Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
Redzone Scissors lines up out of Shotgun Doubles Hip with 11 personnel and creates a true scissors concept on the right side, where the outside receiver runs a corner route while the slot receiver crosses underneath on a shallow drag into the middle of the field. On the left side the receiver runs a dig that settles in the middle, while the outside receiver on that side works a deep out to the sideline. The backfield or inline player releases on a deep post up the seam, giving the quarterback a crossing shot off the scissors action. This is a man beater and Cover 2 beater built around the crossing routes creating natural separation, with the primary read starting on the scissors combo (corner/drag) before working back to the deep post if the crossers get jumped.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is running Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells since this play is designed to exploit the seams between deep zone defenders. Watch the deep safeties at the snap: if they bail hard to the corners, the post route sitting in the middle of the field should be uncovered. If linebackers show blitz looks or walk up into the box pre-snap, expect the drag route to be open quickly against man coverage since the crossing action creates natural rub separation. Post-snap, key on any user-controlled defender lurking in the shallow zone since a smart user can sit on the drag and jump the crossing route, so be ready to climb the ladder to the corner or post instead. This play struggles against disciplined Cover 3 with a deep middle defender since that safety sits directly in the throwing lane of the post route, and it can also get shut down by aggressive man press corners who disrupt the timing of the corner route before it ever gets vertical.
Usage Tips
Use this play in the red zone or in the medium to short yardage passing situations since the crossing routes need room to develop but do not require a ton of vertical field. Pre-snap, check the safety alignment: if you see two high safeties bailing to deep quarters or Cover 2, prioritize the scissors corner and drag combo since the crossing action naturally beats man coverage and creates a natural pick against zone defenders. If the defense shows single high with press corners, hot route the drag into a quick option route to give your QB a faster answer against man coverage. Combine this with Levels earlier in a drive to condition the defense to sit on shallow crossers, then hit Redzone Scissors to attack over the top with the post route once linebackers start jumping the underneath stuff. Pair this call with Switch WR Drag in your play-calling sequence since both attack similar horizontal stress points but create different vertical answers, keeping second and third level defenders guessing. On third and medium, key on the post route first since it stresses the deep middle voids typically left in zone coverage.
