Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 24 playbooks
Breakdown
FB Dive out of the I Form Wing set is a straight downhill run play that hands the ball to the fullback for a quick hit through the A gap. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking down with the fullback taking a direct path from the backfield through the interior, with the halfback positioned deep and away from the point of attack as a decoy. This is a pure run play with no play-action or route combos attached, designed to punish light boxes and aggressive linebacker flow with a one-cut, north-south run. The primary read progression starts at the play side A gap and bounces to the backside cutback lane if the initial hole is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is in a base 4-3 or 3-4 look with a full box, since heavy fronts with an extra linebacker crashed inside will erase the dive lane immediately. Watch for a Mike linebacker sitting flat-footed at the snap, which signals the defense is reading run fits and will fill the dive lane quickly. Post-snap, key on defensive tackles who shoot gaps rather than read blocks, since penetrating fronts and nano blitzes designed to stuff interior runs kill this play before the fullback can build momentum. User-controlled defenders spying the fullback or sitting in the A gap are the biggest threat, so avoid calling this play if the opponent has shown a tendency to user the middle linebacker downhill. This play struggles against stacked boxes with eight or more defenders and disguised blitzes that bring extra numbers through the interior gaps.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive box count before the snap and only call FB Dive into light boxes of six or fewer defenders to avoid stacking the run into extra blitzers.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into flowing early, since FB Dive punishes over-aggressive downhill linebacker fits.
Pair this play with HB Lead and HB Power O from the same I Form Wing set so the defense cannot key on fullback dive action versus tailback runs.
Run this on short yardage and goal line situations, especially third and one or fourth and one, where defenses often sell out for pass or spread out their box.
Take what the line gives you on the first cut instead of trying to bounce it outside, since this play has no lead blocker in space to protect a wide cutback.
