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 most yards after the catch and throws to him. Simple throw and catch.
See diagram below:
When A&M ran all-hitch against Missouri in 2021, Jimbo had Isaiah Spiller run an arrow to the field as a check-down. The defense was aligned in Cover 2 with the safeties 13 yards off the line of scrimmage and the cornerbacks eight yards off the wide receivers. All-Hitch is an easy call here just based on defensive alignment.
The offense is in 11 personnel with tight end Jalen Wydermyer in the slot to the boundary.
Executing The Play
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At the snap, Jalen Preston runs five yards and turn to look for the ball. The corner backpedals three yards, giving Preston an even larger cushion. Easy read and throw for Zach Calzada, easy catch for Jalen Preston.
Preston catches the ball, does a nice 180 to move away from the sideline, and Wydermyer blocks the LB covering him to give Preston room to operate. Preston gains five yards after the reception for a 10 yard gain and a first down.
All-Hitch is a basic concept, which makes it an easy confidence-builder for an inexperienced QB like Calzada. The simplicity of the concept is one of the reasons it is so popular among coaches. A&M may start Haynes King in 2022, making base concepts like All-Hitch a staple in the offense.