Double Dive

Coach,

I've heard the term "Double Dive" used to describe two different types of rushing plays. The first is what LedgerSko described in his reply, which is simply diving both backs to opposite sides, giving one back the ball and using the opposite back to freeze the backside LB. We run this exact same play and we also call it a "Double Dive". It is best out of split backs, but you can run it from any two back set. It's also great if you know the LB's are cross-keying you.

The second "Double Dive" is what we refer to as a "Belly". This play can also be run out of any 2-RB look, and it is the best play in our rushing arsenal (along with the Iso, which we also run from any 2-RB look). Essentially, the design and purpose of the play is to attack 3 seperate points of attack with 3 different possible ballcarriers to the same side.

We use the following rules, no matter what alignment we are using in the backfield. The RB closest to the side we are running to (whether he is the ballcarrier or not) dives directly off the outside hip of the OL in front of him (it will generally be the center in the "I" or the OG if it is "offset I" or "splitbacks"). The QB opens to face playside and rides the ball in the first back's pouch like an option play. If it is a give, he simply gives him the ball. Meanwhile, the furthest back form the side we are running to (always the TB in the "I", but otherwise the furthest HB) will take a lateral timing step to playside, then drive hard to the off tackle hole. If the give was to the first back, the QB will ride a fake in the second back's pouch. If it is a give to the second back, he will pull the ball from the first back and ride the give to the second back as he attacks off tackle. The QB runs a keeper route to the same side, becoming the third possible threat.

A few great advantages to this play:

1. It puts the playside of the defense in a tremendous amount of conflict trying to determine who to tackle.

2. Each play can be blocked using multiple blocking schemes. You can base block it. You can run a midline trap to your first back if you are doing it out of the "I". You can "G" block the offtackle hole. You can loop a WB through and have him lead for the second back. The possibilities are endless.

3. It can be run out of many different backfield sets, so you can present multiple looks to a defense while still running the same play.

4. You can run it as an option or a "check with me" play, and give to the back that has the better chance of success based on defensive alignments or reactions.

5. You can design an entire series around it, including counters, traps, options, keepers, and playaction passes.

6. It's fairly easy for an offensive backfield to execute.

I (obviously) love this play, so I'm always available to talk about it. If you would like further details, please feel free to email me at lochness_23@hotmail.com

Good luck!

Thanks guys, that is exactly what I was looking for. Just so I am sure, out of the I the FB would hit A gap and the TB would go C gap, the QB outside when they carry? What blocking scheme has worked best for you? Which one would you put in first for the base blocking scheme for the double dive. Thanks Coach faust

has anyone seen a version of this out of the two back gun?

Would anybody be interested in sending me any kind of double dive video? I really don't have anything to trade, but would be willing to pay. I think this is the type of play we are looking for, but I am not going to try it unless I am very familiar with it.

Coach,

I might be able to get you some cut-ups of our own game films over the past years to show you. Since we run the play from multiple formations with multiple blocking schemes, I'm sure you'll be able to see some good stuff.

As far as anything "professional", I'm not sure that anything exists. If it does, I'd love to get my hands on it! I've been coaching the play for a decade now as an offensive coordinator, and I also ran it as a player...so I'm fairly familliar with it.

lochness - I would really like to see some of your game film. Let me know where I need to send the money - if you are still interested. my email is faustc@ahst.k12.ia.us THanks - Cory

Double Dive (DD) is a great play that provide an opportunity to run the midline (reading the 3 technique strongside against a 4-3 or 4-4 defense or weakside against a 5-2 (reading the 3 or 4i technique).

With DD, the FB takes his normal course. The TB will pause for one second or take a drop step and then explode to a point at the outside hip of the guard. The QB will take his normal midline steps (away and back step) while reading the DT. If the QB disconnects (rather than gives), he continues down the line with a right step (going to the rightside) followed by a left step. QB will hand the ball off during the second step (left step).

It’s a great play. Works well against a 4-4. In the 4-4 the OT will block out on the DE and the TE will bucket step into C gap and block SSLB. The play is even better when you get in twins over and get the force player (OSLB) out of the picture.

The play is even better when the TB is use as a blocker and the QB follows his lead.

We faced this and they ran the double dive all game long. They were a young team, and they wanted to get 3 yards every play. The first half we ran only 14 plays, they ran 38. They only scored 6 points, but they kept us off the field. They ran this from splitbacks, far/near, offset I, and the straight T. They went double tight. We had a hell of a time in the first half. They would fake or give to the FB over the guard, and fake or give to the TB in the C gap. From a 3 back look, the frontside back would arc release every play to hold your monster or SS. The QB would keep occassionally outside. They did a great job staying in games with this offense. The had been a wing-t team for the last couple of years, but had a thin year talent wise. We stopped them in the second half because we screwed our safties down and played man with our corners on the TE's. They wanted to control the clock and they did. Their head coach told me they may not score all season, but he didn't want his defense on the field.

Coach,

We run a number of complimentary plays off of our Belly play. We have a whole "Belly Series" we run, all out of a multiple 2-back look. We don't necessarily run all of these plays in one year, but each can be an integral part of your series.


1. BELLY: This is the base "double dive" we have been discussing. Give or fake to first or second man. Fake Keeper

2. BELLY G: Fakes first man, give to the second back off-tackle, with the playside G running a quick trap scheme to open up C gap.

3. BELLY WHAM: Fakes first man, give to the second back off-tackle, with a WB coming inside and blocking on a DT or ILB.

4. BELLY KEEPER: Fakes first and second man, QB keeps around the end with the playside G pulling and leading the play.

5. BELLY COUNTER: Fakes first man, gives outside handoff to a WB from playside to backside, then fakes second man and keeper. Backside G will trap either the backside DT or DE, depending on what defense we see and what our preference is.

6. BELLY TOM: Give to the first man, but run like the midline Wing-T FB trap.

7. BELLY HANDBACK: Fake to the first man, then turn and hand back to the second man. Second back takes his initial step, then heads off guard (B gap) to the opposite side. This is great if the LB's are (as they often will) cross keying. In other words, teams will assign the backside LB to the first man, and the playsied LB to the second man.

8. BELLY TOSS: Fake to the first back, toss an option-style pitch to the second man who follows the pulling playside G.

9. DIVE: A complementary play, run exactly as "LedgerSko" described in the second post on this string. Also good for "cross keying" LB's.

10. POWER: A "Dive Iso". We run a WB in a "sniffer" alignment directly behind the OT. Double team at the POA and Iso the LB with the WB. We give the first man on this play. It also sets up our "Belly Wham" to the second man, without having to loop the WB inside.

PLAYACTION PASSING:

We run a number of playaction passing combinations. Our favorite and most productive is to fake the base "Belly" and have the backside SE (X) do a deep post OR a stalk-and-go route. We have the TE (Y) run a 7 yard out route. The WB (Z) runs a deep corner route. The base read is simply the playside CB. If he bites up on playaction or on the 7, hit the Z. If he stays honest, we hit the Y on the out cut. The X is for an over-aggressive secondary and is generally our home-run ball (we've scored several TD's on the toss to the X).

I hope this helps. Again, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to write me at lochness_23@hotmail.com. To those of you who asked for game tape...I haven't forgotten about you. I am in the process of cutting something up, but I'm a procrastinator (and a bad speller) so bear with me! I'll be in touch.

Does anybody run the double dive with the first back hitting the B-gap instead of the A gap? It seems like it would tie into the veer and option series better that way.

Coach,

That's correct! You can actually hit the A or B gaps with the first man in the Belly "double dive" play, depending on what you are seeing for a defense. We prefer to keep it simple, so we use the "I" if we want to attack the A gaps and "split backs" if we want to attack the B gaps. Of course, from the "I", you can do either. I just think the straight-ahead angle is better out of the split back set.

We like to go B gap against the 4-4 primarily because it is tougher to get a numbers advantage in the A gap with your Center and two Guards against their 2 DT's and 2 ILB's. However, it depends on what the defense is trying to do to stop your play. If you find that the playside ILB is assigned to stop the second back off tackle, you can combo the backside DT and ILB with the C and BSG. That backside DT is usually a 1 tech. Then, you can 1-on-1 the playside 3 tech DT with your PSG and let your PST block the ILB as he comes over the top to defend the off-tackle hole. This is one way to go A gap against the 4-4.

When we go B-gap against an odd front, particularly a 52, and we are in split backs, we teach that first back going through B gap to use the PSG's block like a tailback following a fullback on an ISO. He just reads the block on the ILB and makes a north-south cut.

So, you can run it out of any formation and to either A or B gap (although A gap is pretty much impossible out of split backs). It's really just a matter of what works best for your kids and against the defense you are facing.

Coach,

How do you run the double dive out of the split back set? Particularly what are the steps for the backfield?

Thanks,

Tim

Coach,

If you are running the double dive to the right side......do both backs hit the right side of the LOS? If so, how does the LHB get into a position where he is square to the hole with his shoulders parallel to the LOS? It seems that the LHB is moving parallel to the LOS, and then plants and heads for the off tackle hole square....is that right?

Thanks,

Tim

Lochness-

What are your rules for base blocking the Belly Series? I have my rules which are ON-GAP-LB but we run into trouble vs 8-man fronts. What we wind up doing is leaving the OLB when we run the FB since he must account for the TB in the C gap, the keeper, and option. If he folds inside we'll get him with the Belly 2, keeper, or option. When we run off-tackle in the past we have also left hm since he must still account for the keeper. Now we can lead the WB or from the bone or power I lead a back on him too. How do you do things on this play?