Playbooks

PA Dagger

Shotgun·Doubles·11
Play ActionDaggerPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for PA Dagger from Shotgun Doubles in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

PA Dagger out of Shotgun Doubles uses a play-action fake to hold the linebackers before attacking downfield with a classic dagger combo. The outside receiver to the two-receiver side runs a deep vertical clear-out while the inside slot receiver sits down on a dig behind it, and on the opposite side the single receiver runs a deep corner route while the tight end or attached receiver runs a flat/out breaker underneath. The primary read starts with the corner route to the weak side, then works to the dagger dig once the safety commits, using the vertical clear-out to open a window over the middle for the slot man beater against man coverage or the seam void against zone.

Defensive Reads

Key the strong safety at the snap, if he steps up to play the run fake immediately look to the dig route sitting in the vacated middle void. Watch the flat defender's depth, if he widens with the flat route the dig will have a clean throwing lane behind him against zone coverage. Identify Cover 2 shells pre-snap by checking corner alignment, since the deep vertical clear-out is designed to occupy the deep half defender and open the dig underneath. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the biggest liability, since the corner route can be jumped by a physical cornerback if the quarterback does not sell the fake convincingly. Watch for a delayed blitz off the edge disguised as run support, since the play-action fake extends the quarterback's drop and creates sack risk if the offensive line is outnumbered.

Usage Tips

Check pre-snap for two-high shells since the corner and dagger combo are both designed to attack Cover 2 and Cover 3 zone drops by stacking vertical and horizontal stress on the flat and hook defenders.

On third and medium, prioritize the dig route since it settles right in the void vacated by the underneath flat defender once the play-action freezes the linebackers.

Hot route the flat route to a quick out or spot if you see a Mike linebacker sitting at five yards, since that shortens the throwing window and gives you a quicker answer against blitz-heavy calls.

Pair this play with 45 Quick Base or Curl Flats earlier in a drive so defenders start jumping shallow routes, then hit PA Dagger to hit the safety over the top once they bite on run action or short routes.

Use the corner route as a shot play against Cover 3 Cloud since the deep third defender often gets caught peeking the run fake, leaving the corner window open for a big gain.

Other Plays in Doubles