Playbooks
PA Scissors is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Duo Offset that sells the Duo run action before attacking downfield with crossing routes that create natural rub separation, hence the "scissors" name. The scissors concept works two receivers on intersecting paths, typically a deep dig or corner crossing under a post or vertical stem, which forces man defenders to fight through traffic and gives zone defenders conflicting landmarks. This is a play-action man beater first and a solid zone beater second, and the primary read progression starts with the deep crossing route off the play fake, then works down to the underneath crosser or flat option if the safety jumps the top of the concept.
Pre snap, identify whether the defense has two safeties deep or one, since single high alignments almost always mean man coverage that this crossing concept is designed to defeat. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they bite hard on the run fake you get extra time in the pocket and a wider throwing window on the deep crosser. Post snap, key the safety over the top of the scissors concept, if he flows late or gets caught reading the run fake the deep route will be open in behind him. Beware Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with a hard flat foot defender or lurking linebacker sitting in the shallow crossing lane, since a disciplined zone defender who does not bite on play action can undercut the underneath route. If the defense brings a blitz off the edge, get the ball out quickly to the shorter crosser or checkdown before the protection breaks down, since play action rollouts and shot plays are vulnerable to fast pressure.
Run this on early downs like first or second and short to keep the run fake honest and to hold linebackers in the box longer.
Check safety depth before the snap, if you see two high safeties sitting at 10 to 12 yards they are likely playing off zone or Cover 2, which lets the deep crosser sit down in the window between levels.
If the defense shows single high with the corners pressed, expect man coverage, so trust the scissors crossing action to naturally pick off man defenders and take the first clean crosser as your primary throw.
Hot route the underneath option to a speed out or drag if you see a linebacker spying the middle of the field, this gives you a quick answer against disciplined defenses that stay home on the play fake.
Sequence this with Duo Offset and Inside Zone earlier in a series so the defense keys the run action, then hit them with PA Scissors once the linebackers start creeping up on run downs.