Playbooks

PA Dagger

Shotgun·Doubles Offset Wk·11

Play Action Dagger Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 3 Beater

Play diagram for PA Dagger from Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetDoubles Offset Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffense Balanced Pass OffenseOffense Spread Classic

Breakdown

PA Dagger out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk uses play action to hold the linebackers before attacking downfield with a classic dagger combo. The X receiver runs a deep dig sitting behind the linebackers while the slot receiver clears vertically underneath it on a deep in, creating a natural high low read on any zone defender sitting between the hashes. On the backside the outside receiver runs a deep post while the inside receiver works a corner route, giving you a two man clear out and hi lo combo on both sides of the field. The primary read starts with the dig against the vacated middle of the field, then works to the deep post or corner if the safety cheats down on the play fake.

Defensive Reads

Pre snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since single high leaves the deep post more vulnerable while two high forces you to rely on the dig and corner combo. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard on the play fake the underneath dig route will be wide open in the void they leave behind. Post snap, look for a user controlled lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field trying to jump the dig route, if he bites on the underneath in route come off it and go to the deep post on the backside. This play beats Cover 3 and Cover 2 zone shells well since the dig and corner routes exploit soft spots high low, but it can get shut down by disciplined Cover 4 quarters coverage where safeties stay deep and do not respect the run fake. Be wary of blitzes that bring extra rushers off the edge or up the A gap, since the play fake needs a clean pocket and a delayed blitz can collapse the protection before routes fully develop.

Usage Tips

Use this on early downs or 2nd and medium when defenses are geared up to stop the run, since the play fake sells hardest against aggressive run fits and linebacker crash. Check the safety alignment before the snap, single high shells with the safety cheating to the run side are prime for the backside post shot. If you see Cover 3 or Cover 4 with deep zone drops, key the dig route first since it settles in the soft spot behind the linebackers and in front of the deep third defenders. Hot route the fullback or offset back into a check release if you are getting pressure up the middle, since the play action fake needs time to develop for the dig and corner routes to open up. Pair this with RPO Power Peek or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a drive to condition the defense to bite on run action, then hit them with PA Dagger once linebackers start flowing hard on the fake. Against Cover 2 shells, work the corner route on the backside since it attacks the deep half seam outside the flat defender.