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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Dagger out of Singleback Wing Tight Z (13 personnel) is a classic vertical shot play built to stress the seams and clear out underneath zones. The backside receiver runs a deep post while the inside slot runs a hard skinny post/dig sitting underneath it, creating the trademark Dagger high low read on one half of the field. On the frontside, the Y (attached TE) works a corner route to hold the flat and deep quarter defender, the outlet back releases to the flat, and the remaining receiver runs a drag underneath crossing the formation for a checkdown against pressure. This is a man beater and Cover 3 beater first (post/dig combo destroys single high and hard flat leverage), and it also punishes Cover 2 by throwing the dig into the window vacated by the two deep safeties. Primary read progression starts with the deep post to see if the safety bites, then works down to the dig sitting underneath zone linebackers, and finally checks down to the flat or drag if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and spacing: two safeties deep and wide open up the dig, one safety in the middle tells you to prepare for the post. Watch the flat defender and corner over the Y route, if he sinks with the corner route the throwing window for the dig widens immediately. Post snap, track the middle linebacker or nickel defender responsible for the dig, if he sits shallow or blitzes the dig will be wide open behind him. Look for a user controlled defender lurking in the passing lane between the post and dig, that is the biggest threat to this concept and usually signals Cover 3 with a rat in the middle. Man coverage with no help over the top on the post route is the biggest tell that a big play is coming, get the ball out before the corner route defender can peel back and help.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether you are facing single high or two high safeties before the snap because that dictates whether the post or the dig will be open first.
Against Cover 3 or Cover 1, key the post route hard since the deep third or deep half defender has to respect the corner route on the outside, opening a throwing lane behind the underneath defenders.
Against Cover 2, hold your eyes on the dig route since it sits right in the honey hole between the two deep safeties and the retreating linebackers.
Use motion or a hot route on the flat defender if you see man coverage across the board to free up the drag as a quick answer against blitzes.
Pair this call with Curl Flat or Y Stick from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick game and the deep shot, then come back to Dagger once the defense starts jumping short routes.
