Playbooks

PA Dagger

Pistol·Trips·11
Play ActionDaggerPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 BeaterDeep CrossCrosserDigFlatOutStreak
Play diagram for PA Dagger from Pistol Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

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Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players
PlayerSideRoute
HB1MiddleFlat
WR3LeftStreak
WR1LeftDeep In
WR2LeftDeep Cross
TE1RightOut

Read progression

  1. WR1 left, Deep In
  2. WR2 left, Deep Cross
  3. TE1 right, Out
  4. WR3 left, Streak
  5. HB1, FlatCheck-down

Breakdown

PA Dagger from Pistol Trips shows a play action shot play built around the classic dagger combo on the trips side, with the inside slot receiver running a deep clear out vertical while the outside trips receiver sits down on a dig route working underneath it, creating a natural high low read on any zone defender sitting in the middle of the field. The backside single receiver runs a corner route to hold the deep half or third defender away from the dagger side, while the TE releases into a shallow drag underneath everything as a checkdown and the running back leaks out to the flat off the play action fake. The primary read progression starts with the deep clear out to see if it pulls the safety, then works to the dig as the main money route, and finally checks down to the drag or flat if the underneath defenders take away the dig, making this a strong cover 2 and cover 3 beater.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, identify whether the defense is showing two safeties deep or a single high safety, since cover 2 and cover 3 shells are the primary weak points this concept attacks. Watch the slot corner and safety over the trips side after the snap, if the safety bites hard on the underneath drag or flat the vertical clear out will be wide open behind him. Key the middle linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the dig window, if he sinks deep with the vertical route the dig route will have a clean throwing lane in front of him. Man coverage with press corners and no deep safety help can shut this down quickly since the dig has less separation without the zone hole to work into, so be ready to check to a quicker route or throw with anticipation. Watch for a blitz off the edge or an overload pressure look, since the play action fake and deeper developing routes make this vulnerable to a fast four man rush if protection is not held.

Usage Tips

Look for two high safety shells or single high looks before the snap since this concept is designed to punish cover 2 and cover 3 defenders who have to choose between the vertical clear out and the dig sitting in the same window.

Sell the play action fake by holding the ball on the fake handoff animation as long as possible to freeze linebackers and open up the throwing lane to the dig route.

If you see man coverage on the trips side with no safety help over the top, hot route the dig into a deeper dig or switch to a comeback break to stay ahead of trailing man defenders.

Use this play on early downs or manageable third down and medium to long situations where you have time to let the deep route develop and influence the safety before hitting the dig.

Pair this call with HB Slam or HB Dive earlier in a series to get linebackers creeping up on run fits, then come back to PA Dagger to attack the vacated intermediate zones with the dig and drag combo.

Other Plays in Trips