Author: James Taglienti

Texas A&M’s pro-option offense gives the quarterback the ability to turn any play call into an option play. Typically every run play has a pass option tagged onto it making it a run-pass option or RPO.  A&M’s quarterbacks shoulder a lot of responsibility in Jimbo Fisher’s offense.  RPOs make the game simple. On most plays, the QB only has to read one defender which simplifies decision-making. Related: Play Breakdown: Texas A&M Runs All-Hitch QB Draw RPO Concept The QB Draw RPO is a simple one-read play. A&M runs QB Draw RPO out of 11 personnel with three receivers to the field…

The Southeastern Conference is adding Texas and Oklahoma in 2025. The B1G is adding USC and UCLA in 2024. The SEC and the B1G are battling to lock up the biggest brands in college football, and Notre Dame is the next target for the B1G. The B1G is currently in a holding pattern until Notre Dame makes a decision on joining a conference. The SEC should target Notre Dame as the next addition to their conference. Part Time Membership Is An Option The SEC is currently the strongest conference in the nation in college football, so they operate from a…

The toss sweep is one of the most basic plays in football. In Cordarelle Patterson, Arthur Smith and the Falcons have a 6’2 227 pound hybrid running back/receiver who is perfect for the outside running and power needed when running the sweep. Trailing Tampa Bay 14-0 in the second quarter, facing a 2nd and 6, the Falcons call toss sweep. The Falcons are using 22 personnel, two backs and two tight ends. Matt Ryan is under center, Patterson is aligned seven yards in the backfield. Lee Smith is the left tight end and Kyle Pitts is the right tight end.…

Jimbo Fisher uses some Air Raid concepts in his pro-option offense, which makes sense when you consider the Air Raid’s origins. The Air Raid is simply a stripped down version of the West Coast Offense. Taking pro concepts and simplifying them is at the heart of the Air Raid. It is also at the heart of Jimbo’s passing offense. All-Hitch Concept The All-Hitch concept is very simple, all four receivers literally runs five steps to threaten vertical, then turn over their left shoulder and look for the ball. The QB chooses the receiver with the best opportunity to make the…

Jimbo Fisher uses multiple two and three-man concepts in Texas A&M’s pro-option offense. One of the simple plays to attack a Cover 1 defense is the Crash concept. (Note: Terminology differs across football, A&M may call this concept by a different name.) The Crash Concept The Crash concept consists of two receivers running Drag routes and a receiver running a Post route over them. It is a simple three-man concept. The idea is the lone safety is forced to choose between covering the Post or a Drag route. The quarterback reads the safety and chooses a receiver based on his…

Atlanta finished the 2021 season with a 7-10 record and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive  year. Second-year head coach Arthur Smith leads a young team trying to build around a youth movement after trading away perennial Pro Bowlers Julio Jones and Matt Ryan over the past two seasons.  The Falcons boast one of the best players in the NFL on their team, and it isn’t Pro Bowl TE Kyle Pitts. According to NFL.com’s Nick Shook and NextGen stats, Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell is the best coverage corner in the League. https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1543240577742909441 In order to qualify, players needed a…