GBMWolverine’s Pistol Report

Posted at 12:00pm — 9/30/2010

GBMWolverine’s Pistol Report

This is Not Straight out of the Barrel of a Gun!

The pistol offense, pioneered by Chris Ault of Nevada, has certainly made some noise in the college and high school ranks since being trotted out in 2004. As with any new offensive scheme, the overall objective is to gain an advantage. The pistol is a mix of the now common shotgun and a single back offense. Please enjoy GBMWolverine’s pistol analysis.

The Overriding Philosophical Tenets that Underlie the Scheme

It has been stated that Chris Ault wanted an offense that could compete with the wild and wacky scoring of the WAC. Being able to provide balance in formation and run the ball were key desired outcomes. Furthermore, the pistol was viewed as another offensive package that could level the playing field against big physical teams that presented mismatches if the choice of offense remained standards such as tight sets or I formation football. Yes, that was not a misprint, run the ball in the WAC. So, great out-of-the-box thinking yielded a hot new scheme that is scoring points everywhere.

The Physical Tenets and Perceived Advantages of the Pistol

One feature about the pistol immediately catches a viewer’s attention, the position of the quarterback. Instead of being under center, or being 7 yards deep in the shotgun or wildcat, the quarterback is lined up 4 yards deep. The perceived advantages are a shorter snap, the quarterback can read the defense quicker, less bad snaps, the quarterback can see downfield better than in the shotgun, and the running back is hidden making it difficult for the defenders to find the one back or key on his actions.

The principle of balance is in play and is paramount to the philosophy of the passing game. A tight end and a wideout are frequently placed on one side, balanced out by two wideouts (outside receiver and wingback) to the opposite side.

The back is not offset, but instead is three yards directly behind the quarterback. With the linear alignment, the perceived theory becomes the obvious result; the offense is set to go in both directions with ease.

This is a versatile, intelligent offense that can be cannibalized to make small changes that create even more problems for the defense. The zone in and zone out are staples of the running game. The back can be used for read offense, blocking, draws or misdirection. Two tight ends can be used in the pistol scheme and if a coach really desires, two backs can be placed behind the quarterback.

With success in the run game, the waggle bootleg counter can isolate a defender and pick up yardage, especially if the safeties start to creep up into the box. Two tight ends can be used, or one tight end, depending on the defensive scheme and personnel. The jet sweep can be run and with a good running QB plays similar to a wildcat version of a single wing can be set up. Three and four receiver sets are commonplace with the pistol.

The passing game attempts, by using the principle of balance, to cause poor defensive choices, to make keys tough to read, to be somewhat unpredictable (although patterns are emerging), but more than anything to isolate good receivers in the flat or on the boundary, depending on the choices the defenders make against the formation and the pattern.

Some Base Pistol Plays to Look For

Zone In (Inside Zone Read)

Clinic speakers and coaches (including the Nevada coaches) in various publications still like to follow the age-old tradition of being able to run the ball to set up other options within the pistol offense. Most agree that in the short life span of the pistol offense, the most successful running play has been the inside zone to the tight end side. This play is somewhat like a veer and many high school coaches use the veer with the pistol. Remember those gashers that came through the A and B gaps against UMass? This base play can also use the wingback from the backside to block down on the contain man.

Counter Pass off of the Zone In

As stated before, when this play is finally stopped by cheating the safeties up in the box, the naked counter bootleg waggle is the next progression. The intent is to suck the linebackers and maybe even the safeties in on the play action fake. The wingback runs a similar assignment as in the zone inside read, but chips the outside hip of a defender sealing off the rollout area for the naked bootlegger. The wingback can also release to the flat. The offensive line is taught to keep the hats low simulating run action. The objective is to run the boundary receiver (#1) on a clear out deep and then run the number two receiver (the wing) on a deep out. The hope is that a less than speedy safety or linebacker is covering the number two, isolating on the perceived weak spot. This is how a pistol attacks a one deep or a three deep defense (cover 1 or cover 3) such as UM runs. Michigan of course uses Roundtree with the same philosophy and results.

As a change up to the above base play, watch for the inside slot to run out and then run a wheel up field and the outside wideout (#1) then runs a curl. The first option by design is the deep route in both instances.

Running the Horn Play (One or Two Tight Ends)

A play known as the horn involves pulling the center and the play-side guard along with the running back outside, nothing new here, this is just a base running play. Then, the center and guard pull, along with the back on a ball fake sucking in the linebackers on a false key. The quarterback then again runs naked to the backside. From here there are several options. First, the tight end on the side away from the boot can run a slant to the middle seam, this is deadly if the linebackers vacate, since only Cam Gordon will be deep. If the defense switches up and goes to a cover two or cover four, the wide receiver on the bootleg side will hitch and the inside number two man will run a deep flag (post corner). This is a pattern UM has failed all year to be within 3-5 yards of defending. If the cornerback stays with the hitch, the preferred option is the deep flag, if the corner goes deep with the flag, then the hitch should get a short gain.

The Quick Drop

A three-step drop is used with a four-receiver package. Let us start with a cover one or a cover three backfield. On the one side is an outside receiver, on the other is an overload situation with a tight end and two backed up wideouts on the outside. This is the best option in the offense to run against a team that cannot defend a tight end. It may be the ultimate brainchild of the pistol birth process.

On the isolated side (one lone receiver) the receiver can run anything: a go, a slant, an out, and a hitch, whatever. If the defender gets beat to death, the offense will continue taking the easy pickings until adjustment, or the corner catching on to what is happening stops the play.

Then the overload side takes over as the prime target of opportunity if the team switches from a cover one or cover three to a cover two or cover four. As the trips run patterns, the quarterback focuses on the flat and determines the biggest mismatch. One option is for the tight end to run an out to the flat area. If the corner vacates to cover a deeper receiver, a linebacker, or a hybrid like a spur must cover the tight end. This is a tough match-up. The boundary receiver to the trips side (#1) runs a go and takes someone with him. If there is a mix up, the offense gets an easy six. The inside wideout (#2) runs to the boundary (sideline) taking the assigned defender with him. So two receivers, the number two and the tight end, can sit in soft spots in a zone on the same side if the spur covers the #2 to the sideline, making the next line of defense against the tight end the outside linebacker. Of course receivers can mix the patterns up or run a different stem, but this alignment is normal and puts stress on the defense to make quick decisions. It also demands great cover skill guys to neutralize the pistol’s advantages.

Fighting the Pistol

This offense is still not totally remedied by any one defensive strategy. The scheme is young but the balance and deception will make it tough to handle unless clear talent superiority is evident. Teams have found that stopping the base running plays is the best medicine currently available. Almost certainly that will be UM’s #1 goal. Like any other offense, pressuring the quarterback can make life easier. So, have a scheme ready to ruin a quarterback’s day on the naked bootleg. Playing the assignment properly and not being confused is critical, or long plays will result. When the zone out stretch or the sweep comes a knocking at the door contain leverage must be kept, or else, another big play could happen. The defenders are in a tentative posture where there is an urgency to be aggressive but getting sucked in on a fake or getting rolled down the line of scrimmage and giving up contain leverage is a real fright. This offense is hard to key the back or any particular lineman (common now) because of the possibility of misdirection.

Now you know the anxiety of facing a pistol offense with great personnel. Even an offense with good personnel and smart players can cause the scoreboard to light up.

There just may be times when a 3-5-3 makes sense.

The pistol in this evolutionary battle is adjusting by using more formations.

Michigan’s Concerns

Some are obvious and some have been mentioned but here goes:
-Play the assignment; this is not a game for creativity or self-determined heroics.
-Cover and redirect the tight end out of the area he wishes to set up shop in.
-Cam Gordon- be ready- this offense will put some pressure on you to make good decisions, more than once.
-JT Floyd when IU runs the isolation on the quick drop series, shut it down, or trouble in River City will commence.
-Linebackers, (spur and bandit included) this is the same old story, you are going to have to cover and decisions will need to be made on the flats and the deep post corner on inside receivers.
-Do not have a weakest link, this offense is designed to find such a link and exploit it to the fullest extent.
-Prevent the BIG play or it will be a long day.
-Points will be given up, hang in and win, even if just in by one, but just win.

Whew, the author is worn out just thinking about matching mental and physical wits with the pistol.

Thank you for reading!

Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

Go Blue — Wear Maize!