Reevaluating the Dart Concept Against Odd Fronts with Dart Boss

Dart has long been a foundational piece in the toolbox of gap-scheme offenses. It’s especially potent in 10 and 11 personnel, offering clean answers when attacking a four-down front with an open B-gap. Traditionally, we ran Dart away from the tight end in 11 personnel, mirroring the Wing-T weak side Iso. That version allowed the play side tackle and guard to combo the 4-tech and a walked-up edge defender, creating vertical seams and fast downhill reads.

But spread formations introduced a new challenge: what to do against odd fronts? Suddenly, that clear blocking picture gets murky. Do you climb to the backside linebacker or kick the edge? Without a clean solution, Dart became less reliable until now.

Enter “Dart Boss”

Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers brought new life to the Dart play by flipping the script: run Dart to the H-back instead of away from him (or a TE). The formation is typically tight trips with the wing set to the play side. This alignment lets the H take over the responsibility for the edge defender whether it’s an outside backer or a safety. He arcs with clarity, widening the force and keeping the perimeter honest.

In zone terms, we’ve always called this “Boss”, Back on Strong Safety. By aligning the H-back to the strong side and assigning him to the alley defender, the offense gains both structure and flexibility. That one tweak lets your tackle play with confidence and gives your guard and center a clearer double. It’s not just about blocking the right guy, it’s about blocking him with leverage.

The Structure Still Holds, Even Against Odd

When Dart is executed to the H, your rules stay intact. It’s the fit that adjusts. Let’s break down three examples: