Playbooks

HB Dive

Pistol·Open Flex·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.

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

In 1 playbook

Franchise Offense FourminutedrillOffense

Breakdown

HB Dive out of Pistol Open Flex is a downhill interior run that sends the HB straight through the A gap behind a base blocking scheme from the center and guards, with the fullback and TE helping seal the edges. This is a pure run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, but it exploits light boxes and overaggressive linebackers who bite on outside run action from plays like HB Stretch or Mtn HB Stretch. The primary read is the playside A gap first, then bounce to the backside cutback lane if the interior gets clogged, with the HB keying the center and guard double team push before deciding to stick the run or cut.

Defensive Reads

Check the pre-snap box count first, since six defenders in the box with linebackers at normal depth signals a favorable run fit for the dive. Watch for a Mike linebacker creeping downhill before the snap, which usually means a run blitz or A gap shoot designed to blow up the play before it develops. Identify whether the defense is in a 4-3 under or 46 look, since these fronts stack extra bodies inside and can shut down the dive unless you get a good double team push. Post snap, key the defensive tackles and see if they get moved off the ball by the guard and center double teams, which tells you whether to stick the run or cut backside. Beware of user controlled linebackers flowing hard downhill immediately at the snap, since a disciplined user defender can beat the blocking scheme and blow up the dive before the HB reaches the line.

Usage Tips

Call HB Dive when you see six or fewer defenders in the box and linebackers sitting at normal depth rather than creeping up for a blitz.

Use it on early downs like first and ten or second and short to stay ahead of the chains and set up play-action shots off the same Pistol look later in the series.

Pair it with PA Boot or PA Boot Rt to punish linebackers who start crashing down hard on the dive action, since the run fake sells the rollout and opens throwing lanes.

User the fullback or TE lead blocker if the game allows manual control to seal off a hard charging linebacker at the point of attack instead of trusting the CPU blocking logic.

Mix HB Dive with HB Zone Wk and Counter F in the same personnel grouping so the defense cannot key on one blocking scheme and start stacking the box.

Avoid calling this into a stacked box with eight defenders showing blitz, since there is no quick outlet route to bail you out if the A gap collapses.

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