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.
For those of you that run the outside zone with "traditional" concepts (like Alex Gibbs runs) I wanted to ask some questions.
1 - I have read quite often that the uncovered/covered rules are the excact same for the linemen, but their techniques become a little wider. For the widening of the techniques does that just mean that their step is more lateral and their aming point is wider than the playside number?
2 - Do the covered/uncovered defintions stay exactly the same, as well as the double teams? In college our rules for being covered were different from the IZ. In the OZ you were covered if there was a downlinemen from your nose all of the way to your playside teammates inside shoulder. So in this case the the C was excpeted to handle a PS 1 tech. However, the idea of the play was to get to the edge, not likely end up like an off-tackle play the way the Broncos do it. Those defintions of covered/uncovered wouldn't seem to work if you were going to read the DE and cut upfield between the tackles. If the definitions were to stay the same in this case, how would a PSG and C handle a PS 1 tech in terms of their steps and aming points (or any linemen in that situation)?
3 - Could you guys give me the basics on your outside zone as far as the steps for the o-line and how the determine what combos they are working in (and how that effects their techniques?
OFFENSIVE LINE SPLITS = 18”. OFF THE BALL WITH THEIR FINGERS ON THE CENTER’S SHOE LACES.
WIDE ZONE (18/19):
1. RB: LINE UP 7 ½-8 YARDS DEEP. DROP STEP & RUN ON TRACK FOR YOUR LANDMARK - THE BUTT OF THE TE (OR WHERE THE TE WOULD BE) – PRESS THE HOLE. READ HATS OF THE FIRST TWO MEN ON THE LOS COUNTING FROM OUTSIDE-IN (EXCLUDING Lbers). IF THE OUTSIDE MAN COMES IN – YOU GO OUT. IF THE OUTSIDE MAN GOES OUT – YOU GO IN & READ THE INSIDE MAN (RUN OFF HIM). RB IS PERMITTED ONLY ONE CUT, AND LIVE WITH IT! DETERMINE WHERE YOU WILL CUT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO ORIGINAL ALIGNMENT OF TE’S BUTT.
2. QB: COME OUT AT 4 (8) O’CLOCK & MAKE HANDOFF. FAKE BOOT AWAY FULL SPEED FOR 5 STEPS.
3. O-LINE/UNCOVERED: UNCOVERED MAN ZONING TAKES AN OPEN (LEAD) DIAGONAL STEP WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT FOR AND AIMS HIS FACE FOR THE HAT OF THE DLM. STAY ON TRACK & OVERTAKE DLM – DON’T BLOCK Lber UNLESS HE IS EVEN WITH YOUR INSIDE SHOULDER & THREATENING THE GAP.
4. O-LINE/COVERED: THE COVERED MAN STEPS WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT & AIMS HIS FACE FOR THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF THE DLM (STAY ON HIS OUTSIDE ½, AND IF YOUR HALF GOES IN – TIGHTEN ON DOWN; IF YOUR HALF GOES OUT – WIDEN; STAY ON LEVERAGE POINT SO AS NOT TO ALLOW PENETRATION).
NOTE: BLOCKING C.P. FOR ALL LINEMEN (ON BOTH ZONE PLAYS = ELBOWS TIGHT – CONTACT WITH TRIANGLE OF FOREHEAD & HANDS – GET HANDS INTO BREASTPLATE & GRAB CLOTH – LEVERAGE/DIP HIPS (DROP DOWN LOW).
5. BACKSIDE CUT BOCKS.
6. WR’S BLOCK THE SAFETIES (FORGET THE CORNERS).
TIGHT ZONE (14/15):
1. RB: FIRST STEP LIKE OUTSIDE ZONE & PLANT, CROSS OVER, & ROLL ON TRACK TO YOUR LANDMARK - THE OUTSIDE LEG OF THE ON G – PRESS THE LOS. READ THE HAT OF THE FIRST DLM OUTSIDE THE CENTER (NOT COUNTING A SHADE). IF HE GOES OUT OR DOESN’T MOVE – ROLLBACK READING THE HAT OF THE NEXT DLM INSIDE. IF HE GOES DOWN – READ THE HAT OF THE NEXT MAN ON LOS OUTSIDE OF HIM FOR YOUR CUT. BASICALLY – IF THE DLM YOU ARE READING DOESN’T PINCH INSIDE, ROLL BACK. DETERMINE WHERE CUT WILL BE WHEN YOU REACH HEELS OF ORIGINAL ALIGN OF ON G.
2. QB: COME OUT AT 5 (7) O’CLOCK & MAKE HANDOFF. FAKE BOOT AWAY.
3. O-LINE/UNCOVERED: (TECHNIQUES ARE TIGHTER ON TIGHT ZONE). UNCOVERED MAN ZONING TAKES 1 LEAD STEP WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT AT HELMET OF DLM & IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE CONTACT BY THEN – GO UP ON Lber (DO NOT CROSSOVER WITH BACKSIDE FOOT IN TIGHT ZONE – BUT YOU DO IN WIDE ZONE). IF DLM COMES INSIDE FRONT HIM UP.
4. O-LINE/COVERED: THE COVERED MAN STEPS WITH HIS PLAYSIDE FOOT & AIMS FOR THE OUTSIDE # OF THE DLM.
5. BACKSIDE: ZONE BLOCK LIKE FRONTSIDE.
6. WR’S: SAME AS WIDE ZONE.
BLOCKING CALLS: SAME CALLS FOR “WIDE” & “TIGHT” BUT THE TECHNIQUES DIFFER AS ABOVE:
A) “COMBO” = ON TE & ON T (ON T UNCOVERED & ON TE COVERED).
B) “SLIP” = ON T & ON G (ON G UNCOVERED & ON T COVERED)
C) “GAP” = ON G & CENTER (NOSE OVER TO A POINT CENTER CAN’T HANDLE)
D) “SLUG” = CENTER & OFF G (VS WEAK SHADE)
E) “SCOOP” = OFF G & OFF T (3 TECHNIQUE ON OFF G)
F) “ELEPHANT” = OFF T & OFF TE
G) “TRIPLE” = 3 MAN COMBO INTO REDUCTION BECAUSE HE DOESN’T FEEL ON G CAN HANDLE A 3 TECH. BY HIMSELF).
NOTE: MUST KNOW IF YOU ARE ZONING (HAVE ½ OF THE MAN) OR DO I HAVE HIM BASE (COVERED/UNCOVERED RULES).
IMPORTANT:
1. RUN AS MANY RUNS TO OPEN SIDE AS TIGHT END SIDE!!!!!
2. MAIN OBJECTIVE = “NO NEGATIVES” (MUST NOT GET LESS THAN 2 YAR
How do you handle a 4i or a 1 technique (inside shoulder of guard)? Obvioulsy the backside teammate will end up taking over pretty quickly, but what is covered man's first step in this instance (inside shoulder covered)? I would think that the covered man would almost have to take a "lead step" (stepping straight ahead with the playside foot) because he is covered and needs to work to the playside armpit of the down linemen. But, this seems to be exactly the same as what would happen in the inside zone scheme in the same instance. Is this just supposed to be how it works out in this case?
Also, a little different question.
When facing a base 4-3 (9, 3, Shade, 5 up front, Sam in 5 off, Mike 0 off, Will 4i off) and the Center has a shade on his backside shoulder how do you handle it? In base rules he would be covered and be responsible for that backside shade because he is covering him, but I have heard you say that in this case the C would have the Mike because he is 0. Would the C and BSG just combo the BSshade to the Mike in this case? Or does the BSG just have to take a real flat step to cut off the BSshade?
#1 On the WIDE ZONE: Covered man's LANDMARK is the outside shoulder (or arm pit) of defender. So he steps AT his landmark & gives him a shot with his inside hand (or flipper) & "ricochets" off to the LBer quickly (unless the landmark stretches outside -then he must stay ON him).
Vs DLM on inside shade (4I, etc.) - FIRST step is GENERALLY to just pick outside foot up & put it right back down REAL QUICK and step to landmark with INSIDE FOOT. You CAN step initially with inside foot - but many do it as I described to be CONSISTENT.
#2 GOOD QUESTION: Numbers take precedence over covered/uncovered as to WHO to block.
Vs the FRONT YOU DESCRIBED - With a WEAK SHADE on the Center on the INSIDE ZONE - the Center & the Off G zone from the shade (#1) to the Mike (#0) = "SLUG" CALL for A. Gibbs. On the OUTSIDE ZONE - we have the Off G take the shade (#1) alone, & the Center zones with the On G from Mike (#0) to the 3 Tech (#1) = "GAP" CALL for A. Gibbs. As you can see - everybody blocks his NUMBERED man - but the zone combo calls are a little different! This is the way it works best for US (& A. Gibbs' way also), because a 3 Tech is GENERALLY better than the OG!
PS: We try NOT to run the Inside Zone into the 3 tech. for the very reason above!
If you want to contact me re: any of this - either call me (Va/EDT) at 804-740-4479, or email me at billmountjoy@yahoo.com
A simple phrase that we use for a wide our outside zone scheme is the next man over rule through the playside jersey number for the outside lineman on the combo and the near number for the backside of the combo. Coach CAmpbell