Playbooks

Exit Dagger

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Breakdown

Exit Dagger is a man beating dropback concept out of Shotgun Deuce Close that pairs a deep dig with a vertical clearing route to attack the middle of the field. The "exit" element sends a receiver on a vertical release to clear out the deep coverage while the dagger route sits underneath, breaking hard across the field on a deep in. Your primary read progression starts with the dagger crosser working from the far hash back to the intermediate window, then moves to any checkdown or drag underneath if the middle is jumped, with the exit route as your man beating shot if a corner bites on the shallow crossers.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and count since a two high shell forces you to adjust the exit route deeper to hold the safety before working the dagger. Identify if the linebackers are shaded to the strong side, because a Mike linebacker sitting in the hook zone directly in the dagger window can jump the route and bait a turnover. Post-snap, watch for a user controlled defender dropping into a lurk spot over the middle, since Exit Dagger is vulnerable to a sim pressure or match zone call that disguises a robber underneath the dig. This play beats man coverage and single high zone shells cleanly, but it struggles against Cover 4 or Cover 6 looks where the corner and safety can double team the dagger route. Key the corner's initial jump on the snap. If he sinks with the exit route instead of jumping the crosser, the dagger window opens up for a big gain against man coverage.

Usage Tips

Look for single high safety shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3 before the snap since the dagger route thrives when there is no second deep defender to help over the top on the dig.

If you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells, hot route the exit route into a deeper vertical stem to stress the corner and safety on the same side before the dagger settles in.

Use motion or a quick pre-snap read on the middle linebacker to confirm if he is sinking into the dagger window or blitzing, since a vacated underneath zone is where the dig sits down for an easy completion.

This play works best on second and long or third and medium situations where the defense is more likely to play zone or match coverage rather than sell out on the run.

Pair Exit Dagger with RPO Read Mtn Stick or Mtn Stick from the same set so the defense has to respect the quick game before you hit them with the deeper crossing route, keeping linebackers honest and opening passing lanes underneath.

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