Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
45 Quick Base is a Dive run play out of Shotgun Normal Flex Snug with 11 personnel. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking straight ahead at the point of attack while the HB takes a direct downhill dive path through the middle of the formation off the mesh point with the QB. This is a base run concept designed to hit the interior gap quickly before linebackers can flow, and the primary read is the frontside gap for the initial crease with a cutback lane available if the backside defender overpursues.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre snap, stacked linebackers within four yards of the line signal an aggressive run fit that can beat this play if they diagnose it fast. Check for a light box, if only five or six defenders are in the box this dive has room to hit the frontside gap for solid yardage. Post snap, key the defensive tackle alignment, if they are getting immediate penetration the cutback lane becomes the better answer than the frontside gap. Look for user controlled defenders crashing down hard off the snap, that overpursuit is exactly what opens the backside cutback for a bigger gain. Heavy blitz packages or a stacked eight man front are the biggest threat to this play since there is little time for the crease to develop before backfield defenders arrive.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or short yardage situations where you need a quick, low risk gain between the tackles.
Check the box count pre snap, this play works best when the defense is in a light box with six or fewer defenders showing run support.
Use it to set up RPO Alert WR Screens and RPO Read GT Screen later in a series since the dive action mirrors those RPO run fakes and keeps linebackers honest.
Pair 45 Quick Base with HB Draw and Inside Zone in the same drive to diversify run angles and prevent defenders from keying a single gap.
If the defense shows heavy blitz pressure pre snap, get the ball out fast on the dive since the quick mesh point limits exposure to backfield penetration.
