Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
HB Dive from Pistol Deuce is a straight downhill run play with the HB lined up directly behind the QB in pistol alignment. The diagram shows the running back taking a quick handoff and hitting the A gap immediately off the snap, with the offensive line blocking straight ahead to create interior lanes. This is a pure run play designed to attack the middle of the defense before linebackers can flow, and the primary read is the frontside A gap, bouncing to the backside A gap or B gap if the initial hole is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, count the box defenders and identify if the defense is in a run heavy front with linebackers stacked tight to the line. Watch for a Mike linebacker blitzing through the A gap since this nano style blitz can blow up the play before the back gets to the line. If defensive tackles are shaded hard into the A gaps, user a linebacker to fill downhill immediately at the snap to beat the blocking scheme. Cover 1 or Cover 3 with an extra run fitter at linebacker depth shuts this down quickly, while light boxes out of Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells are more vulnerable to the dive. Key the fullback or lead blocker's aiming point post-snap to diagnose which gap the runner is committing to and get defenders flowing before the crease opens.
Usage Tips
Call this play on short yardage or obvious run downs like 3rd and 1 or 4th and short since the quick hitting nature punishes defenses that are not stacked in the box.
Check the defensive front pre-snap and if you see six or more defenders in the box, consider audibling out since HB Dive has no answer for a heavy run blitz.
Use manual motion or the left stick to jump cut into the backside A gap if the frontside is filled, since this play has a built in cutback lane.
Pair this with HB Stretch and HB Counter in the same set to keep linebackers guessing between downhill dive action and outside zone or counter action.
Mix in RPO Alert TE Flat or RPO Read TE Flat from the same personnel look to punish defenses that key hard on the run fake with linebackers cheating up.
