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Breakdown
Scissors is a crossing route concept out of Empty Trey designed to attack the seams and intermediate zones vacated by Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells. The two inside receivers run intersecting routes at different depths, creating natural traffic that forces zone defenders to pass off coverage while the outside routes hold the deep corners and safeties. With five eligible receivers spread wide and no back in the backfield, the primary progression starts with the crossing route that clears first (usually the shallower of the two), then works to the deep crosser as the safety over the top gets pulled by outside route stems, with the backside single receiver as a late checkdown against blown coverage.
Defensive Reads
Identify two-high safety shells pre-snap since Scissors is specifically labeled a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater and the crossing routes are designed to split the difference between the flat defenders and the deep safeties. Watch for user-controlled safeties sitting in the middle of the field, commonly called a lurk, since a smart defender can rob the deep crosser and bait the quarterback into a turnover. Key linebacker depth at the snap because if the linebackers sink quickly into the crossing lanes instead of respecting play action or run fits, the shallow crosser gets taken away immediately. Man coverage with underneath help, such as Cover 1 or Cover 6, tends to shut this down since the crossers run directly into traffic and lose separation against physical man defenders who can trail through the pick. Disguised zone blitzes are dangerous against Empty formations since there is no running back to check block, so watch for late-showing pressure off the edge that forces the quarterback to speed up his read progression.
Usage Tips
Look for two-high safety alignment pre-snap since this play is built specifically to punish Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells that leave soft spots in the intermediate seams.
If the defense shows single-high pre-snap, consider audibling to a different play in the set like Four Verticals or Y-Post Ohio since Scissors loses value against Cover 3 and Cover 1 unless you hot route the crossers into deeper spacing.
Use motion or a hot route on the backside receiver to convert him into a hook or drag route as a rhythm throw if the defense rotates late and disguises the shell.
This play pairs well with Stick or Quick Slants on early downs to set up tendencies, then hit Scissors on second or third and medium once the defense starts sitting on quick game.
Best used on second and long to third and medium situations where the offense has time to let the crossing routes develop and the QB can climb the pocket in Empty since there is no run action to hold linebackers.
