Playbooks
Breakdown
Dagger Deep Curl lines up out of Shotgun Trey Open with three receivers bunched to the strong side and a single receiver split to the boundary. The strong side runs the classic Dagger combo: the outside receiver clears vertically up the seam while the inside slot receiver sits down on a deep curl right behind the linebacker level, and the third strong side receiver runs a short in cut underneath to occupy the flat defender. Backside, the lone receiver runs a comeback style curl to give the quarterback a built in answer against zone drops. This is a zone beater at its core, attacking the void created when the vertical clears out the deep defender for the curl sitting underneath, with the primary read progressing from the deep curl to the backside curl if the strong side is capped.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety depth before the snap, if both safeties are deep and aligned outside the numbers you are likely seeing a zone shell that Dagger Deep Curl is built to exploit. Key the strong side linebacker and slot corner drop, if they stay shallow and never widen with the vertical route the curl window will be tight so be ready to check to the backside curl. Watch for user controlled lurk defenders sitting in the deep middle since a rangy user safety can jump the deep curl route if the quarterback stares it down too long. Identify blitz packages pre-snap by checking for extra rushers off the edge, since Dagger Deep Curl relies on the pocket holding long enough for the vertical to clear the underneath zone. Against man coverage with no safety help, this play loses value fast because the curl route has nowhere to sit down, so bail to a quick game concept if you see man alignment with press corners.
Usage Tips
Check the safety alignment before the snap because Dagger Deep Curl thrives against two deep safety shells where the vertical route occupies one safety and opens the curl window underneath.
Use the vertical route as a clear out first, then work your eyes to the deep curl sitting at the sticks since that is your primary read against Cover 2 and Cover 3.
If the defense shows man coverage with no safety help over the top, hot route the underdneath in route to a slant or speed out to create quicker separation against press corners.
Pair this play with Curls or Curls X Go from the same set so you can run the identical shell look and keep linebackers guessing between deep curl reads and quicker breaking routes.
This play is best called on second or third and medium since it needs a beat to develop, and it punishes defenses that sit back in zone drops on passing downs.
