Playbooks
Scissors is a route combo concept out of Shotgun Wide Trips HB WK that gets its name from crossing routes that split defenders in the middle of the field. The trips side runs a combination designed to create natural picks and separation against man coverage, while the backside receiver works a route to hold the single-high safety or force zone defenders to widen their drops. This is primarily a man beater, with the primary read progression starting on the crossing routes from the trips side working inside out, then working back to the backside receiver as a checkdown or hot read if the middle is clogged.
Pre-snap, identify whether the trips side corners are playing tight man or bailing into zone drops, since Scissors thrives against man coverage and struggles against a disciplined zone shell. Watch the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits shallow expecting the crossing routes he can jump the throw and create a user pick six opportunity. Look for single-high safety alignment, if the safety cheats to the trips side pre-snap it signals help over the top and the backside route becomes the better option. Post-snap, key on any user-controlled defender sitting in a lurk position in the shallow middle, since this is the primary threat that can undercut the crossing routes before they clear the traffic. Cover 2 with press corners on the trips side is a common counter, as the physical jam disrupts the timing of the crossing routes and forces a late, contested throw.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the trips side cornerbacks to confirm man coverage before committing to the crossing routes since Scissors loses value against a solid zone shell with underneath defenders sitting in passing lanes.
Use motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz, which opens up the crossing routes even faster against man beaters.
This play works best on early downs or third and short to medium since the crossing routes need a few ticks to develop and separate.
Pair Scissors with Quick Slants or Stick from this same set to keep defenses guessing between quick game and the developing crossing concept, forcing linebackers to respect both the short and intermediate middle of the field.
If you see a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell post-snap, hot route the backside receiver into a deeper comeback or out route to attack the boundary defender instead of forcing the ball into the crossing traffic.