Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Dive out of the Full House TE Pistol set is a straight downhill run play designed to hit the interior of the defense as fast as possible. The offensive line blocks a standard dive scheme, with the fullback and lead blockers stepping into the second level to clear a lane at the point of attack, while the HB takes a quick handoff and presses straight ahead. This is a base run concept, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and the primary read is simply hitting the initial crease between the guards, bouncing outside only if the interior is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch the defensive tackle alignment pre-snap, a 1 or 3 technique shaded away from the play side gives the dive an easier lane. Key the middle linebacker depth, if he is sitting shallow and square he can fill the hole quickly and blow up the play, so look to bounce it if you see this post-snap. This play struggles against stacked fronts and heavy blitz packages that send extra defenders through the interior gaps immediately at the snap. Man coverage on the perimeter does not affect this play much since it stays inside, but a spy or a linebacker reading run keys will limit the gain to a few yards. Look for user-controlled defenders flowing downhill too fast, if the human defender overcommits to the dive fake on any paired play-action call, that tells you the fake is working and you can exploit it later in the sequence.
Usage Tips
Use HB Dive on early downs, especially first and second and short to medium, to keep the defense honest against your play-action shots from this same formation. Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has stacked the box with extra defenders inside, consider an audible instead of forcing the dive. Send in motion or check the alignment of the linebackers, if they are creeping tight to the line expecting run, be ready to bail into a different call. Pair this play with Mtn PA Power Cross or PA Se Cross from the same set so defenses cannot sit on run reads without opening themselves up to the play-action shot off similar formation and personnel. Use HB Dive in short yardage or goal line situations where you need a quick, north south gain and want to avoid negative plays from outside runs getting strung out. Vary your run/pass ratio out of this Pistol Full House TE look so opponents cannot key on formation tendencies and jump the dive.
