Playbooks
Mtn PA Smash Scissors
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn PA Smash Scissors is a play-action pass out of Shotgun Y Trips Wk with 11 personnel that uses a scissors concept to the trips side and a deep comeback with a flat route to the boundary. Pre-snap motion brings a receiver across before the play-action fake, and to the trips side the two outside receivers cross paths deep, one running a corner route and the other a deep post, creating natural traffic against both zone and man defenders while the underneath TE or RB runs a shallow flat route to hold linebackers. On the backside, the single receiver runs a deep comeback while another underneath option sits in the shallow flat, giving the QB a low, high, low read from the boundary comeback to the scissors post/corner combo. This is a Cover 2 and Cover 4 beater built to attack the seams and corners vacated by the play-action fake, with the primary read progressing from the backside comeback to the scissors crossing routes based on the safety's leverage.
Defensive Reads
Read the safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are deep at 10 plus yards you are likely facing Cover 2 or Cover 4 and should prioritize the scissors combo over the comeback route. Watch the flat defender to the trips side after the snap, if he widens out to cover the shallow flat route the crossing corner route behind him should be wide open. Check linebacker depth before the snap, shallow linebackers who bite hard on the play-action fake will vacate the middle of the field for the scissors post route. This play struggles against aggressive Cover 3 sky or buzz looks where a safety rotates down into the shallow flat, jumping the underneath route before the deep crossers develop. Be wary of disguised man blitzes where a slot corner or nickel presses at the line, since the crossing routes take time to develop and a nano blitz can force a quick, forced throw before routes clear.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is in man or zone, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are looking at man coverage and the scissors concept becomes a strong man beater. Sell the play-action fake fully by holding the RB run animation as long as possible, this play works best on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and medium when defenses are more likely to bite on the run fake. Against Cover 2, target the scissors corner route since the crossing action confuses the flat defender and safety, letting the corner route sit in the void behind the corner and in front of the deep safety. Against Cover 4 quarters shells, key the post route in the scissors combo since the crossing action can pick off a quarters defender's zone drop and open a throwing lane down the middle. Pair this play with Mtn RPO Base Alert Smash or Mtn Smash HB Angle in the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick game and deep shot concepts off similar formation looks.
