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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Redzone HB Scissors runs a scissors concept out of Shotgun Wing Flex Offset Wk with 12 personnel, crossing an in-breaking route from the inside receiver with an out-breaking corner route from the outside receiver on the left side, creating natural traffic that forces defenders to fight through picks. On the right side the TE and outside receiver run a stack of go routes stretching the vertical seams, while the backside receiver runs a shallow drag underneath to give the quarterback a checkdown against pressure. This is a man beater and Cover 2 beater built around the scissors crossing action to shake press or trail defenders, with the two vertical routes on the right stressing Cover 4 safeties who have to honor deep responsibilities. The primary read starts with the scissors combo on the left since the natural rub creates immediate separation, progressing to the two verticals on the right if the corner route wins deep, and finally to the shallow drag as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, check corner depth on the scissors side, a corner playing tight press is vulnerable to the natural rub created by the crossing routes. Watch the safeties for two high shells, Cover 2 defenders sinking into deep halves will get attacked by the corner route climbing vertically after the initial cross. Post snap, track any user lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle since he can undercut the crossing route in the scissors before it clears traffic. Against Cover 4, key the outside safety and corner on the two verticals, if they stay flat footed or bite on the run fake the seams will open for a big play. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge open the shallow drag as an immediate answer since the quarterback can get the ball out before pressure arrives.
Usage Tips
Use this in the redzone or in tight man coverage situations since the scissors concept thrives against press man and Cover 2 corners jumping the flat.
Presnap, identify if the safeties are showing two high or single high, because against Cover 2 the corner route in the scissors will climb over the underneath defender into the vacated deep half.
If you see man coverage with no safety help over the top, hot route the shallow drag into a quicker option or motion the backside receiver to create a natural pick and confirm man coverage.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or PA Verts Comeback in your play-calling sequence to condition the defense into thinking every snap is a vertical shot, setting up the scissors as a change of pace.
Best called on second or third and medium in the redzone where the compressed field limits deep safety rotation and forces defenders into tighter man assignments.
