Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Redzone Scissors lines up out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close with 11 personnel and creates a true scissors concept on the boundary side, where the outer receiver runs a corner route while the inner slot receiver crosses underneath on a shallow out, their paths crossing at the top of the route stem. On the opposite side the X receiver runs a deep dig back across the field, the TE releases on an out route to the boundary, and the RB checks out on a flat route to the play side. This is a man beater and Cover 2 beater built around the scissors crossing action to create natural rubs and separation, so the primary read starts with the scissors combo (corner then shallow out) before working back to the deep dig if the safety jumps the crossing routes.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, since two deep safeties indicate Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells that this play is specifically designed to exploit with the scissors crossing concept. Post-snap, key the flat defender or corner on the scissors side, if he sinks with the corner route the underneath out will be wide open, if he jumps the out route the corner route will have separation over the top. Watch for a user-controlled safety sitting in the deep middle, since a rangy user defender can jump the deep dig route coming from the opposite side if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Man coverage with press corners can struggle to stay attached through the scissors crossing point, so look for defenders getting picked or losing a step at the route intersection. Beware of a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell with underneath zone defenders sitting in the flat, since a disciplined flat zone defender can undercut the shallow out route and jump the throw for a turnover opportunity.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two deep safeties or a single high look, since the scissors concept on the boundary is designed to attack Cover 2 corners who have to defend both the corner route and the underneath out route with one body.
Use this play in the redzone or in tight field situations where the corner route has room to work since the reduced field width naturally shrinks passing windows for the defense.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, hot route the flat route from the RB into a wheel to create a big play shot against a linebacker or nickel defender in man.
Pair this play with Y-Stick Dig or Mtn Snag Curls from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and the deeper scissors shot, forcing linebackers to respect multiple route depths.
Look to call this on second or third and medium when you need a chunk gain, since the crossing action at the top of the routes creates natural picks against man defenders trailing the scissors combo.
