Dagger (7v7 flag football play)
The right slot runs straight up the seam to pull the deep defender away, and the outside receiver on the same side runs a deep in-route behind the underneath defenders into the space the seam just emptied. It is one of the most common 7v7 concepts because it attacks the middle of the field at 12 yards.
When to call Dagger
Against zone defenses with one deep safety, and when you need 10 or more yards.
Who gets the ball
- H on the seam: throw it right away if no safety is deep over H.
- Z on the 12-yard dig into the space H clears out.
- C sitting at 4 yards on the right side when the rush gets home.
Coaching points
- H must run the seam at full speed. If H slows down, the safety stays home and the dig is covered.
- Z runs hard to 12 yards before breaking inside, so the break comes behind the underneath defenders.
- The QB holds the ball a count longer than on short passes. This throw needs time, so call it when the rush is slow.
- On the left, X curls, Y drags and R swings, so the left-side defenders have work to do.
Common mistakes
- Z cuts the dig short and breaks at 8 yards, right into the underneath defenders.
- The QB throws the dig before Z clears the underneath defenders. Wait until Z crosses H's seam.
What to call next
When the safety starts sitting on the dig, call Post Wheel to beat that safety deep.