Playbooks
PA Dagger U Cross
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Dagger U Cross is a play-action pass out of Singleback 12 personnel that layers a deep dagger concept on one side with a crossing route underneath from the other. Off the play-action fake, the outside receiver runs a vertical seam clearing space for the deep dig sitting behind it, while the near receiver works a deep crosser underneath the seam route and the backside receiver clears out on a deep out route. This is primarily a Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater, using the vertical seam to hold the deep safety while the dig and crosser settle into the voids created by zone drops, with the primary read progression going from the seam clear to the dig sitting down in the middle of the field before working to the crossing route as a checkdown against man coverage.
Defensive Reads
Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he bites hard on the play-action fake the dig route will sit wide open behind him in the intermediate middle. Watch for a single high safety rotation, this signals Cover 3 and tells you the crosser will have room to work against the flat defender's zone turn. Identify two-deep safety alignment pre-snap, Cover 2 shells are vulnerable to the seam clearing route pulling the safety over just enough to open the dig underneath. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender sitting in the underneath middle zone (a lurk defender), since he can jump the dig route if he reads the quarterback's eyes early. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the counter, since the crosser has no natural pick help and can be trailed step for step by a physical linebacker or nickel defender.
Usage Tips
Diagnose the coverage shell pre-snap by checking safety depth, if you see two deep safeties holding at 10-12 yards this is your green light for the dig sitting behind the seam clear.
Use play-action from run-heavy personnel to sell the fake, this play hits best on early downs like first or second and short when defenses are geared up to stop the run.
If the defense shows Cover 3 with a single high safety, prioritize the crossing route since the flat defender and underneath zones will be stretched horizontally.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or Inside Zone Split earlier in a series to condition the defense to bite on the run fake, then dial up PA Dagger U Cross to punish aggressive linebacker fits.
Hot route the backside deep out into a comeback or hitch against press man coverage if you need a quicker underneath answer versus blitz-heavy fronts.
