Playbooks
HB Dive out of Singleback Y Off Trips is a straight downhill run play that sends the HB directly through the A or B gap behind interior double team blocks from the center and guards. This is a pure run play with no play-action or RPO element, designed to punish light boxes and win with one on one leverage up front rather than misdirection. The primary read progression starts with the frontside A gap, bounces to the backside cutback lane if the double team gets movement, and finally works to the alley if a linebacker overpursues.
Watch the Mike linebacker pre snap, if he is creeping downhill into the A gap before the snap this run has almost no room to develop. Key the defensive tackles at the snap, if they are getting immediate penetration and blowing up the double team the HB has no choice but to bounce outside where extra defenders are waiting. Look for a stacked eight man box or Cover 0 blitz calls, both shut this play down completely since there is no blocker for the extra rusher. Track the safeties post snap, if they are sitting in two high shells and staying out of the run fit that is a green light for the offense to keep hammering this dive. Be aware of user controlled defenders flying downhill from depth, a user Mike or user safety crashing early can blow up the dive before the back even gets to the line of scrimmage.
Check the box count before the snap and only call HB Dive when you see six or fewer defenders in the box since this play has no answer for a stacked front.
Identify two high safety shells like Cover 2 or Cover 4 pre snap because those shells pull an extra defender out of the run fit and open up the interior gaps for this play.
Use motion or a quick glance at the Mike linebacker depth to confirm he is not sitting on the dive read, since a Mike playing downhill negates the blocking scheme immediately.
Pair HB Dive with PA Boot Rt and PA Power O from this same set so the defense has to respect both the inside run and the play action boot off similar formation tendencies.
Save this play for short yardage and third and one or third and two situations where the defense is more likely to play base personnel instead of stacking the box with extra DBs.