Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA Boot Scissors runs a play-action bootleg out of Singleback Deuce Close 12 personnel, pulling the QB toward the boot side while the offensive line sells run action. The scissors concept crosses a deep out breaking route with a corner route from the two receivers stacked near the formation, while a TE runs a deep crossing route from the opposite side and the backside TE releases into a shallow drag underneath. The RB checks down on a flat route to the boot side, giving the QB a layered progression from the deep crosser down to the underneath drag and finally the flat as a checkdown against zone or blitz pressure.
Defensive Reads
Read the flow of the linebackers immediately after the snap: if they bite hard on the run fake, the deep crossing TE route will be wide open behind them. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, since that lurk threat can jump the drag route and bait a risky throw. Identify Cover 3 sky or Cover 3 cloud pre-snap by cornerback depth: if the corner sits at 5-7 yards with outside leverage, the scissors corner route can get squeezed by the flat defender. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge can beat the boot action before the QB fully commits, so check the offensive line count and be ready to check into a quicker throw. Cover 2 with aggressive underneath linebackers dropping into passing lanes will clog the shallow drag, forcing the QB to climb the progression to the corner or deep crosser instead.
Usage Tips
Use this play on early downs or second and medium when defenses are keying run out of 12 personnel, since the play action freezes linebackers and opens the crossing route.
Check safety depth pre-snap: if both safeties sit at 10-12 yards in a two-high shell, target the corner route in the scissors concept since it attacks the seam vacated by Cover 2 flat defenders.
Against Cover 4 or quarters shells, prioritize the deep crossing TE route since it stretches the field horizontally and forces a linebacker or safety to carry it across zones.
Hot route the backside TE drag into a deeper in-route if you see man coverage with no underneath help, turning this into a true man beater against Cover 1 or Cover 3 man variations.
Pair this play with PA Boot Corner Post or PA Boot Slide in the same set to keep the boot action consistent and force defenders to respect multiple route combinations off identical play-action footwork.
