Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Dagger out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk uses play action to hold the linebackers before attacking downfield with a classic dagger combo on the left side. The outside receiver runs a vertical clear route up the seam while the slot receiver sits down on a deep dig that crosses underneath it, creating a natural high low seam clear-out on that side. On the right, the isolated receiver runs a deep out breaking route that climbs and works to the sideline, giving a man beater option away from the dagger concept, while the backfield fake occupies the second level defenders before the running back stays in as an extra blocker. This is a play-action pass built to beat both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells, with the primary read starting on the dig coming across the middle behind the vertical clear-out route.
Defensive Reads
Identify two high safeties pre-snap since PA Dagger is a designed Cover 2 beater that attacks the seams between the corner and safety. Watch the middle linebacker depth after the play action fake, a linebacker who bites hard on the run fake opens up the dig route running through his vacated zone. Key the deep half or deep third safety rotation post-snap, if the safety on the dagger side stays flat footed reading run, the vertical clear-out route will win over the top. Beat this play by having the linebacker sink immediately into the middle hook zone without honoring the play fake, taking away the dig route window. Man coverage with a deep lurking safety can rob the crossing dig route, so watch for user controlled defenders sitting in the passing lane between the hash marks.
Usage Tips
Look for two deep safety shells before the snap since PA Dagger is designed to exploit the void behind Cover 2 corners once the seam clears out the deep defenders.
Sell the play action fake fully by holding the fake button long enough to freeze linebackers, especially against defenses that key run first on early downs.
Use this on early down and manageable distance situations like first and ten or second and medium so the run fake actually threatens the defense.
If the defense shows Cover 3 with a single high safety, prioritize the dig route since the seam clear-out will pull that deep defender away from the middle void.
Pair this play with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek earlier in a drive to condition the defense to respect quick game, making the play action fake on Dagger even more effective later.
