Playbooks
FB Dive Wk is a downhill run play out of the Flexbone Trio Right formation that hands the ball to the fullback on a weak side dive attack. The blocking scheme relies on the offensive line and slot backs to create an interior gap while the fullback presses the line quickly to hit the crease before linebackers can flow. This is a base run play, not a play-action or RPO look, and the primary read is the weak side A gap to B gap crease, with the fullback reading the down blocks of the guard and center to decide whether to cut back or stay north-south.
Pre-snap, identify the weak side linebacker depth and alignment since a linebacker sitting too far outside or too deep opens the dive lane immediately. Watch for a stacked box with the strong safety cheating down, which signals the defense is keying the fullback dive and will fill fast. Post-snap, key the play side defensive tackle and guard matchup: if the tackle gets driven off the ball, the fullback should stick to the called gap, but if there is penetration the fullback needs to cut away from the trash. User-controlled defenders sitting at the line of scrimmage or spying the fullback are the biggest threat to this play, so avoid calling it repeatedly against a defense with a user in the box. Against blitz packages with extra defenders crashing downhill, this play gets stopped quickly since there is no misdirection, so switch to FB Trap or FB Lead Toss Wk to counter the aggressive front.
Use FB Dive Wk on early downs when you want to establish tempo and force the defense to respect the interior run before opening up your play-action shots from this set.
Check the box count pre-snap: if the defense has six or more in the box you are outnumbered, so consider audibling to FB Zone Toss or Tr Cntr Wk to attack the perimeter instead.
This play punishes light boxes and defenses sitting in nickel or dime personnel, so call it after motioning or when you diagnose a pass-heavy defensive personnel package.
Pair FB Dive Wk with PA FB Dive in the same set to sell the exact same fullback dive action, then hit defenders biting on the run fake with a play-action shot off the fullback fake.
On short yardage or goal line and one situations, this play is a strong sneak-style call since the quick hit to the fullback beats slow linebacker flow before gaps fill.