Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Dive out of Strong I Slot with 21 personnel is a straight downhill run play designed to hit the A gap fast. The diagram shows the fullback leading through the hole with the offensive line blocking down and the HB taking a north south track directly behind the fullback, while the two outside receivers run vertical routes to occupy the cornerbacks and hold the defense honest. This is a pure run play, not a play action or RPO, and the primary read is the frontside A gap with the HB reading the fullback's block first before adjusting to a cutback lane if the interior defensive linemen crash inside.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, check linebacker depth, if the mike and will are sitting shallow at four to five yards they are keyed to jump the dive immediately. Watch safety alignment, a single high safety cheating down into the box signals run support and a tougher day for this play. Post snap, user the mike linebacker downhill and fill the A gap before the fullback can seal it, this is the number one counter to HB Dive. Nano blitzes with a linebacker crashing the play side A or B gap untouched will blow this play up before the HB can get to the line of scrimmage. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells with quick linebacker triggers shut this down hard, while light boxes out of Cover 2 man or dime packages are the easiest matchups to exploit.
Usage Tips
Call HB Dive on early downs when you want to establish tempo and force the defense to respect the interior run before you open up your play action shots later in the set.
Check the box count pre snap, if the defense has six or fewer in the box this play has a strong numbers advantage up the middle.
Use the vertical routes as clear out routes against man coverage, they will pull cornerbacks and safeties out of the run fit if the defense is playing press man.
Pair this play with PA Post Shot or PA Lead Draw Shot later in a series once the defense starts sending linebackers downhill quickly to sell the dive fake.
Avoid calling this into stacked eight man fronts or heavy blitz packages since there is no RPO read attached to bail you out if the middle is clogged.
