Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
FB Dive out of the Strong I Close formation is a downhill interior run that hands the ball to the fullback through the middle of the line. The diagram shows the fullback taking a quick handoff and diving straight ahead behind the center, while the halfback releases into a flat route out of the backfield as an outlet option. The offensive line blocks straight ahead to create a vertical crease, making this a pure gap run rather than a man or zone beater passing concept, with the primary read being the initial A-gap crease off the fullback's dive path.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a stacked front with linebackers crowding the line of scrimmage, since that alignment clogs the A-gap crease this play needs. User the middle linebacker and plug the dive lane immediately at the snap rather than reading the fullback's path, since the run is designed to hit fast and interior. Key on nose tackle or defensive tackle alignment, a shaded nose over the center can blow up this play before the fullback gets vertical. Watch the halfback's flat release out of the backfield, if you see the offense audible into a pass look off this same formation, be ready to sink a linebacker to the flat. Blitzing off the edge does little against this concept since the run stays inside, so send interior pressure or a spy on the fullback to shut it down.
Usage Tips
Use FB Dive on early downs when the defense shows a light box with only six or fewer defenders near the line of scrimmage.
Check the depth of the linebackers pre-snap, if they are sitting back off the ball you have a clean crease to hit the A-gap fast.
Mix this play with HB Dive and Counter Weak from the same Close set so linebackers cannot key on the fullback carry every time.
Pair FB Dive with PA Deep or PA Lions Shot later in a drive to punish linebackers who start crashing down hard on the dive look.
Avoid calling this against stacked eight man fronts or interior blitz packages since there is no lead blocker to clean up extra rushers.
