free agent signee Robert Woods, who has the requisite size and toughness. The Steelers have plenty of options if they want to lean into this passing concept again, which I suspect they do.

If Aaron Rodgers winds up as the team’s quarterback, which seems likely, the concept could be more effective than it was a year ago. Rodgers is better at attacking the middle of the field than Wilson or Fields, and he processes faster, which speeds up his progressions. The dig does take some time to develop, and I don’t know how willing Rodgers will be at age 41 to stand in the pocket and wait for it to come open. But if the Steelers can protect the play and keep Rodgers clean, this could be one of their more effective passing concepts.

For my video breakdown of the Steelers’ use of post-dig concepts last season, check out the Twitter video below.

Running some Steelers’ Playbook articles with video breakdowns on @SteelCNetwork. Had an Outside Zone feature up yesterday. Here’s one on the Post-Dig passing combo: pic.twitter.com/zxaYjacinZ

— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) May 28, 2025

For more of my work, follow me on Twitter @KTSmithFFSN, and tune into my “Call Sheet Daily” podcast, which runs every Monday-Friday on most major platforms.