Playbooks

PA Scissors

Shotgun·Ace Slot Offset·12

Play Action Scissors Pass Play Cover 2 Beater Cover 4 Beater

Play diagram for PA Scissors from Shotgun Ace Slot Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetAce Slot Offset

Personnel

121 RB · 2 TE · 2 WR

In 5 playbooks

Patriots OffenseOffense Raiders OffenseOffense Shotgun Mix NFL Live Patriots OffenseOffense NFL Live Raiders OffenseOffense

Breakdown

PA Scissors runs off a play action fake out of Ace Slot Offset in Shotgun, with the offensive line and fullback selling the run to hold linebackers before the quarterback works the crossing route concept. The scissors action comes from the two inside receivers running a deep crossing pattern, one breaking hard from the left side into a corner route while the other crosses underneath into a deep out to the opposite sideline, while the tight end runs a seam up the middle and the backside receiver takes the top off with a deep post. The outside receiver on the play side runs a shallow drag underneath the crossing routes to give the quarterback a checkdown option. This is a play action pass built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells, with the primary read starting on the crossing route breaking to the corner and progressing to the deep out on the other side of the field.

Defensive Reads

Key the safety depth before the snap: two high safeties suggest Cover 2 or Cover 4, both of which this play is designed to exploit with the crossing routes stretching the intermediate zones horizontally. Watch the play side linebacker after the snap, since if he steps up hard on the run fake he opens the crossing lane for the corner route and the deep out underneath. Beware Cover 3 with a sky safety or robber technique in the middle of the field, since a defender sitting in that crossing route window can jump the route and create a user pick six opportunity. Identify blitz packages pre-snap by checking for stacked or walked up linebackers, because a hot blitz can beat the play action fake before the routes fully develop, forcing a checkdown to the shallow drag. Track the cornerback leverage on the corner route receiver, since outside leverage corners in man coverage struggle to close on the scissors break, but inside leverage or bracket coverage can shut down that route entirely.

Usage Tips

Sell the run fake with a hard play action press to keep linebackers and safeties frozen for an extra beat, especially against defenses that key run tendencies out of 12 personnel.

Use this on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when defenses are more likely to load the box or play run first, since the play action window is wider.

Pre-snap, look at the safety alignment: if you see two deep safeties split wide in Cover 2, the crossing route to the corner should open up in the vacated flat area between the corner and safety.

If the defense shows Cover 4 with corners playing off, hot route the shallow drag into a quicker option or user the corner route receiver to box out the deep quarter defender.

Pair this play with Same Side Zone or Inside Zone earlier in a series to sell run tendency, then call PA Scissors once the defense starts crashing linebackers downhill.