Playbooks
PA Scissors Crossers
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
PA Scissors Crossers is a play-action pass out of Shotgun U Off Trips Flex with 12 personnel, using a hard fake to the backfield to hold the linebackers before the quarterback works the crossing routes. The two receivers from the trips side cross underneath, one on a deep crosser continuing across the field and the other settling into a shallow drag, while the backside runs a deep in breaking route over the middle and the outlet releases to the flat. Blocking is play-action protection up front to sell the run fake, and the read progression starts with the deep crosser working across the field before coming down to the shallow drag and flat if the picture is not there.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the run fake the crossers will have a free lane and this play beats zone coverage that leans on run support. Key the deep safeties, if they hold their pre-snap alignment and do not rotate down this indicates zone drops with soft spots the crossing routes can exploit. Identify man coverage by checking if defenders trail receivers through their initial breaks rather than sitting in zone drops, man coverage lets the crossers create natural traffic and separation. Look for a user lurk defender sitting in the middle of the field, a smart user player will sit on the shallow drag or deep crosser and jump the throw, so trust the QB progression rather than forcing the first crosser. This play struggles against disguised blitzes that get pressure before the fake sells, so watch for defensive linemen or linebackers crashing hard off the edge before the play develops.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs when you have already established the run game so the linebackers bite on the play-action fake. Check the safety alignment pre-snap, if you see two deep safeties sitting still at the snap the crossers will have room to work underneath before the shell rotates. Hot route the flat route to a deeper option if you diagnose man coverage with no underneath help, since the crossers naturally create rub separation against man defenders. Pair this call with Mtn Verticals Y-Cross or Dagger H-Choice earlier in a drive so defenders start jumping shallow crossers, then hit this deep crosser variant for a big gain. Best used on second and medium or first and ten to keep the defense honest against your run-heavy tendencies in this set.
