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With cover-4 seeming to be the in-vogue defense across all levels of football, offenses look to a handful of concepts to take create advantageous one-on-one matchups down the field. A common play that offenses use to beat cover-4 is the “scissors” concept. The scissors concept includes a “corner” route by a slot receiver and a post route by the outside receiver.

This combination gives the offense a way to attack the aggression of safeties. In most cover-4 schemes, safeties are taught to take the No. 2 receiver after eight yards (this varies from team to team). This places the corner and safety in one-on-one matchups.

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The then-San Diego Chargers made good use of this concept during the 2015 season. The figure below diagrams the play:

The Chargers typically used a variation of the drive concept on the backside of scissors. This gives the quarterback an answer in case the defense is in a true cover-2 zone instead of cover-4. Against any single high defense, the quarterback has one-on-one matchups to the scissors concept.

The play can be taught as a progression read: post-corner-drag-dig-flat.

In the video clip below, the Green Bay Packers are in cover-3, and the corner route comes open. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers misses this in his progression, and ends up checking it down to the running back.

The next variation, used in the same game, is out of a trips formation. The added benefit of this version is the back and tight end are check-releasing. This gives the quarterback the ability to still hit a deeper route if the defense blitzes. The post route will often be in a one-on-one matchup against a blitz, and the quarterback can time this route up with his drop. The figure below shows the play:

The backside combination is another variation of the drive concept. This will serve the same purpose as the backside combination in the first example. In the video clip, the Packers are playing cover-4. This gives Rivers exactly what he wants. He reads the front side safety biting on the corner route, and he unloads the deep ball to the post route:

Coaching Points:

1. It is important to pair a good backside concept with the scissors concept. A good cover-2/4 team will be prepared for the route combination, and you need to give your quarterback an answer for it. Feel free to share any backside combinations that you may use with this concept. I am curious to see how other coaches view this play.

2. The No. 2 receiver running the corner route must release inside of the No. 2 defender. This creates the spacing needed for the route to time up. Notice in both video examples that the receiver releases inside on each play. In many cases, this will prevent a zone dropping No. 2 defender to see the route develop behind him.

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A few NFL teams have found another way to enhance the play in 2017. The Arizona Cardinals, under the direction of offensive guru Bruce Arians, used this variation to attack the Dallas Cowboys in the red zone in week 3.

The added benefit is creating inside leverage for the post route. Using a bunch formation ensures that the cornerback will play outside of the formation. In a typical formation, the corner will play inside leverage on the widest receiver, making the post route more difficult to complete. The video below shows the play. Notice the great anticipation from Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer on this throw.

The Minnesota Vikings also used this concept in week 1. The New Orleans Saints played a version of cover-4 to the bunch formation, with the safety and corner matching the vertical stems. Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford notices the safety playing shallow, and inside of the bunch. This allows him to make the throw to the corner route. The video below shows the play.

When preparing for an opponent, it is important to focus on plays that give your offense one-on-one matchups downfield. When playing against a cover-4 team, the scissors concept provides the potential for big plays down the field.

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