Playbooks
Breakdown
Redzone Scissors lines up out of Shotgun Doubles with 11 personnel and shows 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 that stems opposite, creating a natural rub against man coverage. On the backside, the far outside receiver runs a deep comeback breaking toward the sideline while the inside receiver works a short out, giving the quarterback a two level read away from the scissors concept. The running back releases into the flat as a checkdown and safety valve, and there is no play-action or screen action shown, making this a straight dropback pass built as both a man and Cover 2 or Cover 4 beater. The primary read starts with the scissors combo to the field, reading the corner route first against off coverage and working down to the underneath crosser if the corner is squeezed.
Defensive Reads
Key the flat defender on the scissors side, since a hard flat drop signals Cover 2 and tells you to climb the corner route between the flat and deep safety. Watch the slot cornerback or nickel at the snap, since a hard trail on the shallow crosser confirms man coverage and opens up the rub for an easy completion underneath. Check both safeties before the snap, since two high safeties invite the corner route while a single high safety usually means Cover 3 or man, which favors the crosser instead. If a linebacker walks up into a blitz alignment, expect pressure off the edge, so get the ball out quickly to the flat or the shallow crosser to beat the blitz timing. Diagnose user controlled defenders sitting in the flat or lurking underneath the corner route, since a smart user will jump the throwing lane if the quarterback stares down the scissors side too long.
Usage Tips
Use this play in the redzone or on third and medium when you need a high low read on the corner against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells.
Presnap, identify if the corner over the scissors side is playing press or off, since off coverage opens up the corner route as your first read.
If you see two deep safeties, trust the scissors concept to work the corner route into the void behind the flat defender and in front of the safety.
Hot route the backside comeback into a quick out if you are facing heavy pressure looks, since it gives the quarterback a faster answer against blitz.
Pair this play with Curl Flats or Slant Flat earlier in a drive so the defense respects the flat and opens up the corner route over the top on Redzone Scissors.
