Playbooks

Dagger

Shotgun·Bunch Y-Flex·11
DaggerPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Dagger from Shotgun Bunch Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Dagger is a classic vertical shot concept run out of Shotgun Bunch Y-Flex with 11 personnel. From the bunch, one receiver clears deep vertically while the adjacent receiver runs a deep in breaking dig route underneath him at roughly 12 to 15 yards, creating natural separation off the same landmark. The backside receiver runs a corner route to hold that side of the field, while the outlet from the bunch runs a short crossing route underneath and the running back checks down into the shallow flat. This is primarily a man beater that also stresses Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells, with the primary read progression going from the deep vertical clear-out to the dig sitting underneath it, then working down to the shallow crosser and check down if the top of the concept is covered.

Defensive Reads

Key the safety depth at the snap, if both safeties bail deep into a two high shell the dig route becomes the primary answer since the vertical route occupies both deep defenders. Watch the flow of the middle linebacker, if he sinks into the dig lane immediately you need to reset your progression to the shallow crosser or the check down. Identify man coverage by watching the corner over the vertical route turn and run with his hips open, that route is live for an explosive gain if there is no safety rotating over. Beware of a Cover 3 sky or buzz call where the corner over the corner route sits in the flat and the safety rotates down, this can undercut the dig and bait a turnover if you force it late. Against aggressive user blitzes, get the ball out on the shallow crosser or check down quickly since the deep routes take too long to develop when the pocket collapses.

Usage Tips

Look for single high or two high shells pre-snap since Dagger is built to attack the seams that open when safeties commit to the deep vertical route.

Use your pre-snap motion or a quick alert read on the corner route to see if the defense rotates coverage, this tells you whether the dig or the corner will be the bigger throwing window.

If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, throw the vertical clear-out route on a back shoulder timing throw before the dig even breaks open.

Against zone drops, hold the ball one beat longer and let the dig sit down in the void behind the linebackers and in front of the deep safety.

Pair Dagger with Curls Y Swirl or Z Shallow Cross earlier in a drive so the defense respects the shorter crossing routes, then hit them with the double move stress of Dagger when they start jumping underneath routes.

Other Plays in Bunch Y-Flex