Playbooks
PA FB Dive out of the Flexbone Close formation sells the fullback dive fake from the triple option look before releasing receivers downfield off the play action freeze. The blocking scheme mirrors the run action up front to hold linebackers and safeties at the line of scrimmage, buying the quarterback time on the play fake. This is a play-action shot play designed to punish defenses that key run fits hard against Flexbone option looks, and the primary read progression starts with the deep route off the fake before working down to the intermediate crosser and finally the checkdown if the top of the route tree is capped.
Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they step up hard on the dive fake instead of maintaining pass drop discipline the play action window is wide open Identify single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, since aggressive run support from the free safety leaves the deep middle exposed to the primary read Beware defenses that stay disciplined with two deep safeties and only rush four, as this forces the quarterback into the intermediate and checkdown progression Look for user-controlled defenders spying the fullback fake instead of biting, which signals the human defender knows the tendency and is sitting on the play action Blitz packages that bring extra defenders through the fullback dive gap can collapse the pocket before the fake sells, so check protection or plan a quick throw against known blitz-heavy opponents
Call this play after establishing FB Zone Dive, Inside Veer Triple Opt, or Midline Triple earlier in the drive so linebackers are conditioned to crash on the fullback fake
Use it on early downs like first and ten or second and short when defenses are more likely to sell out against the option run game
Check pre-snap for stacked box looks or safeties creeping down into the box, since that aggression is exactly what makes the play action fake effective
If the defense shows two high safeties and is playing off the run action, hot route the underneath receiver into a quick option route to give the quarterback a faster answer against zone drops
Pair this play in your call sheet with Wb Dive and Load Option so the defense cannot sit on run reads without opening up the play action window