Scissors Mastery with Shane Steichen
The Colts ran every type of Scissors variation in the playbook during the 2025 season.
The Scissors concept is a close relative to Flood concepts. The routes are nearly identical, except the #1 receiver runs a Post route instead of a Fade/Go/Pylon. The #2 receiver is still either on a Sail or a Seattle route.
This adjustment is to take advantage of quarters coverages where the safety drives hard on the out-break from the #2 receiver. The Post then has a 1 on 1 with the cornerback. Inside leverage for the Post route can be manufactured through formations and motions to help the receiver too. If the defense plays anything other than quarters, the concept reads out the same as a true Flood. A hi-low on the flat defender.
The Colts call Scissors off play action and drop back settings. Their base drop back variation is shown below. Often called into he boundary from 2x2, with a Jerk and Dig working into the quarterback’s vision.
The Colts frequently tag the Pump route off the Sail break. When the #2 runs the Pump, the idea is to extend the spacing between the flat player and deep defender. If the hook player keeps his hips square and drives on Sail breaks, this is a good adjustment to take advantage.
Scissors Switch, with the #1 trailing the #2 on his Post route, is another way the Colts pushed the ball downfield. Occupy the near safety with the Corner route, hi-low the seam with the Post and Angle route.
The Colts also frequently utilized their best pass catching tight end, Tyler Warren, on A/B gap Insert Sail routes. The example below shows Warren inserting from the opposite side off the block of the guard. This variation has the ability to keep 7/8 in for max protection.
Sean McVay and the Rams cooked defenses with Scissors and Flood concepts in 2025. I spend 16 pages explaining how they averaged 10 yards per attempt with it in The 2025 Los Angeles Rams Complete Offensive Manual.
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