Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Dive out of Pistol Weak Slot is a straight downhill run play that sends the running back through the A gap immediately off the snap, with the offensive line blocking down and combo blocking at the point of attack. The lone wide receiver and the two TE/slot receivers to the trips side simply run vertical stalk blocks or clear routes to occupy the corners, not real pass options, since this is a designed hand off with no play action or RPO read attached in the diagram. Primary read progression is one and done for the ball carrier: identify the first crease off the center or guard, and if the A gap is clogged, bounce to the B gap based on the flow of the defensive line.
Defensive Reads
Key the defensive tackles and mike linebacker pre snap. If they are shaded hard to one gap, that tells you where the natural cutback lane will be for the ball carrier. Watch for a stacked box with the strong safety creeping down. That is the look that kills HB Dive and forces you to either check to a pass or live with a short gain. Zone defenses with linebackers reading run flow first are the most vulnerable to this play since it hits fast before flow defenders can fill their gaps. Man coverage on the perimeter receivers with no extra run support in the box is a green light look, the numbers favor the offensive line getting to the second level. User controlled defenders sitting in the A or B gap pre snap signal a run blitz, so be ready to bounce the play outside rather than forcing it up the middle into a stacked front.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs like first and ten or second and short to keep defenses honest and set up your play action shots later in the drive.
Check the box count pre snap. If the defense has six or more in the box against your 21 personnel, consider audibling to a pass concept from this same set instead.
Use the Pistol alignment to disguise this run against Read Option and Lead Read Option out of the same formation, since all three plays start with an identical backfield look.
Hot route the outside receiver into a quick slant or drag if you see aggressive corner blitz looks, giving you a built in answer without changing personnel.
Pair HB Dive with Counter Str in your play calling script so the defense has to respect both inside and misdirection runs from the same shell.
