Installing Today’s Hybrid Pistol Offense Run & Pass from Top to Bottom
This manual provides you with the full offensive line, receiver, and quarterback mechanics for installing each offensive play presented. Coach Campbell has left no stone unturned for implementing today’s Pistol Offense into your program.
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 13:10:09 GMT
The American's liked the idea of helping the ball carrier along. They often bumped into opposing player as though by accident. In 1879, Princeton used two players to escort the ball carrier during a game against Harvard, thus, the offensive line gets its start (Leckie, 1965).
Because one of the offensive forwards in a scrimmage was. allowed to pass the ball back with his foot, he became known as the "snapperback." Later, because he played in the center of seven forwards or "rushers", he became known as the "center". Since the defensive rushers were permitted to attack him as he passed the ball with his foot actually squirting it back by sudden pressure on its end he needed protection from his own rushers at either side of him. Because, in effect they "guarded" the center, they became known as guards. It was inevitable, of course, that the rushers at either extreme would be called "end men" and then simply ends, And because the men between the ends and the guards had the best position for making tackles, the eventually earned the name of tackle (Leckie, 1965). Offensive line play, as spelled out in American Football and told by Walter Camp (1891), would consist of seven positions: a Center or Snap?Back, two Guards, two Tackles and two Ends (p. 22).
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 13:11:11 GMT
The old style of starting the game has been retained, but there the old conditions cease, and the new features will at once be appearant The first one of the most important changes will be when the opposing teams line up for a scrimmage. Instead of facing each other at close quarters, as in the past, the length of the ball will separate them, and this will affect the entire character of the defensive play. It will put an end to charging, and from a spectator's standpoint will materially improve the game, as it will reduce to a minimum mass plays, which make it next to impossible for the spectators to watch the progress of the ball with any degree of satisfaction. It will prevent one team securing a big advantage on their opponents before the ball is actually in play and favor a defense rather than an aggressive game.
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 13:12:01 GMT
In Football Facts and Figures (1945), Dr. L.H. Baker, wrote that Princeton, in 1879, was the first team to use interference with the ball carrier, but here the interferes were located on each side and not in front of the ball carrier (1879 Interference is legalized). This was called "guarding the runner". Since little was known about it, the use of interference was carried on in a desultory way, and to avoid possible penalty complications, interferers did not use their hands and arms. It was not until 1884 that interferes would be sent ahead of the ball (Baker, 1945). is hands or arms.
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 13:12:57 GMT
In the early years of football the rule that governed the number of players on the line of scrimmage fluctuated; 1895, seven players must be on the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped; 1896, rule again changes stating at least five players shall be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped; 1903, rule changes again state that now the number of players on the line of scrimmage could be either seven or five under certain conditions. Then finally in 1910, the rules committee changes for the last time the number of players on the line of scrimmage to seven prior to the snap of the football. This rule change of 1910 has remained unchanged to the present day.
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 13:13:29 GMT
The introduction of the scrimmage line as stated in the book, The History of American Football, Its Great Teams, Players, and Coaches (Danzig, 1956), established the principle of possession of the ball, a tremendously important principle that, more than anything else, differentiates rugby from American football. When in 1880, a new rule is formed stating at least eleven players on a side and a scrimmage line established; the latter change eliminated the rugby scrum and aligned the teams on either side of the ball.
Parke Davis wrote of the significance of this change in the 1926 Football Guide. He said, "The most important incident in the evolution of the game in the late eighteen seventies was the introduction of the modem scrimmage in the place of the rugby 'scrum'"(p. 15). The tacticians of the period perceived the vast improvement which could be obtained if a method were established of putting the ball in play that it would give to one side its undisturbed possession and thereby permit a strategic and tactical possession and thereby permit a strategic and tactical preparation to advance it (Davis 1926).
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 13:14:23 GMT
John Heisman, famous coach and one of the inventive minds of football wrote in 1932 in the Yale? Princeton football program, "Camp's scrimmage plan gave the ball into possession of the center and he alone could put it into play with a snap-back. This control of the ball made it possible for the offensive team to plan plays in advance, and the use of signals by the quarterback made for better team play". (Davis, 1926)
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 13:15:43 GMT
The Encyclopedia of Sports (1978) referred to the line blocking of the early days as "Line Charging". Very little scientific thought had been put into that department of play before the dawn of the present century. Nearly all linemen, as a rule, lined up squarely against those who played the same positions on the opposing team. They didn't crouch or squat or play low. They mostly stood bolt upright and fought it out with each other hammer and tongs, tooth and nail, fist and feet. The fact is, you didn't stand much chance of making the line those days unless you were a good wrestler and fair boxer.
Certain ingenious plays featured in early?day sport were quite as startling and unique as is the forward pass of today. First was the flying wedge, invented in 1892 and brought out by Harvard. Almost every team in the country promptly copied the play. In the flying wedge, however, nine of the players of the team withdrew about 20 yards from mid?field and at a signal these nine, in two lanes, started simultaneously and at full speed, converging on a point indicated by the ball. By the time they arrived at the ball, they had worked up a stupendous mass momentum, and the interference they gave for the runner was something wonderful to behold, and terrible to stop.
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 15:24:49 GMT
During 1949, 1950, and 1952 rules pertaining to the use of hands and arms are redefined. In 1949 under the rule of helping runner and using body, changes to read: while blocking, players feet may leave ground the instant he makes contact with the opponent (Oshins, 1947). Also, in 1949 the hands and anus rule changes: penalty for illegal use of hands and arms, for offensive player, loss of 15 yards from spot of foul. If, to supplement shoulder or chest block, a teammate of runner uses hand or forearm for blocking; chest block, teammate of runner uses hand or forearm for blocking;
a) hand must be in contact with body during entire block; b) with crab or body block hands do not have to be in contact with body; c) hands may not be locked during any block (Oshins, 1947).
In 1950, the hands and arms rule changed to require the hand must be in contact with body, and hand and arm must be kept below shoulders of opponent during entire block by teammate of runner. Note: If hand or arm of player of offensive team in legal blocking position contacts opponent above shoulder before opponent squats, ducks, or submarines, such contact is not violation if hands and arms are otherwise used (Oshins, 1947).
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 15:25:38 GMT
In May 1958, Clem W. Thompson, Francis Nagle, and Robert Dobias conducted a study the results of which were published as Football Signals and Movement Times of High School and College Players. This study measured the time it took their subjects to move a distance of 18 inches. Two different starting signals were used: (1) rhythmic, either a digit signal (one, two, three, four), or word?digit signal (hut one, hut two, hut three; and (2) non?rhythmic word digit signals or non?rhythmic color signal (red, green, orange, etc.). Rhythmic digit starting signals were found to result in the fastest movement times for both high school and college players Thompson et al., 1958).
It is important when understanding rules and technique that the stance has taken on many different looks since 1869, depending on the philosophy of the coach teaching it. The stance, an important aspect of offensive line play, was researched by J.M. Deck (1962) in his doctoral dissertation entitled Effects of Stance, Body Position, and Initial Step Patterns. The evidence suggests that a stance with high hip elevation is best. Since other factors such as stability and maneuverability are important to the football stance, appropriate modifications of the suggested starting stance are often indicated.
When fast movement is desired, the best stance is one in which the knees are bent slightly and the weight is distributed over the feet. Starting on the balls of the feet prior to the movement stimuli offers no advantage because of an athlete's tendency to rock back on his heels before making his initial step.
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 15:26:34 GMT
In Football Principles and Play, David M. Nelson (1962), Head Football Coach at the University of Delaware wrote that blocking is the heart and soul of offense just as tackling is the lifeblood of defense. It might even be said that blocking is offense and tackling is defense. The purpose of a block is to prevent a defensive man or men from tackling the ball carrier or passer or from blocking the kick. The closer the ball carrier is to the blocker the more important the block. However, all blocks in an offensive plan are important. There are no second?class blocks, and if they are worth doing at all they are worth doing well. It is safe to say that some blocks are more difficult to execute than others because they must be of a longer duration and require more skill and greater tenacity. Blocks are the foundation upon which running alleys or lanes are made. The nine principles of blocking, according to Coach Nelson are:
1. Design the play to give the blocker every possible advantage. 2. Block the proper defensive man. 3. Use the proper blocking technique. 4. Sustain the block. 5. Block at the exact moment of assignment. 6. Be prepared to make blocking adjustments. 7. Remember that the landmarks for the execution of the block control its success. 8. Remember that the intensity of the block determines its adequacy. 9. Make the second and third efforts to block.
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 15:27:31 GMT
In 1964, as the game progressed, then Head Football Coach Bobby Dobb wrote of his updated version of offensive line play which he utilized at Georgia Tech. In his book, Bobby Dobb on Football (1964), he said:
It is in the offensive line that we find the unheralded and unsung heroes of any football team. The first downs and touchdowns of legendary halfbacks would never have come to pass but for the "blood, sweat, and tears" of an offensive line. Offensive line play can't be faked (p. 31).
Coach Dobb stated that in order for an offensive lineman to enjoy any success he first must have a good stance to enjoy any possible advantage against his opponent. Next most important factor is releasing from the line of scrimmage (getting off on the football).
There are five major factors necessary to any good offensive stance. Listed in order they are: (1) leg spread, (2) foot stagger, (3) arm position, (4) plane of the hips, back, and head, and (5) weight distribution (Dobb, 1964).
Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2005 15:29:35 GMT
There are five major factors necessary to any good offensive stance. Listed in order they are: (1) leg spread, (2) foot stagger, (3) arm position, (4) plane of the hips, back, and head, and (5) weight distribution (Dobb, 1964).
Too much accent cannot be placed on this phase of offensive play. The offensive individual or team that consistently gets off on the snap of the ball is certain to have a most definite advantage over the defense. Too many offensive men are defeated at this stage of the game without ever having had an opportunity to prove their blocking abilities. Getting the jump on an opponent often means the difference between success or failure on any particular maneuver.
To insure offensive success in releasing from the line, three methods are now being used: (1) the "lunge?out" release, (2) the "step?out" release, and (3) the "all?fours and step?out" release. Of the three releases, the first two are methods that have been in general use and practice for some time. The third method has only recently come into common usage (Dobb, 1964). It is during this time that coaches first started to mention full-extended arms when blocking. The "all?fours and step?out" release pertains to full extension of arms upon contact with a defender. As the offensive lineman releases form the line of scrimmage, he first leads with his head and extended arms. As contact is established, the arms are retracted to the chest and the forearms rose as extensions of the shoulder blocking surface.