Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn HB Dive is a run play out of Singleback Wing 12 personnel that uses pre-snap motion to shift the box before the snap. The diagram shows the HB running a downhill dive path directly through the middle of the formation while the wing TE releases on a short flat/angle route as a check down or lead blocker option, with the offensive line blocking straight ahead to create an interior lane. This is a between the tackles run play, not a man or zone beater in the passing sense, and the primary read is the HB hitting the dive lane based on the flow of the defensive front and linebacker fill.
Defensive Reads
Key the linebacker fill speed, since this play beats defenses where the mike overreads the motion and flows too fast to the perimeter. Watch for a stacked box pre-snap, if the defense has extra defenders inside the tackles this dive will not have room to develop. Identify blitz packages that bring extra defenders through the A or B gap, since a well timed inside blitz can blow this play up before the back reaches the line. Look at safety depth, a single high safety creeping into the box signals run support that can clog the dive lane quickly. If the defense sends a user controlled defender to spy the HB immediately after motion, expect this play to be diagnosed and stopped near the line.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is running with the TE or staying gap sound, since a defense that shifts with motion often opens up a cutback lane. Run this play on early downs in short yardage or when you need a positive gain to stay ahead of the sticks. Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if the mike and will are stacked tight to the line, hot route the dive angle slightly wider to avoid a stacked box. Pair this with Mtn HB Slam or Mtn HB Counter out of the same set so the defense has to respect multiple gap schemes off similar motion and alignment. Sell the run fake hard if you plan to mix in Mtn PA PoCo Slide or Mtn PA Boot later in a series, since the formation and motion look identical.
