Playbooks

HB Dive

Pistol·Bunch·11

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetBunch

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Franchise Offense ChainmoverOffense

Breakdown

HB Dive out of Pistol Bunch is a downhill interior run that sends the HB straight through the A or B gap off a quick mesh point with the QB in the pistol alignment. The offensive line executes a straightforward gap or man blocking scheme, with the fullback or blocking TE (if aligned) climbing to the second level to seal a linebacker while the center and guards get vertical movement on the defensive tackles. This is not a play-action or RPO look, it is a true run play, so the primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the play side gap first and then bounce off the block of the near guard or center if the initial hole is clogged, reading the first unblocked defender inside out.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify the middle linebacker depth, if he is stacked tight behind the defensive line expect an immediate A gap fill and consider bouncing the run design pre-snap with a hot route or audible. Look at the safety alignment, a single high safety shell with the strong safety creeping into the box signals run support and makes this play tougher to execute against a stacked front. Watch for a nano blitz off the edge or interior defensive line slant, since these looks can beat the blocking scheme before the HB reaches the mesh point, this is the primary counter to HB Dive. Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells with light boxes are where this run hits hardest, since the extra defender is removed from the box to cover deep zones, giving the interior line a numbers advantage. Post-snap, key the play side linebacker's first step, if he shoots the gap immediately without reading the blocking scheme it usually means the defense is playing a run fit call, so bounce to the backside cutback lane.

Usage Tips

Use HB Dive in short yardage and goal line situations where you need a low risk gap run to convert third and one or pick up a tough yard near the end zone.

Check the box count before the snap, if the defense has six or more defenders stacked in the box this run loses efficiency, so be ready to audible to a play action shot instead.

Pair HB Dive with Mesh or PA Cross from this same Bunch set so the defense has to respect both the run fake and the quick passing game, keeping linebackers honest and slowing their run fits.

Run this play early in a series to set up HB Duo or HB Counter later, since all three hit different gaps but look similar out of the same bunch personnel and pistol alignment.

Avoid calling HB Dive on predictable early down and long situations against aggressive nano blitz defenses, since the quick interior blitz negates the blocking scheme before the hole develops.