Dagger Concept

Sep 12, 2015

Dan Syed

This article featured on SyedSchemes.com.

The Dagger concept is a pass game route combination that is commonly

used both at the College and NFL level. Dagger is most often associated with
Mike Martz and Norv Turner, and is similar to the Hi-Lo concept. In its most
basic form, Dagger is a 3 man combination involving a vertical route from the
slot receiver, a drag from the weak side for a horizontal stretch, and a 15 yard
deep dig or square-in from the primary receiver:
Depending on the coverage, the slot receiver must take the top off the
defense and clear out as much of the middle of the field as possible. Often
times the vertical bends in a bit to occupy defenders. Against Cover 1, the
vertical should be able to occupy the man defender as well as the centerfield
Free Safety (should occupy the FS against Cover 3 as well). Against
traditional Cover 2 or Cover 4, the vertical should clear out the play side 2-
high Safety. Finally, Against Tampa 2 the Vertical should occupy both the Mike
Linebacker as well as hold the play side Safety.

From there, Dagger becomes a Hi-Lo read between the drag and the dig. The
drag should stretch the field horizontally as much as possible and attract
linebackers to open up the dig behind him. Here, the drag successfully
stretches the defense horizontally and opens up a window for the dig:

Dagger Concept 1.mp4

Dagger can also be run from a Trips look, with the most inside eligible receiver
(often a Tight End or H-back) serving as the horizontal stretch to open up the
dig. Note that here, just like the Vikings Dagger picture above, the backside
receiver can run many different routes, including a curl, fade, slant, comeback,
corner, or deep out. The key is still to keep the Deep 1/2 or Deep middle
safety from diving to the middle of the field:

Here, the slot does his job by holding the deep Safety and Cornerback on his
vertical route. However, the play is really opened up by a great play from the
H-back along with the Quarterbacks eyes. The H-back picks up a blitz, and
then gets to his flat route, attracting the Strong Safety. The Quarterback (Alex
Smith) looks toward the horizontal stretch, moving the inside linebacker just
enough to clear a great window for the dig:

Dagger Concept 2.mp4

While these are the most common ways to run the Dagger concept, like all
pass game concepts, Dagger can be executed in a variety of ways from a
variety of formations. With Norv Turner as the OC for the Vikings in 2014 and
the Browns in 2013, below is a compilation of several ways to run the Dagger
concept with the ball going to multiple options:

Dagger Concept 3.mp4

Dagger Concept 4.mp4

Dagger Concept 5.mp4

Dagger Concept 6.mp4

Overall, Dagger is a common pass concept with Hi-Lo elements along with a
vertical and horizontal stretch. The dig (or square-in) is the primary target.
Look for the Dagger concept to be used on 2nd & long as well as 3rd and 8+
because it is a great way to get an intermediate throw to the middle of the
field. While protection must hold for the dig route to come open, there are built
in check downs with the drag along with many route options for the backside
Wide Receiver and Running Backs.