Why use the shotgun?

We use the shotgun primarily in passing situations but we still have the ability to run our option game out of the gun. If you run the shotgun you need to have the ability for the QB to shift back under center. Opposing defenses have a tendency to widen and bull rush when they see us in the gun. If you have the ability to make a quick shift you can create problems for the defense which opens up an interior running game. Also, when we run the gun we still run the same pass plays that we would under center so we are not creating a new learning experience that would take up more practice time.

Chargercoach

It is all about what you want to commit to running! We are in the gun 95% of the time. We have not had the players to line up and play power football and or get a lot of movement on a compressed defensive front. We have our entire run game out of the gun and as Coach Campbell mentioned, we read the backside end and have the ability to turn almost any run into an option play. Our passing game consists of the quick game, screens, some 5 step stuff, and our running game. Why did we go to this type of offense? After running more of a spread option offense for six years, I moved to start a program from scratch. We had so many problems simply trying to get the QB out from under the center to run the football. We threw the quick game with our option run game, and simply said we have to make some changes to be competitive. We have gone from 0-6, to 4-5, to 8-2 in three years. I really feel like using the gun allows you to open up so many running lanes, its not even funny. It limits the number of defensive fronts that we see which allows our OL to be more aggressive and confident. I remember hearing Rich Erdelyi from Carnegie Mellon, several years ago, talking about running their buck sweep out of the gun formation. I believe he said they averaged more yards on that play out of the gun than they did under center. Why? Because so many players think of the gun as a pass only formation and they get larger cushions on the corner and quicker drops by the LB'ers. Again, it all goes back to what do you want to get out of what you run on offense. Sorry this ended up being so long!

Coach Campbell says that the shotgun comprises about 40% of his offense. With his "I" offense, he already has a vast arsenal of plays. In what situations, coach, will you employ the shotgun? Please give an indication regarding factors like down-and-distance, the score, the time left on the clock, etc.

I appreciate all of the earlier replies. I am familiar with Northwestern's offense, and I watch teams like Oklahoma and Clemson use the shotgun extensively. It seems effective, and of course I am always willing to try new things. As a playcaller, however, I don't have a solid grasp on WHEN to use it during the ebb and flow of a typical high school varsity game. And as far as practice time goes, I'd like some pointers about how the shotgun is integrated into the practice schedule of a team that is primarily an "I" formation team.

Thanks in advance for any insights. By the way, I will be at the Glazier clinic in Irvine, CA listening to Coach Vint and others give presentations on the subject.

Coach Campbell -

Am interested in obtaining your gun manual/CD. We are an option team from a 4 wide set and would really like to be able to run our option schemes from the gun as well as our base runs and pass packages. I know you spoke at the Glazier clinic in Dallas last year, but I don't see you listed this year. I will visit w/ George Deleone at this clinic some since he has been doing some of what we would like to do, but I do look forward to getting your info...is the plan still to have it available on Feb 1? Thanks - pdow

Coach Campbell

When you read the backside, do you mean with regard to the counter trey? I have run the counter trey out of the shot gun, but a little different.

I go TE left, QB a wing left, FB off-set right, TB outside him and my flanker in the gun. The split end is right. The flanker initiates the cadence and sends the QB in motion to the right. Ball is snapped:

-FB pulls left and kicks out 1st man outside TE left
-QB replaces for the right tackle who leads through hole to the left
-flanker receives snap and hands off to TB who follows the tackle

This has been very successful for us-especially when we fake to the TB and throw to the QB in the flat

Coach: I have just been made offensive coordinater of a 12-13yr team. This team in the past has been awful at best . They have have won a total of 4 games in the past 5 years. The coaches in this system, past and current insist on a power running game. I have, with some degree of success, convinced them that given the size of the kids in this system (small but quick) they need to spread the offense out and take pressure of the o-line. I have put together more or less a west coast offense mainly 3 step drops but need to put a shotgun package together both run and pass game. can you offer any suggestions