Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
FB Inside is a downhill run play out of Shotgun Split Offset with 20 personnel, sending the fullback through the interior gaps behind a straight dive blocking scheme. The offensive line fires out for double team combo blocks at the point of attack while the HB and FB mesh in the backfield, with the ball carrier hitting the A or B gap based on the initial surge of the line. This is a pure run play designed to punch through light boxes and win with downhill physicality rather than finesse, and the primary read progression is simply picking the first crease that opens between the guards.
Defensive Reads
Watch the middle linebacker depth pre-snap, if he is sitting shallow near the line of scrimmage he can beat the dive blocks and blow up the play before it develops. Look for a stacked or six-plus man box, which is the primary counter since it removes the natural cutback lane the FB relies on. Post-snap, key the defensive tackles' first step, if they are shooting gaps aggressively on a nano blitz style alignment this play struggles to find room. User-controlled defenders sitting in the A gap or spying the mesh point are the biggest threat since this is a between the tackles design with no misdirection. This play beats light boxes and passive read-and-react fronts, but heavy blitz packages or defenses selling out on run with extra defenders near the line will shut it down quickly.
Usage Tips
Check the box count before the snap and only call this against six men in the box or fewer since extra defenders in the tackle box will clog both dive lanes.
Use this play on short yardage and third and one or two situations where you need a quick, physical gain without relying on route timing.
Pair FB Inside with Mtn Inside Zone and HB Power O in the same set to keep defenses guessing between gap and zone run concepts out of the same personnel.
If the defense shows a stacked front pre-snap, motion or audible to a play-action shot like PA Skinny Post to punish overaggressive linebackers.
Take what the line gives you on first contact instead of trying to bounce it outside, since this design has no lead blocker in space to protect an outside run.
