---
title: "Drive Concept Explained: Shallow, Basic and Angle"
description: "Drive pairs a shallow cross with a 12-yard basic route and an angle to put the middle linebacker in a bind. The build, what it beats and the quarterback's read."
url: https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/concepts/drive/
---

passing concept

# Drive Concept

Drive runs a shallow cross underneath, a basic route breaking inside behind it at 12 yards and an angle route underneath, putting the middle linebacker in a bind.

![Drive passing concept diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/drive.webp)

## How Drive Is Built

Crucible's Drive has a shallow at 5 yards, the tight end on a basic route breaking inside at 12 yards, and the third receiver in the bunch on an angle route underneath.

## What Drive Beats

- Zones with a single middle linebacker, including Cover 3 and quarters.
- Man, with the shallow and angle routes running away from defenders.

## How the QB Reads It

Read it as a triangle, starting with the middle linebacker: a linebacker who jumps the shallow opens the basic route behind it, and one who sinks under the basic leaves the shallow. If both are covered, the angle is the third side of the triangle. Against man, the shallow is often open early. In Crucible's Drive Boot, the Boot side (a Low-High) comes first, then Drive.

## The Routes in Drive

-

![Angle diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/routes/angle.thumb.webp)

Angle

-

![Basic diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/routes/basic.thumb.webp)

Basic

-

![Shallow diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/routes/shallow.thumb.webp)

Shallow

## Rep Drive Against These Coverages

-

![Cover 1 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-1.thumb.webp)

Cover 1 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 2 Tampa diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-2-tampa.thumb.webp)

Cover 2 Tampa 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 3 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-3.thumb.webp)

Cover 3 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 4 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-4.thumb.webp)

Cover 4 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 4p diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-4p.thumb.webp)

Cover 4p 15 plays to rep against

-

![Cover 6 diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-6.thumb.webp)

Cover 6 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 3 Buzz diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-3-buzz.thumb.webp)

Cover 3 Buzz 31 plays to rep against
-

![Cover 3 Weak Buzz diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/coverages/cover-3-weak-buzz.thumb.webp)

Cover 3 Weak Buzz 31 plays to rep against

+ 4 more in Crucible

## Drive Plays in Crucible

-

![Drive Boot diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/plays/drive-boot.thumb.webp)

Drive Boot

## Related routes

-

Shallow

## Related passing concepts

-

![Mesh diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/mesh.thumb.webp)

Mesh Shallow / Rail / Cross / In

Rep Drive in Crucible
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