Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Scissors runs a play-action fake out of Pistol 11 personnel with a trips receiver alignment. The scissors concept comes from the two crossing routes on the right side: the inside receiver runs a corner route while the outside receiver breaks on a deep post, creating a natural high low crossing pattern that clears out the flat and attacks the middle of the field. On the backside, the single receiver runs a shallow drag while the trips side underneath features a flat route and a short out, giving the quarterback a full field progression from the scissors combo to the check down flat route. This is a play-action pass built to beat Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells since the corner post combo stretches the deep half safeties and the underneath flat route occupies the flat defender, and the primary read progression starts with the post route, works to the corner, then comes down to the flat or drag as an outlet.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap identify whether the defense shows two deep safeties, since Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells are exactly what this scissors combo is designed to shred. Watch the flat defender after the snap: if he widens with the flat route it opens a throwing lane for the corner route sitting behind him. Key the play side linebacker depth, if he bites hard on the play-action fake the shallow drag and flat route will be wide open underneath for an easy checkdown. User the deep half safety to the trips side and rob the post route, this forces the quarterback to hold the ball and lets your pass rush get home. Man coverage with press corners and a robber safety in the middle of the field can shut this down by driving on the crossing routes before the receivers separate, so blitzing off the edge while playing man underneath is the best way to disrupt the timing of this concept.
Usage Tips
Use PA Scissors on early downs when you have already established the run game so the play fake actually holds linebackers and freezes the second level defenders. Check the safety alignment before the snap: if you see two deep safeties sitting at depth this is a green light since the post and corner combo will split the deep half. If the corner on the trips side is playing off man, hot route the flat route to a quick out to give yourself a fast throw against aggressive corner blitzes. Pair this play with Four Verticals and Curls from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the play-action rollout tendency and have to respect vertical shots every snap. Use this on second and medium or first down to keep the defense honest, since obvious passing downs will let defenders sit on the deep crossing routes and undercut the scissors combo.
