Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 13 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slam is a downhill dive run out of Singleback Bunch X Nasty with 11 personnel, designed to hit the middle of the line quickly behind the double tight formation strength. The offensive line blocks straight ahead with the fullback or tight end wedging the point of attack, while the bunch receivers to the left simply release vertically to occupy the deep defenders and clear the box. The primary read is a one cut dive: identify the first crease created by the interior double team or down block and get skinny through the gap immediately, since this is a gap scheme run and not a zone read.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth pre-snap: if the mike and will are sitting shallow at four yards or less, they can fill the dive lane instantly and blow this run up. Key the defensive tackles alignment inside the guards; a 3 technique or shaded nose can shoot the gap this play is designed to hit and kill it before it develops. Man coverage on the bunch receivers with underneath help is fine since this is a run play, but a nano blitz timed to the snap count is the biggest threat to this concept. User the mike linebacker and stay square to the line rather than flowing outside, since HB Slam is designed to hit downhill quickly through the interior gap. Stacked fronts with eight in the box shut this play down completely, so if you see that pre-snap as the offense you should be checking out of HB Slam.
Usage Tips
Call HB Slam on short yardage and third and one or fourth and one situations where you need a guaranteed push up front rather than a home run play.
Check the box count before the snap: if the defense stacks six or more defenders inside the tackles, motion or check to a perimeter run like HB Zone Wk instead.
Use HB Slam early in a series to set up PA Boot or PA Counter out of the same Bunch X Nasty look, since the run action forces linebackers to bite on the mesh point.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look pre-snap with linebackers crashing the A gaps, be ready to bounce the dive outside since the interior gaps will be clogged.
Pair this play with Cheat HB Slam or HB Dive from the same set to keep run fits honest and disguise your run/pass tendencies from the same personnel grouping.
