Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Dive out of Pistol Bunch TE is a straight downhill run play designed to hit the A gap fast before the defense can flow. The offensive line blocks a standard interior scheme, with the fullback or blocking assignment sealing the point of attack while the three bunch receivers to the left and the single TE side occupy the defense with vertical releases that hold defenders in place rather than run routes for a pass concept. This is a pure run play, not a play-action or RPO, and the primary read is the HB reading the A gap first, then bouncing to the B gap if the middle is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a light box pre-snap, if the defense has only six or fewer defenders inside the tackles this run play should gain consistent yardage. Key the mike linebacker depth, a linebacker sitting shallow at five yards or less can trigger downhill and blow up the dive before the hole opens. Identify blitz packages with defensive tackles crashing inside gaps, since a nano blitz or interior stunt can beat this play at the snap. Look for user controlled defenders spying the HB from depth, aggressive user movement to the A gap is the biggest threat to this concept. Cover 0 and Cover 1 man looks with safeties creeping into the box are the toughest shells to run this against, while base zone shells with light fronts get exploited most easily.
Usage Tips
Call HB Dive on early downs or short yardage situations like third and one to punish defenses stacking the box for pass coverage.
Check the pre-snap alignment of the defensive tackles and mike linebacker, if they are shaded away from the play side A gap the dive hits faster.
Use this play as a tempo changer after running HB Zone or HB Counter to keep linebackers guessing on run direction and gap discipline.
Pair HB Dive with Speed Option and Fk Jet Inside Zone in the same play calling sequence so the defense cannot key on run tendencies out of Bunch TE.
Avoid calling this against heavy blitz looks with stacked linebackers crashing downhill, since the quick hitting dive has no time to develop against penetration.
