Playbooks

Empty Post Dagger

Shotgun·Y Trips Wk·11
PostDaggerPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 Beater
Play diagram for Empty Post Dagger from Shotgun Y Trips Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Texans OffenseOffenseNFL Live Texans OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Empty Post Dagger is an empty backfield concept out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk that stacks the dagger combo (deep post over an underneath dig/curl) on the strong side while the backside runs a post and flat combo to hold the single high safety. Since this is an empty formation there is no blocking assignment for a running back, all five eligible receivers release into routes, making this a pure passing concept designed to attack both man and zone coverage. The primary read starts with the deep post to the field side, then works down to the dig sitting underneath it, with the backside post as a hot progression if the defense rotates coverage away from the trips side.

Defensive Reads

Watch the single high safety at the snap, if he stays true down the middle he can rob the post route so be ready to check down to the dig or flat. Identify if a linebacker or slot corner is showing blitz off the edge, since empty formations remove the running back as a blocker and quick pressure can disrupt the deep post timing. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the middle of the field trying to jump the dig route, that is the biggest threat to this concept in zone coverage. Against Cover 3, key the flat defender's drop, if he sinks too deep the underneath dig will have a soft window to work into. In man coverage, watch for a safety rotating over the top late to help on the post, if he breaks early switch your read to the underneath route or backside post for a favorable one on one.

Usage Tips

Presnap identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties or rotating to single high, since this concept is labeled a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater and the post routes are designed to split the safeties or sit behind a rotating corner.

If you see man coverage, hot route the flat route into a quick out or option route to give yourself a rhythm throw versus blitz looks since empty sets are vulnerable to pressure with no back to chip.

Use this play on second and long or third and medium situations where you need a defense to commit to underneath zone drops, since the dig sitting under the post punishes zone defenses that squeeze the middle.

Pair this with Empty Post Cross or Four Verticals from the same set to keep the defense guessing between vertical shots and crossing patterns, forcing linebackers to widen their drops.

Combine with Curls X Go or Comebacks as a changeup if the defense starts jumping the post route, since those plays attack the same alignment with different route depths.

Other Plays in Y Trips Wk