Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Dagger Sit runs out of Shotgun Bunch Y-Flex with pre-snap motion from the bunch, sending one receiver in an orbit motion across the formation before the snap. The concept is a classic Dagger combo on the right side, with the outside receiver clearing vertically on a deep seam or go route while the underneath receiver runs a dig across the middle, plus a sit route sitting in the flat/curl area from the bunch side and a corner-breaking route crossing behind the dagger combo. This is a man and zone beater built to attack both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells, with the dagger clearing space underneath for the dig and the sit route giving a quick answer against soft zone or blitz looks. Primary read progression starts with the deep vertical to hold the safety, then works down to the dig, with the sit route as the checkdown against pressure.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth, if both safeties are shaded deep in a two high shell the sit and crossing routes underneath become the priority answer. Watch the motion defender closely, if a linebacker or defensive back runs with the motion man across the formation it confirms man coverage and opens the dig route. Post-snap, key the underneath zone defenders' drop depth, if the flat or curl defender sinks too deep to cover the sit route it becomes an easy completion. This play is vulnerable to disguised Cover 1 or Cover 4 with a robber defender sitting in the middle of the field, since that defender can jump the dig route before it clears. Blitz packages that bring pressure off the edge can disrupt the timing of this route since the dagger and sit combo both require a full progression, so watch for overload blitzes and account for the extra rusher with protection adjustments.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are in man coverage and can key on the dig winning against man leverage.
Against Cover 3, hold the vertical route just enough to occupy the deep third defender, then hit the dig sitting behind the underneath zone defenders for a chunk gain.
Against Cover 2, target the sit route or the crossing route underneath the safeties since the two deep defenders cannot cover the width of this concept.
This play works best on second and medium to second and long since it takes a full read progression and a beat to develop, so protect the quarterback with max protect adjustments if the offensive line is undersized.
Pair this play with Mtn Inside Post or Curls Y Swirl in your play-calling sequence, since both punish defenses that sit hard on the dagger dig after seeing it once on film.
