Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Slam Fk End Arnd is a trick run play out of the I Form Pro 21 personnel that sells a quick hitting HB slam dive up the middle before the ball actually goes to the end around man circling from the backside. The diagram shows the FB and HB crashing downhill through the middle as a fake dive action while the receiver on the near side motions across the formation on the flat route path, taking the handoff and turning it upfield around the edge. This is a misdirection run play designed to attack overaggressive run fits, and the primary read is simply getting the edge defender and flowing linebackers to bite on the dive fake before the end around ball carrier turns the corner.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is stacking the box expecting another inside run, since heavy fronts are more susceptible to the misdirection. Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker, if they crash down hard on the fake dive action they are out of position to defend the edge. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting outside, disciplined edge play or a designated end around defender will blow this play up for a loss. Against man coverage shells the play works best when the second level defenders bite on run flow, so read linebacker depth and whether they step up or hold their gap. If the defense shows contain rules or keeps a defender spying the reverse action pre-snap, expect this play to be diagnosed quickly and consider going back to a standard run instead.
Usage Tips
Call this play after you have already shown HB Slam or HB Blast a few times so the defense keys on the dive action and flows hard to the middle.
Use it on early downs like first or second and short to medium yardage when defenses are more willing to sell out against inside run looks.
Watch for defenses that crash their edge defender and outside linebacker hard down inside, since that is exactly the leverage this play is designed to exploit.
Pair this play in your call sheet with HB Slam, FB Dive Strong, and HB Blast to build a run fake tendency before hitting this end around for a home run shot.
Avoid calling this against teams that keep their edge defenders disciplined or use contain rules on the play side, since a patient edge defender can blow this up immediately.
