Playbooks
Mtn PA Fk Screen Scissors
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Mtn PA Fk Screen Scissors is a play-action shot play out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset Wk that disguises a fake screen to sell run action while running a Scissors concept on the backside. The diagram shows the two outside receivers crossing routes (red and gold) breaking opposite directions off a vertical stem to create natural rubs against man coverage, while the tight end at the top of the screen runs an out and up to occupy the flat and hold the safety. On the near side, the slot receiver runs a shallow drag/comeback (blue) underneath as a checkdown option while the backfield fakes the screen to freeze linebackers. The primary read progression starts with the deep crossing routes off the Scissors concept, then works down to the flat/out route, and finally to the underneath drag as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth: if both safeties are shallow expecting run support, the Scissors concept will win over the top against Cover 2 or Cover 3. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, since the fake screen action is designed to pull them up and open passing lanes for the crossing routes behind them. Man coverage defenders following the crossing receivers into the rub will get picked, so look for a natural pick opportunity if defenders are in man across the formation. Cover 4 shells with disciplined cornerbacks sitting on the crossers can shut this down, so be ready to check down to the underneath drag route. User-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position near the crossing point can jump the Scissors routes, so avoid forcing that throw if you see a defender sitting in the middle of the field post-snap.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion on the near side receiver to identify if the defense is playing man or zone based on whether a defender follows across the formation.
This play works best on second or third and medium since the Scissors concept takes time to develop and needs the play-action fake to hold linebackers.
If you see Cover 2 shells, target the deep crosser breaking away from the safety help since the Scissors naturally clears out the underneath zone defenders.
Pair this call with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Peek earlier in a series so the defense respects the quick game and bites harder on the play-action screen fake here.
Hot route the flat route tight end into a deeper corner route against Cover 4 to stress the outside cornerback who is reading run action.
