Playbooks

Scissors Smash

Shotgun·Wing Slot Offset·12
SmashScissorsPass PlayCover 2 BeaterCover 4 Beater
Play diagram for Scissors Smash from Shotgun Wing Slot Offset in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 9 playbooks

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Breakdown

Scissors Smash is a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater run out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset with 12 personnel. To the top of the diagram, the outside receiver runs a deep corner route while the tight end underneath breaks to the flat, forming the classic smash combo that stretches the flat defender and deep quarter or half safety vertically. On the same side, the slot runs a scissors cross underneath, crossing under the corner route to attack the middle void, while the backside receiver runs a deep vertical to occupy the far safety. The primary read starts with the corner and flat combo to the smash side, then works to the scissors crosser sitting down in the void if the safety jumps the corner route.

Defensive Reads

Key the flat defender first: if he widens to the tight end's flat route, the window for the scissors crosser sitting underneath opens up immediately. Watch the deep safety over the smash side: a Cover 2 safety who jumps the corner route leaves the crosser wide open in the intermediate middle, while a Cover 4 safety who sinks late gives the corner route room to work the sideline. Diagnose man versus zone by the corner's press or soft leverage pre-snap: press man alignment signals you should rely on the natural rub from the crossing routes for separation. Beware disguised Cover 3 rotations where the flat defender and deep third corner both sit on the smash side, taking away both levels of the concept and forcing you to check down to the backside vertical. Watch for a user-controlled linebacker spying the scissors crosser or blitzing off the edge, since this concept holds the ball long enough that a well timed blitz can disrupt the timing before the corner route develops.

Usage Tips

Use this on second and long or third and medium when you expect a two-high shell since the smash concept is built to attack Cover 2 and Cover 4 rotations.

Pre-snap, check the safety alignment: if both safeties sit deep and the corners play soft outside leverage, that is your green light to work the smash side flat to corner progression.

If the defense shows man coverage instead, hot route the scissors crosser into a quicker option route or bang it down early since the natural rub from the crossing routes creates separation against man defenders.

Pair this call with Smash or Smash Y-Post from the same set to keep the defense guessing on which side the corner route is coming from, forcing safeties to hesitate on their rotation.

Against aggressive user linebackers who sit underneath, use the scissors crosser as a check down since it settles in the void vacated by an overreacting flat defender.

Other Plays in Wing Slot Offset