Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Redzone HB Scissors lines up out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex Wk with two receivers stacked wide left and two more split wide right. The left side runs the scissors concept: one receiver breaks outside and up the sideline while the other crosses underneath him toward the opposite flat, creating natural traffic against man coverage, and the HB releases from the backfield on a shallow drag underneath that crossing action. On the right side the two receivers run a pin route combo with the outside man cutting back across the field and the inside man mirroring underneath, giving you a second crossing option away from the initial read. The primary read starts with the scissors crossing routes on the left, then works to the HB drag as a checkdown, and finally to the right side crossers if the defense rotates away from the initial concept.
Defensive Reads
Watch the cornerback alignment on the left side pre-snap, since press man or tight outside technique gets beat immediately by the scissors crossing action. Key the safety depth before the snap, because two high shells with safeties sitting shallow can jump the outside breaking route and force you to work the HB drag instead. Post-snap, track any user controlled defender flowing toward the crossing routes, since a lurking linebacker or safety sitting in the middle of the field can undercut both scissors routes if the quarterback stares them down. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets shredded by the natural rub created between the two crossing receivers on the left. Cover 2 corners playing outside leverage get beat because the underneath crosser occupies the flat defender while the outside breaker climbs vertically past him, but a disciplined zone drop from the linebacker level can sit in the crossing lanes and bait a turnover.
Usage Tips
Call this on third and short to third and medium inside the redzone when you need a high percentage man beater near the goal line.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since the scissors concept exploits man coverage leverage and creates natural picks against Cover 2 corners playing outside technique.
If the defense shows Cover 4 or quarters, hot route the outside scissors receiver into a quick out to attack the flat before the safety can rotate over.
Use the HB drag as your built in checkdown against blitz looks, since the crossing traffic up top usually delays underneath defenders from getting depth.
Pair this play with Quick Slants or RPO Peek Slant earlier in a series so the defense respects the quick game, then come back to HB Scissors to hit the deeper crossing route once corners start jumping short routes.
