Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
HB Dive out of Pistol Y Off Trips is a straight downhill run play with the HB taking the handoff directly north-south behind the diamond blocking surface at the line. The offensive line blocks a standard down block scheme with the fullback or TE occasionally sealing the point of attack, while the trips receivers to one side simply run off their defenders to clear the box. This is a pure gap run designed to attack the interior of the defense before the front can fully diagnose the play, and the primary read is the playside gap between center and guard, bouncing to the backside cutback lane if the initial hole is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap, if the mike and will are sitting shallow at 3 to 4 yards they are keyed on the run and will fill fast. Identify if the defense is in a 4-3 under or over front, heavy fronts with an extra defender in the box will clog this play's interior lanes. Post-snap, key the backside defensive end and any user-controlled defender crashing down the line of scrimmage, that is the primary threat to the cutback lane. Look for safeties rotating down into the box pre-snap, that signals run support and makes this play harder to execute against man or Cover 1 looks. If linebackers are reading run downhill immediately at the snap without hesitation, expect this play to get stuffed, consider switching to HB Slip Screen or a play-action shot instead.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or short yardage to keep defenses honest against your trips formation pass tendencies.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if the defense shows blitz or crashes the edge before the snap.
Pair HB Dive with HB Slam and HB Slip Screen from the same set so defenses cannot key on run gap or personnel without risk.
If the defensive front stacks the box with 8 or more defenders, check out of this play into Curls or Slants for a quick pass answer.
Trust the initial mesh point read and do not dance in the backfield, this play wins on quickness through the hole not patience.
