Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
HB Dive out of Singleback Deuce is a straight downhill run play with 12 personnel on the field, using both tight ends to add beef to the front. The diagram shows the halfback taking a direct handoff and hitting the A gap immediately, with the offensive line blocking down and the tight ends helping seal the edges rather than releasing into routes. This is a pure run play designed to attack the interior of the defense, and the primary read is the playside A gap first, bouncing to the B gap if the defensive line stunts or a linebacker fills fast.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a stacked box with a linebacker creeping to the line pre-snap, which signals a run blitz designed to blow up the dive before the mesh point. Key the defensive tackles and nose guard alignment, since a shaded nose or 3 technique can clog the playside A gap and force the back to cut back immediately. If the defense shows Cover 0 or Cover 1 with man coverage and a spy linebacker, expect the dive to get met quickly since there is no deep safety help needed against the pass, freeing up run defenders. Look for the Mike linebacker's depth post snap, since a linebacker sitting shallow at five yards or less can trigger downhill and beat the back to the hole. Zone blitzes with delayed linebacker fills tend to open cutback lanes, so if you see a zone blitz call, expect the dive to hit for extra yardage if the back reads the backside cutback correctly.
Usage Tips
Use HB Dive on early downs when the defense shows a light box with only six or fewer defenders near the line of scrimmage.
Check pre-snap for stacked linebackers or an extra defender creeping into the box, since that alignment favors a bounce-out run or a play-action shot off this same look instead.
Pair HB Dive with PA Power O and PA Boot Slide from the same Deuce set to keep linebackers honest, since both plays start with a similar mesh point read before the QB pulls it for a pass.
Run this behind a fullback or extra TE lead block against Cover 3 or Cover 1 shells where the middle linebacker has to respect run fits, and avoid it against heavy blitz packages that send extra defenders through the A and B gaps.
In competitive play, mix HB Dive with HB Blunt Dive to disguise tempo, since one hits faster while the other allows the line to develop slightly more before the back commits.
