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.
Here is the situation: You have a twins look weak and a TE strong (no WR to that side) in 2 backs. You are running wide or tight zone weak.
The Will backer whom the fullback is responsible for in Gibbs's blocking schemes is walked out on the slot receiver. My question would be should the fullback then block the Mike backer?? What if the Will splits the difference halfway between tackle and slot?? should you just run strong?
Usually in this situation with Will walked either the SS or strong corner will be in the box strong, so the backside combinations will have to account for them.
If S/S down to TE side - stay to SE (slot) side). If WIDE ZONE - still lead FB on Will. If TIGHT ZONE - FB can lead thru hole & check from Mike (who along with the shade is being "zoned" by OG & CTR) to F/S.
CONTROL "WILL" WITH THE FORMATION!!!!!!! We would be in a form of TRIPS in which X is wide, H is 2 ft outs (& 1 1/2 yds deep)the openside OT, & Z splits the difference. Will = wide enough so as not to interfere. We short motion H to B gap & lead him thru. We DO NOT like to line "H" (FB) up IN backfield.
If 3 & 5 to split end side - run to OTHER side (it would be "stealing").
I have a little "drill" for you. Go to Joe Paterno's site (coachillustrated.com) & look in archives for JIM DONNAN. Pull up his article on "RUNNING THE BALL BETWEEN THE TACKLES". He talks about this very concept. LOOK AT THE SECONND PHOTO in the article (the first is a picture of him). You will see the defense. TELL ME WHICH SIDE IN THIS PHOTO WOULD YOU PREFER TO RUN THE TIGHT ZONE TO (RT OR LT). I will be awaiting your reply.
If Will is walked out then yeah that would work. But if Will is halfway splitting the difference or something like that, then I think you are better off throwing or running strong if it is tight zone? How would you block the play to the TE side given that the SS is down if you get a 3 and 5 weak??
I am not registered at coaches illustrated. what exactly does Donnan say?
I looked at the photo coach. I'll try and describe it. It's a one-back, 2 TE set.
Defense has (starting from L-R):
DE:9-tech DT:3-tech DT:2-tech DE:6-tech (head up on TE)
LB: head up on TE MLB:1-tech LB: 4-tech SS: 1 yd outside TE about 5 yards deep (LB's are at about 4yds)
Personally I'd be running tight (inside) zone to the right - having combos to the playside LB, and controlling the left DE with the boot action. You could also probably go with a TAG to thr right when running it - the angle seems to be there.
Yup.. the PST & TE combo would go to the walked up SS.
Best way I heard it put was Steve Loney at ISU (frmer Minnesota & current Vikings): Each lineman becomes responsible for blocking the gap to his playside -- this takes into account blitzes and stunts.
Coach Joe - if we were in the TRIPS formation I described - I GUARANTEE the S/S will be to the 3 receiver side, AND Will would be out there also (in a 1 safety look). If Will DIDN'T walk out - the BUBBLE SCREEN would be unstopable (with ONLY the S/S under to TRIPS)!!!!!!! CONTROL THE DEFENSE WITH THE FORMATION - RUN WHERE YOU WANT TO RUN, NOT WHERE THE DEFENSE WANTS YOU TO RUN!!!!!
BLACK FLY - YES, YOU ARE CORRECT! Run it to the RIGHT!!!!!! It is better to the 2I than to the 3. On the left - there are FOUR people between the TE's outside shoulder & the ball. To the right - there are only THREE. I can envision the RB cramming that B Gap for 5+ yards, without screwing with a damned cutback!!!!! Cutbacks are necessary EVILS in the running game, just like "hots" are in the passing game - you would rather not HAVE to do EITHER!!!
Coach Joe - WR can block S/S!!!!! Motion across, or if on S/S side - cheat or motion in!!!!!
IMO - the best way to block that look is for the RT & RTE to zone from man on TE to Sam; CTR & RG zone from 2I to Mike; LT & LG zone from 3 to Will; LTE cutoff DE. S/S can be handled a NUMBER of ways: motion a WR over from lt to rt to block him, OR cheat WR on his side in or motion him in to block him. Can ALSO back LTEoff & motion over to get S/s - with QB controilling DE with boot action. POINT IS: This hols up in my blocking rules, AND gets ball carrier in behind THREE DOUBLE TEAM BLOCKS ("roll the LOS back into the laps of the LBers"). This is the way I prefer.
PS: PROBLEM with running it to 3 technique side = they have an extra man in there, plus RB would HAVE to cut back (if he didn't - "Mike" would eat him ALIVE!!!!!!!
Looking at the picture we're talking about I think Coach Donnan IS motioning a WR from L to R. There seems to be a DB moving that way, probably adjusting to motion of a WR. The SS can defintely be blocked with a WR coming down --> Is this how alot of the Gibb's counter/power would handle a SS creeping up?
One question about your blocking coach: Is there an advantage to blocking it and having the combo's go 'backside' as opposed to the RT and RTE going to the SS?
Just curious and trying to learn!
Seems to me that might be easier to go playside with the combos... but going 'back' with the combo's gives a change in the blocking schemes that might pop the play...
Black Fly - IMO if you messed with the blocking as I described it - the following would happen:
1. Wouldn't get THREE double teams - which is IDEAL. What you WANT on the play is to roll the LOS back into the lap of the LBers - not cute schemes & cutbacks!!!!! 2. You would screwing with the blocking RULES (DON'T CHANGE - nothing messes up a kid's mind MORE than "we're going to CHANGE this for this game")!!!!! TRY NOT TO CHANGE A DAMNED THING - ADD IF YOU MUST, BUT DON'T CHANGE!!! 3. Let the WR's (or offside TE motioning across) handle the S/S. Try NOT to give him to the front 7 - that job BELONGS to the WR's! The corners usually aren't tacklers in College & NFL - but the Safeties MUST be accounted for.
To answer your question about the S/S creeping down - I always thought they ran the Counter BEST to the open side in a 3 WR align. The S/S would be no where in sight. If you crease the LOS - you would be down on the F/S before the defense knew what hit them. The beauty of Joe Gibbs' AWESOME running game was to use SHIFTS/MOTION/FINALIZED FORMATION schemes that dictated definite weak spots in the defense!
MOVEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR TOTAL OFFENSIVE SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR MOVEMENT IN OUR OFFENSE; AMONG THE MOST PROMINENT REASONS ARE:
1. To create a personnel advantage by creating mis-matches on our Receivers or Backs. 2. To create a personnel advantage by effecting changes in run support and force responsibilities. 3. To create secondary movement in an effort to better enable our Quarterback to recognize coverage. 4. To get our personnel in better position to execute their given assignment. 5. To create problems for the defense in Man under coverages when attempting to hold or bump Receivers at the line of scrimmage. 6. To create an opportunity for indecision, confusion, and/or mis-alignment by the secondary. 7. To cause movement on the part of the Defense in an effort to realign their personnel with the coverage calls and changes and not allow them to set themselves and react to familiar offensive patterns. Make the Defense “play on the move”. 8. To force opponents to spend practice time and effort on adjusting to movement patterns rather than improving defensive skills and schemes. 9. To create a visual complexity to the defense, yet be able to run the same basic plays from a variety of looks.
Thanks Coach! Good points! I agree you should never try to change blocking.
I know there are different ways to get the combo's on the LB's or the 2nd level. Although I agree that the WR's job is usually to get the SS, but when he walks up like that maybe he should be treated as a LB? I'd just prefer my TE or T blocking a SS than a WR if the safety's going to come up like that.
If I'm correct you'd be going 'backside' to get your combos... some teams go playside and I think, looking at the picture you'd still get 3 doubles, if you did this. Different ways to skin a cat possibly?
I'll try and copy the diagram, sketch on it and email it to you - we can discuss the diff ways to block it
Another question I have is how some teams defend counter by having the man kicked out squeeze the play down.
Would you have the 'kick' player ride him down... and then have the 'log' player wrap around that block?
What happens if the trapped defender cuts the OL (or H) to create a pile?
One thing I always try and do when looking at a play if think of how a team could defend it.
If they are playing 8 men in the box against that look you should probably throw the football. The Flats should be easy money. I also think you are better off going with a fullback and using him to block playside and lead on one of the backers. Like the Broncos do in their force blocking schemes. what do you think??
Oneback, In a 1 back set with trips to one side Alex Gibbs always says that if there is a defensiver player be it a backer or saftey who is outside the tackle box or outside the TE he is not the responsibility of the o-line. He must be blocked by the receivers. Do you remember this??
BLACK FLY - the way I described the play is the way it was MOST successful for us (& also the way the Skins blocked it with Riggins). DON'T WORRY about LBers at the second level - WIN THE LOS & that will take care of itself! On more than one occassion - NO ONE came off on the LB & we drove the DLM into him forcing an obstacle for him to go around to make the tackle.
ALL THREE double teams ARE to the playside! The whole line steps playside! Check the photo - the play is run to the right. LT & LG lead step to their right to "slip" block the 3 back to Will; CTR & RG lead step to their right to "Ray" block the 2I to Mike; the RT & RTE lead step to their right to "read" block DE to Sam. Those terms are zone blocking combinations. REMEMBER also - we NUMBER defenders for assignments. DE on left = 3 (TE's man); Will = 2 (LT's man); 3 technique = #1 (LG's man); Mike = 0 (CTR's man); 2I = 1 (RG's man); Sam = #2 (RT's man); DE = #3 (TE's man). NOW - when we ZONE block - we combo TO OUTR MAN!!!!! That is the way Joe Bugel ALWAYS taught it! The covered/uncovered principles tell you if you ZONE TO YOUR MAN - or just MAN block: I.E.
ZONE BLOCKING RULES:
A) (EVERYONE) IF YOU ARE UNCOVERED – ZONE WITH YOUR TEAMMATE TO PLAYSIDE. B) (EVERYONE) IF YOU ARE COVERED LOOK BACKSIDE - #1 IF YOUR TEAMATE BACKSIDE IS UNCOVERED - ZONE WITH HIM. #2 IF YOUR TEAMATE BACKSIDE IS COVERED – MAN BLOCK.
The WHOLE zone running game revolves around these principles: A) Number defenders IN CASE you end up MAN blocking it; B) use covered/uncovered to tell you IF you are zoning (preferred) C) Even when zoning - you MAY STILL end up on your man (example: RG & RT zoning with a LB over RG & 5 tech over RT - if the 5 technique stretches with RT's lead step - RG goes up on LB & NO double team will occur - he gets his MAN (#1 - the LB).
As you can see - this was a well conceived SYSTEM! One of out coaching points to our kids is "TRUST THE SYSTEM & DON'T LET IT DOWN".
As to your question re: the counter - don't try to log the EMLOS - if he closes tight still try to kick him out & a NATURAL log will occur. We BASE UP DE's (particularly in "OVER" looks) & lead the trapper or kick out man thru the hole - this PREVENTS wrong-0shouldering or "spilling" the play. Also the "bluff" & "load" blocking schemes more than compensate for that technique by DE's!
#1 - it IS 8 men in the box, & the HITCH should be stealing!
#2 - yes - I remember A Gibbs saying that. Will Lb moves out of the box vs Trips - usually #3 receiver (counting outside/in) has him. Probably a S/S out there too - & #2 has him.
Getting back to the original question if Will is splitting the difference you should still be able to run wide zone with fullback blocking Will and The frontside combo going to Mike right?
The problem would be tight zone against that look. If Will is half way then the slot receiver can't block him so the fullback would have to go after Will leaving the center/guard to combo shade to Mike who is to their playside. What do you suggest?
Stick with the blocking rules & control Will (if he ONLY goes 1/2 way) with the boot to his side, & the bubble screen. There was a good article in the AFCA journal a few years back by the "OC" at Washington State (Jim McDonnell) on controlling a "Will" that tries to "split the difference" and stick his nose in the backside B gap on flow away. Check back AFCA journals for that article - (check from around 1999 tp 2004). ONCE AGAIN - the SHIFTS/MOTIONS/FINISHED FORMATION (see my post above re: "MOVEMENT") are used to put Safeties & OLB's where we want them. I can't go into detail on this because it is too extensive. There are THOUSANDS of possibilities. Joe Gibbs beat people thru "movement" with a handful of simple plays!
Coach Mountjoy hit the nail on the head with the bubble. Our QB can check to the bubble screen out of any of our formations if we have outside leverage on the outside linebacker or strong safety. You cannot always block them ALL! You must take advantage of the defense by using formations! (Already been posted) We use as many as 13 formations per game. We have a pretty good idea were the alley players will line up. We are not going to try and stuff the zone play on someone if they are giving us something else. The bubble play is so easy to teach and incorperate.
Last season against a 4-4 defense I called zone everyplay the entire first qt. Our QB did a great job in reading the alley player and either stayed with the zone or checked the bubble. It was all based upon the alignment of the alley players. Are they covering our #2 receiver or are they cheating inside for the run. At the end of the first qt of this game, we were ahead 21-0.
Best of luck this fall.
JD
"Your work ethic determines your future" Boyd Eply
I don't think you will get Will out on the slot in the formation I described anyway right? Atleast not frequently. It will either be corners over or a saftey will line up on him.
But if the SS is in the box on the TE side he has to be accounted for by an o-line combination especially on the backside because he is the cutback player. and playside as well unless you motion one of the slots to block him.
We will be installing what we will call a zone sweep play this year. Essentially, we are a spread (4 wide) team and we incorporate a great deal of motion into what we do, pass and run. Our intention out of a 2 x 2 set is to short motion an inside receiver and run the wide zone using straight zone blocking with no pulling linemen...I have rarely run any inside/outside zone scheme and would appreciate critiques and suggestions on the mechanics of such a scheme. pdow
PDOW - this has been posted before - but I'll include it again (RE: ZONE PLAYS):
INSIDE ZONE BLOCKING (“40/50 GUT”)/OUSIDE ZONE BLOCKING (“60/70 OUTSIDE”)
NOTE: Uncovered man responsible for inside half of down lineman and covered lineman responsible for outside half of down lineman.
UNCOVERED MAN: Take a lead step and catch up with your covered teammate as you READ the near knee of the down lineman on him. As you work through your playside gap – if the near knee comes towards you block his inside number & fit him up sliding in the direction he is going (eyeball Lber in case he comes inside); if near knee doesn’t come towards you work up on Lber. 3 situations can occur (see COVERED MAN).
COVERED MAN: Take a lead step with your outside foot eyeballing outside number of down lineman on you – second step with inside foot thru crotch of opponent. You must think man block and only go to Lber when wiped off by uncovered teammate. 3 situations usually occur: 1) Down lineman is in an outside shade & stretches – you stay on him and uncovered teammate works up on Lber. 2) Down lineman is head up & anchors on you – use double team technique driving him into Lber & stay on him until wiped off by uncovered teammate then work straight up on Lber. 3) Down lineman head up or inside shade & slants inside – force him to flatten his slant & stay on him until wiped off by uncovered teammate then work straight up on Lber.
LINEMEN NOT ZONING USE “DRIVE” (MAN) BLOCKS. Don’t worry about getting position on defender – worry about blow delivery. When coming off the ball you guide with your eyes (aim with your face), and your eyes take you to the aiming point or landmark which is the playside #. Your first step is a short directional step and you throw your arms out of the socket (“don’t shoot from the holster”). On the second step, your power foot must be on the ground and you arm thrust (100% blow delivery) with your fists into his short ribs (below the pads), tucking your tail and “lifting him out of his socks”. Don’t put your face or shoulder in, because you will be overextended and your head will be down.
NOTE: OUTSIDE ZONE BLOCKING (“60/70 OUTSIDE”): Only difference is that it is a wider reach (almost a pull) – uncovered blocker “piggybacks” covered blocker & covered blocker reaches almost to hip of outside teammate. Uncovered blocker will stay on a down lineman head up on covered teammate, and covered teammate comes off on Lber – “forcing the switch”. RB aims for butt of TE and cuts off his block.
RUNNING BACK (“40/50 GUT” – INSIDE ZONE): 1st. step with playside foot, roll, crossover, and aim nose for Tackle’s inside hip (if bubble over Grd) or Guard’s outside hip (if bubble over Ctr or Tkl). Key the block on the first down lineman outside the Center, and make your cut on THEIR side of the L.O.S. If there is daylight in the B gap – cram the B gap – otherwise, if DLM goes out you cut inside (& vice versa). NOTE: On the OUTSIDE ZONE (“60/70 OUTSIDE) – RB drop steps & runs a straight line for butt of TE – cut inside or outside of his block.
QB: On Inside Zone the QB opens to 5 o’clock on 40 GUT and to 7 o’clock on 50 GUT. On the Outside Zone the QB opens to 4 o’clock on 60 Outside and to 8 o’clock on 70 Outside
I ZONE BLOCKING RULES:
A) (EVERYONE) IF YOU ARE UNCOVERED – ZONE WITH YOUR TEAMMATE TO PLAYSIDE. B) (EVERYONE) IF YOU ARE COVERED LOOK BACKSIDE - #1 IF YOUR TEAMATE BACKSIDE IS UNCOVERED - ZONE WITH HIM. #2 IF YOUR TEAMATE BACKSIDE IS COVERED – MAN BLOCK.
II COUNTER/POWER BLOCKING RULES:
PLAYSIDE (ALL) = A) IF YOUR INSIDE TEAMMATE IS UNCOVERED – COMBO WITH YOUR OUTSIDE TEAMMATE FROM THE MAN ON YOU TO THE BACKSIDE LB. B) IF YOUR INSIDE TEAMATE IS COVERED – COMBO WITH YOUR INSIDE TEAMMATE FROM THE MAN ON HIM TO THE BACKSIDE LB. NOTE: GAP BLOCK VS. “SOLID LOOK”.
CENTER = 1ST MAN ON LOS OFFSIDE
OFFSIDE GUARD = A) COUNTER = TRAP EMLOS; B) POWER = LEAD THRU ON PLAYSIDE LB
OFFSIDE TACKLE = SQUEEZE B GAP & HINGE ON EDGE RUSHER
H = A) COUNTER = LEAD THRU ON PLAYSIDE LB; B) POWER = TRAP (KICK) EMLOS