Playbooks

Scissors

Shotgun·Trips HB Wk·10

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Scissors is a route combo concept out of Shotgun Trips HB Wk that isolates the backside single receiver against man coverage while using the trips side to occupy the defense with crossing routes. The name refers to the backside receiver and slot defender crossing paths at different depths, creating natural rub separation versus press or man defenders. This is primarily a man beater built to exploit off leverage and pattern matching busts, with the primary read starting backside on the isolated receiver before working to the trips side crossers underneath if the shell rotates to double the single receiver.

Defensive Reads

Read the single high versus two high safety shell before the snap, single high often signals man coverage which plays right into the crossing rub concept. Watch the backside cornerback depth at the snap, if he trails tightly through the rub the isolated route should separate quickly for an easy pitch and catch. Key the trips side linebackers and their zone drop depth, if they sink hard into the crossers the underneath option becomes covered and you need to bail to the isolated read. Identify any user controlled defender lurking near the crossing point, since a smart user can jump the rub route and undercut the throw if you telegraph it too early. This play is shut down by heavy zone shells with disciplined linebacker drops and safety help over the top, so avoid calling it against Cover 4 or quarters based defenses that sit on crossing routes.

Usage Tips

Check the backside cornerback alignment before the snap, if he is in press or tight man look to the isolated route first since the crossing action creates natural separation.

Use motion or a hard count to bait the defense into showing man coverage, since this play struggles more against pure zone drops that sit underneath the crossers.

Hot route the trips side underneath receiver into a quicker option if you see linebackers sitting in shallow zone, turning it into a quick game answer.

Pair this play with HB Off Tackle or Inside Zone earlier in the sequence to get linebackers and safeties creeping up in run support, then hit Scissors off that same personnel look to attack vacated deep space.

Best called on second and medium or third and short to medium when you expect man coverage or a single high safety rotation, since the crossing traffic bites hardest against man principles.

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk