Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Dive out of Pistol Trips is a straight downhill run play with the HB aligned behind the QB and three receivers bunched to the trips side. The offensive line blocks a standard interior gap scheme, with the fullback or nearest blocker climbing to the second level while the HB reads the initial line movement and hits the A or B gap immediately. This is a pure run play designed to punish light boxes and aggressive linebacker blitzes, with the primary read being the first open crease between the guards.
Defensive Reads
Watch for user-controlled linebackers flowing downhill too fast, since HB Dive is designed to cut back against overaggressive fills. Check safety depth pre-snap, a single high safety often signals man coverage on the trips side and a lighter box in the middle. Look for a mike linebacker blitzing through the A gap, this play loses value fast if the interior gets a free run at the HB. Post-snap, key the defensive tackles, if they get immediate penetration the cutback lane disappears and the HB should bounce outside instead. This play struggles against heavy fronts with extra defenders stacked in the box, so avoid calling it into goal line or short yardage run stuffing personnel.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only call this against six defenders in the box or fewer since trips formations often pull a defender out wide.
Use this play on early downs like first and ten or short yardage situations like third and one to stay ahead of the sticks.
Pair HB Dive with RPO Alert Bubble and RPO Zone Alert Bubble from the same formation so the defense has to respect both the run and the quick bubble to the trips side.
If the defense shows a stacked box or a linebacker creeping into the A gap pre-snap, consider hot routing into HB Draw or Read Option instead to attack the edge.
Mix in Strong Power and Pin Pull Sweep from this set to keep defenders guessing on gap direction while HB Dive punishes anyone selling out to stop the perimeter.
