NFL Pass Concepts: Scissors Route Concept 2x2
Here is an article covering some different crossing route variations you see from the y cross and shallow cross family. Let’s jump right in and look at some route concepts that you can use. Some from the shallow, other from the y cross variety!
The one I love is the Chiefs crossing route variation.
They have the #1 and #2 run clear routes with the crossing route coming from the other side.
This is a very easy concept to install and teach, and can be utilized from various formations. The progression is easy to install. First the route concept.
There are 2 ways to run the route.
#1
Using 2 WR with the dover route and shallow coming from WR. Thr thru routes don’t change in this example or the one below it.
#2 Using the RB or H back as the shallow runner and keeping the TE in to block. This allows you to maybe use a different protection and high low the flat defender with the RB or H Back. The thru routes don’t change.
Progression:
You must understand the reads and how to teach it.
The progression is:
1-post- y cross to shallow
Let’s look at some cover 1 clips
Below the Lions are in cover 1. The Colts bring the LB underneath and run the shallow with the y cross. The CB has no chance as the wr gets a natural pick from the TE. The shallow cross is open.
CB stays outside and is late to react.
The WR works off the TE pick and the LB doesn’t help the CB at all on the crossing route.
Play #2
The CB tries to pass it off to the mike but the WR is wide open.
Nice route design and easy completion.
The 2 clips of the play above.
Dover route vs Cover 1
Who better to run the dover route than Travis Kelce and the Chiefs. They run it starting Kelce outside and bring him inside. You will often see him run dover or the sail route from this formation
Love the way Kelce attacks leverage vertically and gets the DB to hesitate.
The Read takes him to the dover or y cross.
The great thing about it is it has great answers vs zone. The dover route will often be open as the CB and safety have to respect the thru routes.
Slot Post vs Cover 1
You can hit the slot post vs cover 1 depending on leverage and where the safety is. The Chiefs run the scisssors with orbit motion.
The safety is sitting on the dover from Kelce which allows the WR to attack the post. Nice route and he gets the flag on the interference.
The Orbit motion is used to try to draw the flat defender or LB to the flat in zone.
In the next 2 examples they use the H back RB as the shallow runner out of the backfield.
Great route vs cover 4. H Releases to the flat.
The LB plays the shallow and it opens the dover up.
The dover is open for a nice completion.
In the next example they run the concept vs cover 4.
vs cover 4
This time they use the RB to the flat from the other side and keep the TE in.
The RB draws the curl flat defender up and allows the Chiefs to hit the dover route behind the LB.
You can see the DB taking the thru route and opens up Kelce on the crossing route.
Here is the clip plus 4 more of the concept vs zone coverage.
I hope you enjoyed this article and see how the scissors concept can be integrated into your offense. These are just some of the variations on the scissor route.