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 decision. If the safety bails to cover the Post, the QB hits the Drag. If the safety sinks to cover the Drag, the QB hits the Post. When both the Post and Drag are covered, hit the other Drag route. When the secondary covers middle to deep, hit a check down swing route.
See diagram below:
When Jimbo Fisher and A&M ran the Crash concept in a 2021 game against Auburn, they motioned wide receiver Ainias Smith from the boundary to the field to run a swing route. The swing route offers the QB an easy check down route. The running back also runs a check down swing after passing in front of the QB on play-action.
A&M is operating out of 11 personnel, that is 1 tight end and 1 RB. TE Jalen Wydermyer is aligned in a wing position near the LT, WR Jalen Preston is aligned to the field, and WR Demond Demas is aligned to the boundary.
Executing The Play
https://twitter.com/iamthe12thman/status/1543315066254200833
As you can see in the video above, Auburn is in Cover 1. Ainias Smith’s motion from the boundary to the field causes the Tigers to rotate their secondary. The deep safety bails to cover Demond Demas’ post route. Because of the rotation, Jalen Wydermyer is covered by a safety and linebacker and is open 20 yards down the field. Zach Calzada hits Wydermyer on the Drag route and Wydermyer goes out of bounds.
The result of the play is a 25 yard gain and a first down.
The Crash concept is a simple three-man passing concept that attacks the defense in the middle and deep down the field. The ability to execute basic passing concepts is key to A&M’s success as an offense.
