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.
Although running is limited vs a 3x3, I am surprised nobody jumped on this post.
Widen the OT splits 3 to 3.5 ft. and attack the A gap. In a 3x3 there are only two defenders from mid B gap to mid B gap. In a 4-2 there are four.
OT release inside hard and block Will/Sam. The QB lead (back lead blocking) and QB counter (guard pulling and kicking out the DE (OT blocking LB) or gutting to the WLB or SLB (with the OT blocking the DE out) are all sound plays.
Also, put the QB under the center and run dive with the single back. If SLB and WLB step up into B gap, audible to a hybrid speed option and pitch off the DE. Mix this up with the 3 step game (QB under the center) too.
If we are in a 4 wide, one back gun look, we will run iso. Triple the nose to the mike backer. Tackles use inside cutoff footwork. They must be quick. Back blocks playside backer. This was a great play for us vs. a 30 stack type defense. We also had a lot of success motioning to rips and runing speed option. IS Zone Read is a great play as well. The 30 stack defense is very good versus teams that don't us a tight end. We also put a tight end in the game and make them adjust.
We tried to run option from under center at the 4i on either side. It looked good on paper and in practice but had limited results in the game. We outside released on the 4i to the near backer. PS guard zoned up to backer level. Center, BS guard , and BS tackle zoned playside. Our problems occurred with the receiver blocking. The PS slot usually could not maintain his block and the SS to that side stopped the play. This has always been a weak part of my offense because I do not do a good job teaching the kids how to block in space well from the receiver position. If anyone has any good ideas for that group I would love to hear what you do.
I have not seen it very often so keep in mind there are a lot more qualified people who could describe it than me. What we have seen inside the box at the 1st level is a nose and 2 4i techs when we have a slot and a split end to each side. At the 2ns level they have a Mike stacked behind the nose and 2 outside backers in a 50 alignment. In the secondary we see a lot of cover 3 which we love to throw against. They also can run man free with a FS. Of course they have the abliity to stunt a lot with 6 in the box.
I have not seen it very often so keep in mind there are a lot more qualified people who could describe it than me. What we have seen inside the box at the 1st level is a nose and 2 4i techs when we have a slot and a split end to each side. At the 2ns level they have a Mike stacked behind the nose and 2 outside backers in a 50 alignment. In the secondary we see a lot of cover 3 which we love to throw against. They also can run man free with a FS. Of course they have the abliity to stunt a lot with 6 in the box.
Of course with every front you can get different looks, but here is what we saw:
Nose in a 0 with a stacked MLB. Ends in 5 Tech with the OLB's either stacked or 40's. The Bandits (SS's) will play 3X3 on the TE, if no TE they usually play just inside the IWR. Normally cover 3 or 1.
There are a couple of problems we found:
1. Blocking the Nose and Mike with a Guard and Center. If their Nose was any good, it made this very tough! 2. (We are a Gun Run Team)Reading the backside on our gun runs. They can play either the DE or LB on the backside cutback and the other on the QB. Plus as posted above it can be a tough block for the IWR on the edge!
The 30 stack is a great defense because of the adjustements. But, it is a 6 man box because the outside inverts have dual responsibilities. They must play both pass and run. If they are attacking the run game, they are negating your PAP. When we run our zone read play, We have 5 lineman to block 5 of the box players, and a read on the backside 5 tech. This means we have each defender accounted for. If the invert on the read side is playing inside leverage and beating our inside receiver to the QB, we can play action this. We also can run an isolation play with the QB. Tackles base the 5 tech DE's. Guards and Center triple team the nose to mike backer. RB isolates PSLB. Backside LB will not get their because the triple on the nose will cut off his angle. You can run the iso to either side. And, you can put the RB on either side, regardless of where you are running the iso.
I have never seen anyone run the 5 techs the few times I have seen this front. It has been either 4i or a head up 4 vs our double slot. I totally agree with the play action passing game. We love to pick on the two SS people and make their life miserable. We were also able to get deep very easily vs this look in our 5 step drop series. I think if I remember right our bubble screen package was our best running play of the night.
Gunman, try this. Mix in the bubble screen a bit to the inside receiver. Throw is some straight and throw it some off of the dive fake. Then do this with your blocking. We use what we call a "crack-lead" scheme with our twins. The inside man bubbles around, and the outside man cracks the spur of the 3-3. It looks just like you're running the bubble. The spur is going to get cracked either way, whether it's option or bubble screen. He has to be ready for either, and it's really tough playing the bubble with the quick dive fake. The key to all of this is the outside receiver has to tighten his split a hair, but not as much as you think. Also, if it's the run, the slot bubbles and then lead blocks the corner. We run the bubble screen like this out of a conventional trips set also. Crack with #1, lead with #2, and throw the bubble to #3. A good look off of that is to put your oneback in an offset fullback position and work the veer. The defense has to decide whether or not to remove the OLB. The inside slot can drop back and be the pitch back if you want. Same blocking scheme by outside 2 receivers. Those are two nice little series that work for us against 3-5 teams.