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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Redzone Scissors lines up from Shotgun Doubles Flex Y Off Close and creates a scissors concept on the boundary side with the outside receiver running a corner route and the slot defender crossing underneath on a shallow drag, while the backside receiver runs a deep post to hold the safety. The tight end releases vertically up the seam and the running back checks down to the flat, giving the quarterback a full-field high low read. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater built to attack the corner to flat conflict, so the primary progression starts with the scissors combo (corner over drag) before working back to the seam and flat as safety valves.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender in Cover 2 looks, if he sits on the drag route the corner route behind him will be wide open in the deep outside third. Key the safety over the top on the backside post, a Cover 4 shell with a deep half safety cheating late is your signal to work the scissors side instead. Check linebacker depth at the snap since a shallow drop from the middle linebacker can jump the drag route and force you to progress immediately to the corner throw. Man coverage with underneath help from a robber or lurk defender can sit on the drag and undercut the crossing route, so be ready to reset to the seam or flat check down. Blitz packages that bring five or six rushers will beat this play if the running back stays in to block, so recognize overload pressure pre-snap and hot route accordingly.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the corner is pressed or sitting off, since the scissors corner route wins fastest against soft coverage that lets the drag clear the underneath traffic first.
Look for two-high safety shells before the snap because this play is designed to stress the flat defender in Cover 2, forcing him to choose between the drag and the corner route.
Hot route the running back to a swing or wheel if you see a blitz look, since the scissors concept alone will not hold up against extra pass rushers with no protection help.
Use this play on second and medium or third and short in the redzone where the compressed field forces zone defenders into tighter throwing windows on the corner route.
Pair Redzone Scissors with Mtn HB Angle or PA Snag from the same set to keep linebackers honest, then come back to Scissors once they start jumping the flat routes.
