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.
I'm a little out of my element this year, I've gone from being and offensive coach the past six seasons to now being an inside linebacker coach at a high school that has been deep in the playoffs the past two years. I've never coached LBs, what gets me by at the moment is having been an Off Coord. and having to learn defenses over the years. Please help me out by providing any info you can (drills, reads, etc.). We are a 3-4 team, lots of stunts and blitzes with man coverage. The Mike and Wil are the only personnel that switch according to strength. The Nose and two Tackles are in a 0 and 4s so they're two gap players. A problem I see already is the MLBs overrunning the play, and not relying on their keys enough either. Any help is appreciated.
Coach, I've making the opposite switch, going from DBs and d-coordinator to coaching O-line and o-coordinator. But we're talking about your situation right now. You may have heard of the book before, but if not, you should look into getting a copy of "Coaching Team Defense" by Fritz Shurmur. It's a great primer and a starting point I believe for anyone who wants to learn more about coaching defense.
Next, I would focus on a couple of general concepts regardless of scheme:
1. What will be your LB keys, run/pass, down/pull, zone away, etc.. 2. What will be your team's philosophy on how to stop the run 3. How will you bring pressure 4. How will you defend the myriad of combination sets (2x2, 3x1, empty, twins/trey open/closed, etc..)
Finally, defense is all about pursuit and tackling. You want your boys to play fast, and not think too much. You want to give them some simple rules to be successful and then rep it till they master it.
Thanks for the info, we've been working our keys alot. One of the phrases I yell during practice to my guys is Play Fast so glad to see we're on the same page there.
If you play MAN coverage - the LBer's FIRST read must be the MAN he is assigned to (if you don't - you'll get MURDERED on play action passes). You can "under-key" an uncovered O-Lineman as well, but do NOT lose sight of YOUR man!!!
If you play ZONE coverage - the LBers can read uncovered blockers AND/OR ball flow (OR near back).
In YOUTH ball I would teach ONLY "Man" (BECAUSE if you cannot play "man" - how can you cover a MAN in your ZONE)