Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
FB Middle is a play-action flood concept out of Strong I with 21 personnel that sells the fullback dive fake before releasing four routes into a deep and intermediate flood. The fullback runs a middle drag underneath while the flanker on the strong side runs a corner route out of the backfield area, the TY runs an out breaking route to the boundary, and the two outside receivers stretch the field vertically with a go route and a deep crosser to the far sideline. The play beats zone coverage by overloading one side with three levels (flat, out, corner) while the backside go and crosser hold single high safeties, and the primary read progresses from the FB drag underneath to the out, then up to the corner route.
Defensive Reads
Read linebacker depth immediately at the snap: if they bite hard on the run fake, the FB drag and shallow crosser will be wide open underneath. Check for two deep safeties pre-snap, which signals the defense is prepared to take away the corner route and forces you to live underneath with the drag and out. Watch for a user controlled defender flashing into the shallow zone or spying the fullback, which is the biggest threat to this concept since it directly sits on the primary read. Man coverage with no safety help over the top gets exposed by the deep corner route and the backside go route, so look for man match indicators like DBs turning their hips at the snap. Beware of a delayed inside blitz or nano blitz up the middle since the FB is often used as a lead blocker in similar concepts, meaning if he releases into his route immediately you may be exposed to interior pressure.
Usage Tips
Run this on early downs or short yardage to sell the FB Dive fake and freeze linebackers before they can sink into their flood zone drops.
Check the safety alignment pre-snap: if you see two high safeties, work the FB drag and out route combo since the corner route will likely be taken away by a deep half defender.
Against single high looks, take the shot on the deep corner route since the flood should stretch the strong side safety and open a window between the corner and safety.
Pair this with FB Dive and PA FB Fake in the same play call sequence so linebackers start respecting the run fake, which opens up the middle drag as a chunk gain option.
Use pre-snap motion sparingly here since the FB alignment is key to selling the play action look, and audible into this from run heavy sets to keep defenses honest on tendencies.
