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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Dive out of Singleback Trips Open is a straight downhill run play that sends the running back through the direct middle of the line off inside zone blocking rules. The offensive line steps in unison to seal gaps and create a vertical crease for the back to hit as soon as the mesh point develops, with the fullback absent since this is 10 personnel. This is a pure run play with no play-action or RPO element attached, and the primary read progression for the ball carrier is playside guard to center to backside guard, hitting the first crease that opens rather than bouncing outside.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if the mike and will are sitting shallow at four yards or closer they are keying the run and will fill the dive lane immediately. A stacked box with safeties rotated down into the alley is the clearest sign this play is dead, bail out with a hot route swing or check to a perimeter run instead. Man beater blitz packages with linebackers blitzing through the A or B gap can actually get eaten alive by this play if the offensive line picks it up clean, since the back can cut behind a blitzer's vacated gap. Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells that keep both safeties deep tend to leave light boxes, which is exactly when HB Dive hits hardest for extra yardage after contact. On defense, user the mike linebacker and key the guard's first step, if he pulls or steps playside that confirms dive and you should shoot the gap immediately rather than reading the fullback since there is none in 10 personnel.
Usage Tips
Use HB Dive in short yardage and early down situations like first or second and short to stay ahead of the sticks without exposing your protection to a heavy pass rush look.
Check the box count pre-snap, if the defense has six or more defenders stacked inside the tackles this play loses its lane and you should bail to a bubble screen or check to something outside the numbers.
Trips Open naturally spreads three receivers to one side, which tends to pull an extra defender out of the box, so look for that numbers advantage before calling HB Dive.
Pair this with HB Slam or HB Trap from the same set to keep the defense guessing on which gap you are attacking, since all three look similar at the snap but hit different lanes.
Mix in PA Streak or PA FL Stretch off this same personnel later in a series once the defense starts cheating linebackers downhill to stop the dive, that hesitation opens the play-action window.
