Playbooks

HB Base

Shotgun·Normal Off Close Wk·11

Dive Run Play

Play diagram for HB Base from Shotgun Normal Off Close Wk in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetNormal Off Close Wk

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Falcons OffenseOffense NFL Live Falcons OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Base is a straightforward dive run out of the Shotgun Normal Off Close Wk set with 11 personnel. The diagram shows the offensive line blocking straight ahead at the point of attack with the HB taking the handoff and hitting the inside gap immediately, following his lead blocker on a downhill track. This is a pure run play with no play-action or RPO element attached, designed to attack the interior of the defensive front before linebackers can flow and fill. The primary read progression for the ball carrier is to press the initial hole, read the down blocks up front, and cut off the first color he sees inside before bouncing outside if the alley is stacked.

Defensive Reads

Watch the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, since a linebacker sitting shallow at four yards or closer signals a quick fill on this dive and should push you toward a different play call. Identify if the defense is running a 4-3 or 3-4 front, as extra defenders on the line clog the interior gaps this play is designed to hit. Look for user-controlled defenders crashing down immediately at the snap, which usually means the CPU or opponent is keying the dive action and will win the gap battle. This play gets stopped cold against stacked fronts with two-gapping defensive tackles, so avoid calling it into goal line or heavy run-stuffing packages. Against light boxes with safeties rotated out of the run fit, the dive hits fast and the primary cutback lane opens before linebackers can flow over the top.

Usage Tips

Call this play when you see light boxes with six or fewer defenders in the box, since the dive concept struggles against loaded fronts. Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait linebackers into showing blitz so you can identify run fits before the snap. This works best on early downs like 1st and 10 or 2nd and short when defenses are not selling out on run stop. Pair HB Base with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Zone Alert from this same set so defenses cannot key on run without opening up the perimeter passing game. If the defense is stacking the box hard, switch to Inside Zone or Mtn Outside Zone from this set to attack the edges instead of forcing the dive into a losing rep.