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.
Coaches, I'm interested to hear what your favorite Offensive Line drills are. Most all of us love the chutes (or barrells, they are great if you have never tried them), the sled and such but what about your other drills. My favorite is a drill I picked up from John McDonell, then at Notre Dame, I call it "3 set" here it is...
One OL vs. One DL in either a pass set situation or a drive block (in the pass pro I set a ball on the ground about five yards deep and to the inside of the OL). I place two cones about two yards apart, they serve as the line of scrimmage and the boundary's. On the first rep I give a verbal cadence and the OL attempts to execute his block while the DL tries to beat him. When one of the Lineman establish dominance that rep is over and the DL goes to the back of the line. However, the OL gets right back in between the cones and faces off against another DL and when that reps is over, the OL resets for a a third and final rep.
I like this drill because it is very physical being one on one, it works a quickly tiring OL against fresh DL and perhaps most of all it can be very intense, it is not uncommon for the DL coach to come over and also for the QB to turn around and watch what all the noise is about.
What is your favorite drill, if it is the chutes or sled or if someone else has mentioned your drill already, share your next favorite.
Good Luck this year coaches, the season is about to begin!! Nate Wright
"FOUR CORNERS" = Better warm up drill that stretching. For a guy who is stiff — improves feet. Go ¾ speed. Put 4 cones at the corners of a square — 10 yds. apart. Teaches how to run (over exaggerate arm pump) . Go forward-lateral-backward-lateral. RUN to first cone & come under control — SHUFFLE to next cone (with a slight stagger of L foot if going L & R foot if going R) in a bridge position (sit down & bend, with a wide base — bridge neck — keep hands up - be sure to SHUFFLE — not gallop). BACKPEDAL — then SHUFFLE again. NOTE: Your feet can move TOO fast in pass pro).
"SHUFFLE DRILL" (pass pro) = Break down in good "football position" — wide base — don't worry about speed. Shuffle to lines - 5 yds. — 10 yds. — 5 yds. When changing directions at line - don't stop & plant to change — keep on balance — keep wide base — don't gallop or get crossed over.
"STRAIGHT LINE DRILL" (like the Secondary's "Run the Line" drill) = Straddle line — run backwards — coach waves off & he turns hips keeping eyes on coach. Everything in football is usually below the waist — "you block with your feet". Teach stiff kid how to turn — break down & stay low, working feet & hips.
"BAG DRILL" = Over the bags — another shuffle drill. Keep hands up — neck in bridge position — back & forth, back & forth, & break. NOTE: How you FINISH any drill is important — put towel 15 yds. downfield & he has to break on ball to towel.
"UP & BACK DRILL" (4 bags in a straight line) = Back-shuffle-forward-shuffle (moving feet) — up & back, up & back. Don't go 100 MPH — concentrate on moving feet quick - keeping shoulders square — moving in a good "football position".
"SOFTBALL DRILL" = Used to teach big man to bend at knees — go down & pick up object where you have to use hand & eye coordination to see it (moving target). Use an area with 2 cones 10 yds. apart. Roll softball to farthest point of cone — he runs shuffles laterally & he has to bend knees with both hands down — pick up ball with both hands & throw it to coach. Coach then rolls it to the other farthest point. Direction drill where big guy has to bend & pick it up. GOOD CONDITIONER.
"PUNCH DRILL" = Teaches man how to roll hips, get under target, & deliver blow. Vs. shield, get man in football position — move feet (not a chop) with just bounce movement — step & hit UP — roll hips & hit up thru target. Step & deliver 10 right & 10 left.
"MIRROR DRILL" (pass pro) = Get in perfect fit position with bridge back — service guys grabs rt. arm — blocker sits down & applies pressure (he's on rt. shoulder). Back & forth a couple of times on a juke — guy tries aggressively to jerk him (doesn't try to penetrate). Blocker never stops moving feet (doesn't have to be too fast). "Stack the deck" so offense wins!
"2 MAN BULL SLED DRILL" = Teach how to be explosive. 2 step blow delivery (don't drive the sled after second step). Parallel stance — frontal position — step — blow delivery. OVER EXAGGERAGE use of fists or heels of hands (with thumbs on top) by taking first directional step & second step is 100% BLOW DELIVERY — throw arms out of sockets on first step (wind up with elbows back for good arm thrust) — second step hit & lift sled up in air.
"TRIANGLE DRILL" = Blocking Lbers (base or cutoff). Use on hand & face on outside number — stay square.
"DRIVE DRILL" = Cutoff drill. Get a perfect fit — drive 10 yds, - stay square.
NOTE: No longer run wind sprints after practice because players will pace themselves. Get the running by: #1 TEAM PERIOD — 40 PLAY SCRIPT — THROWING - line sprints 15 yds. downfield on each pass to cover (like covering punts). #2 "RIGGO DRILL" = 15 plays (40/50 GUT) & RB/Line sprints 30 yds. on each snap. "SELL THE RANCH" during these two drills!!!
On those inevitable days where the kids are a little lackluster (and often at the end of practice to reward a good day of effort), we do the "sumo" drill (king of the ring)...
Cut a section of soft garden hose long enough to make a reasonable size circle, splice replacement connectors on each end of the hose so they screw together, and pair the kids off by size, at least to start. First player to go to the ground, step on the hose or out of the ring loses.
It really gets the kids energized/focused again. Not only do the kids absolutely LOVE it, but it teaches them to keep a wide base, low pad level, deliver a "lifting" blow and drive their feet. If they don't keep their head up, they will fall off the opposing player and either fall on their face or get tossed out of the ring.
One thing we found through trial and error...a smaller circle tends to encourage the kids to fire out more, a larger circle tends to encourage some kids to try and "juke" the more aggressive drive blockers. The other thing we sometimes do is tell each kid which foot to step with first so they don't always step with their dominant foot.
We started this with our o-linemen but after about five minutes, all the wr's and backfield types were begging to get into the action. It's really a blast.
Our favorite for teaching nastiness and aggression is our "stick drill" the offensive player frames up into the defensive player in perfect position, on command they will drive block, the defensive player has the offensive player by the shoulder pads and tries to get them off balance or throw them down. It teaches and offensive lineman balance and how to finish a block.