Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
FB Dive out of the Jumbo Near formation is a straight downhill run play designed to hit the interior of the defensive line with the fullback getting the handoff. The offensive line blocks down with a standard dive scheme, creating a wedge at the point of attack while the tight end and extra blockers in this heavy personnel package seal the edges. This is a pure run play with no pass option attached, and the primary read is the fullback pressing the hole between the guards and reading the first level of the defense, cutting to whichever crease opens based on the flow of the defensive line.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, count the box defenders. A stacked box with linebackers creeping to the line signals run blitz recognition and should make you think twice before calling this. Watch middle linebacker depth. If the mike linebacker is sitting shallow and square to the line, he is reading run first and will fill the dive lane quickly. Look for defensive tackles in a shaded technique. A nose tackle lined up head up or shaded to the play side gap can blow up the fullback dive before it develops. Post-snap, key on whether linebackers are flowing hard to the play side. Disciplined linebackers who stay home and read their gaps will limit this play to minimal gains. This run struggles against goal line and heavy run-stopping fronts with extra defensive linemen, but it beats light boxes and defenses that substitute in nickel or dime personnel expecting pass.
Usage Tips
Call this play on short yardage downs like third or fourth and one, or in goal line situations where you need a tough, north south gain.
Check the defensive front pre-snap. If you see a light box with only six or fewer defenders in the box, this is an easy conversion play.
Use this in combination with FB Dive Weak to keep the defense honest on both sides of the formation, forcing linebackers to respect both gaps.
Pair FB Dive with PA Strong Flow from the same Jumbo Near set. If the defense starts stacking the box to stop the dive, the play action rollout off the same look can catch aggressive linebackers cheating up.
Avoid calling this against defenses showing eight or nine in the box with edge defenders crashing down hard, since the fullback has minimal space to operate against a stacked front.
