HB Plunge

Description

Sometimes you want to use sophistication or misdirection to out-play a defense, but other times you just need to flat out come right at it. HB Plunge is for these times. Unlike most of my plays which are quite complicated and designed to outmaneuver even defenses with superior talent, HB Plunge is for times when you just need to gain a yard, or maybe even an inch, or simply want to smack the other team right in the face. The simplest play in my playbook, all nine blockers push straight ahead while the center running back simply takes the handoff and runs right up through whatever hole he finds.

HB Plunge can work in any short yardage situation. However, it works best if the defensive line is spread out. If you like to run sweeps and other runs to the outside, HB Plunge can be a nice change of pace. It may not be flashy, but it can get the job done.

Player Assignments

See the Madden Playbook Guide for a description of these symbols.

Blocking Assessment

The play is designed to go up the middle. Though it does not appear so in the diagram, the two lead blockers actually slant in slightly to hit the gaps on either side of the center, and the ball carrier does not run far towards the outside. I chose the back step because it gives the best timing (in my opinion) for such a play, though unfortunately it does not support the dive run. Taken straight through you should run between the center and right guard. However, I have found that it is easy enough to cut back to the left side if a better hole is open there. No juke move should be necessary. In practice the right side is usually best anyway because the fullback is the lead blocker here.

After picking the hole there is not much else to think about. Just hit the sprint button and run straight ahead. In short yardage situations you may want to be ready to dive ahead quickly rather than sprinting.

Analysis

Pros:

• Very solid, power running play that will rarely lose yardage, great for converting short yardage and goal line situations
• Very simple, easy to learn and to use effectively
• If the defense shoots one gap the RB can usually run easily to the other one

Cons:

• Difficult to gain more that a few yards