Playbooks

Dagger

Singleback·Wing Slot·12
DaggerPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 3 BeaterBlock and ReleaseDigDragCrosserStreak
Play diagram for Dagger from Singleback Wing Slot in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationSingleback

In 3 playbooks

Raiders OffenseOffenseWest Coast OffenseOffenseNFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players
PlayerSideRoute
HB1MiddleBlock and Release Hook
TE2RightStreak
WR1LeftDeep In
WR2LeftStreak
TE1RightDrag

Read progression

  1. WR1 left, Deep In
  2. TE1 right, Drag
  3. HB1, Block and Release Hook
  4. WR2 left, Streak
  5. TE2 right, Streak

Breakdown

Dagger from Singleback Wing Slot lines up two vertical routes on the left side, an inside seam that sits down and a wheel/vertical from the slot, paired with a deep dig from the right side X that sits right at the seam runner's landmark, plus a shallow drag underneath from the TE and a check release out of the backfield. The route art shows the classic Dagger shell: a clearing vertical stem to occupy the deep safety and corner, with the dig breaking hard underneath it into the vacated middle window, making this a premier Cover 2 and Cover 3 beater since it stretches the intermediate zone horizontally while the vertical stresses the deep half. Primary read is the dig running to the vacated middle, then work down to the drag or check release if the window is late developing.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, look at safety depth and spacing, two safeties sitting at 10 to 12 yards over the slot and TE side signals Cover 2 or Cover 4, which is exactly what this dig and vertical combo is designed to exploit. Watch the flat defender and outside linebacker on the strong side, if they widen too quickly with the vertical release, the underneath drag and dig windows open immediately for an easy completion. User the deep middle safety or lurking linebacker if you are on defense, this concept lives or dies on whether that defender can sink and cut off the dig before it crosses the field. Man coverage with press corners and no safety help is the best answer to this play, the dig has nowhere to hide and the vertical routes get taken away at the top, so disguise single high shells and jump the route with a rerouting corner. Post-snap, watch for delayed blitz packages, if the interior gets pressure before the three step read on the dig fully develops, the quarterback is forced into a rushed throw or checkdown that user defenders can jump.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify two high safeties or a single deep safety before the snap, this concept punishes both Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells that leave a soft spot behind the linebackers and in front of the deep defenders.

If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, hot route the vertical outside receiver to keep pushing and let the dig become your check down instead of your primary since man corners can trail the dig into the throwing lane.

Use this on second and long or third and medium situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone shells, the dig needs time to develop so avoid calling it into obvious blitz downs unless you have a quick alert built in.

Pair Dagger with Four Verticals or PA Dagger in your play-calling sequence, once the defense starts sitting on the intermediate dig window, PA Dagger or Four Verticals punishes late safety rotation with the same initial read picture.

Slide protection or check release the running back toward the pressure side pre-snap since the dig route needs a full three step drop and hitch, giving your quarterback time is the difference between a big chunk play and a checkdown.

Other Plays in Wing Slot