Rick_stewart@sbcglobal.

net
Why the Pistol?
Expands your offense
o Add some zone read concepts
o Easier to pass
Stop 9 men in the box
Option fakes so much better
TB really gets downhill
Teams getting familiar.
Coaching Points
O-Line changes
o Backside has to stay home
RB footwork is basically same
o Backed up QB up 3 steps (3 yards)
o Backed up TB up 1 step (5 yards)
o HB landmarks stayed the same
Deception trade offs
o QB back not to the defense
o Ride the option fakes longer.
HB align as if there is a TE
Dont want the timing of motion to change. (1 x 1 off last lineman)
o Want to snap the ball when motion back is behind the guard.
Buck Sweep Steps
Quarterback @ 3 yards, TB @ 5.
TB goes through first, left HB goes second.
o 4 yard landmark for the HB
Midline steps
Against an even front, small step with left foot so that 9 back is running straight down the midline.
2 step shuffle
Midline Veer
o QB takes one step left and pivots, optioning the 3 technique
Inside Veer
o QB pivots on the midline, optioning the DE
Outside Veer
o QB stretches out w/RB and options the OLB.
o Comes out with his right foot, crossover plant


Coaching Point on Option
If you cant see both numbers of the option guy, its a give
If you CAN see both numbers of the option guy, its a keep.
Center Snap
Center is always w/ the QB so they are snapping all the time.
Knuckleball snap
o No spin
o Gets the QB the laces quicker.
Stiff wrist, stiff elbow
Snap ALL THE TIME!!!
QB always taking the snap
Terminology
Holes are numbered, backs are numbered.
Receivers are X and Y
o X is on the left, Y is on the right.
Backs
o QB is 1
o Left HB is 2
o TB is 3
o Right HB is 4
Lineman are trained to only hear the last digit (none of the formations, alignments, etc.)
Tag every run play, last word in play call is the word that the lineman learn in individual
o Technique word is used as the play call.

YOUR OWN WORD
X&Y
Tight
Over
Heavy
Doubles
Nasty
Raider/Bengal
Bunch



RH & LH
Right & Left
Twin
Tee
Trips
Spread & Loose
Raider/Bengal
Empty





TB
Empty
Near & Far









Motion
Liz & Rip
L & R
Lazer & Rocket
Tail & Tar
Twirl Motion
Stop Motion


Terminology Contd
Each position only needs to know their lingo
Players are trained to learn their word and not worry about others.
Motion Calls
When left HB goes in motion, use L words (Liz, L, Lazer)
T words are for TB
L & R are teaching tool.
3 Part Play Call
Formation & Play
FORMATION

THE PLAY
(X & Y) + (BACKS) + )Motion or Shift) + (RUN OR PASS) + (LINE CALL)

Run plays are numbers with a line call
Pass plays are colors with a line call
Order of play call
X & Y line up
Backs line up
Motions & Shifts
Run or Pass
Blocking Assignment
Snap Count
Example- Over Trips Right Rip 47 Reach
Over = X and Y flip
Trips Right = Left HB goes to right side
Rip = R word, so right HB goes in motion
47 = 4 back goes in the 7 hole (4 back is the right HB)
Reach = O-Line technique
*Fast huddle and snap the ball within three seconds
- Prevents Defense from making adjustments
*Raider-potential JV special (they went entire games using it)
Motions
TB/3
o TaiL is tailback motioning left/TaR is TB motioning right
RHB/4
o RIP is motioning inside the QB
o R is typical 3 step belly motion
o RAY is motioning past the QB to counter teams jumping the count
o ROY is motioning outside the formation.
LHB/3
o LIZ is motioning inside the QB
o L is typical 3 step belly motion
o LAZY is motioning past QB to counter teams jumping the count
o LOU is motioning outside the formation
O-Line Words- Play call matches technique taught to O-Line.
Make sure that terminology in play call matches what the lineman are taught.
o Ex. Buck Sweep series is called GO series for the G.O. pulls
o Individual drills should match play calls.
Guard Pulls
o O Pull- Guard ON the side of the play pulls
o G Pull- Backside guard pulls around the center
o Example:
31 G- Backside guard pulls for inside trap
35 O- Play side guard pulls into 5 hole.
Tackle Pulls
o T Pull: Play side tackle pulls to the outside
o Trap Pull: Tackle pulls around the center for a trap block
o Example:
47 T- Play side tackle pulls to the 7 hole
41 Trap- Backside tackle pulls into the 1 hole for a trap block.
Counter Pull
o Y and play side uncovered lineman pull around the center
GT Pull
o Guard/Tackle Pull.

INDIVIDUAL DRILLS
QB Drills: Should match whatever offensive focus is for the day.
Sprint pass right is RED, Sprint pass left is BLUE
Knee Drills
Parallel, Trajectory
Opposite Foot
Sprint Progression (Center snaps on last part of sprint progression)
o WalkingJoggingSprinting at each other
o Diagonal from each other working on sprint passing (center for each QB)
Option Drills
Play Action Footwork
RB Drills:
COACHING POINT: RBs fake for 10 yds every time or do 14 push-ups.
o Coach must be obsessive about this.
o Great way to condition during practice.
With the ball
o Zig Zag
o Gauntlet
o GO THE WAY THE BUTT POINTS
o Spin move: switch arms as you spin out
o Straight arm: Switch arms and straight arm as you approach defender.
Blocking-
o Three groups of RBs
Each one working on a different block
Dont rotate groups, rotate blocks
o HB Down Block
o TB Reach
o HB Belly Block
Offensive Line Drills: Get SPACI NG Boards for the O-Line
Individual O-Line Drills
Surface progression
o Use arms and shoulders to maximize surface area
Recoil gets O-Lineman back to ready
Bag progression
o 6 pt. right & left flipper
Hands, Knees, Feet
Lunge forward, freezing at contact, no knees on the ground.
o 2 pt right & left flipper
Working on footwork first
Heel replaces toe
o Down Blocks, Pull, Log
o Escape to Backer
Shield Progression
Sled Progression
Board Drills
Hit and Run dril
o Hit bag and drive it for 5 yards.
o Make sure you are turning the bag and drive for two additional steps.
Pull right hit right/Pull left hit left
o Emphasize low
o When you get near block the dip and rip
Group O-Line Drills
Combo Drills
o G Drill (Guard Trap)
1 minute of reps at each G station
o G.O. Drill (Buck and Waggle)
o Cross & Fold (Belly & Downs)
o Line (Belly & Downs)
o Sally Blocks
Wide Receiver Drills
Hands progression drill
o Both hands form
o One hand catch
o Bad pass and spin
o Over the shoulder catch
Clock drill
o Above the waist
Thumbs together
o Below the waist
Pinkies together
Two Cone drill
o Cone to cone, plant catch w/hands
Four cone drill
o Cone to cone, cut to another cone, cut back towards line and catch (Square shaped)
Six Cone Drill
o Zig zag, catch two balls
Stalk Block
o Break down, shuffle
Shadow block
o Thumbs in so we dont hold
Crack Block
o Hands and helmet in front
Angle Block
o When play is going away from SE
o Touchdown block on safety
Group Drills
GO Series (Maximum reps, each side runs both runs)
o Left HB running 26 GO
o Right HB blocking each other
o TB working 32 G
o Other TB working blocking
o ALL RB MUST CARRY OUT FAKES 10 YDS
o Just RB first, then add line.
Belly Series
o One side working Odd one side working Even
o Max reps then switch
o RIDE AND DECIDE
Fool Me Drill
o One defensive play watching backfield motion and handoff
o Calls out name of back he thinks has it
If hes right 14 pushups for RBs
Down Series
o Two groups,
o One group working Down 36 O
Then working 35 O
o One group working Down 28 Option
Then working on 47 Option
Half Line
o Change shades
o Shade, to head up, to opposite shade
o If you can block a cheating defender, you can block anybody on Friday night.
o Two groups, one side running odd, one running even.
Switch so all RBs get both sides.
Option
o Work odd and even,
o Work belly and down.
Jet Series
o Liz 32 G
o Liz 28 Reach
o Running it both ways, so QB is always taking snaps and handing off
o Can split up TB and HB to run Midline veer at same time
Odd Even Drill
o Two groups of defense, one odd, one even
o Offense goes back to back vs. odd then even
Max reps and see both types of D.
Practice Plans
Monday is GO Series & 3 step pass
o Film Day
Tuesday is Belly/Down
o Yellow passing Game
Wed is Option & Jet
o *Late Practice 5:30 report, 6pm start
Allows time for study hall, appts., recharge time
o Sprint Passing Game
o Game Situation
o No individual time on Wed.
o Start with Group go to team, then game situations
o End with a goal line situation
o Conditioning is kickoff
Conditioning
o Mon is sled race
o Tues is Punt
o Wed is Kickoff
o Offense always ends with perfect plays
o Defense always ends with pursuit
o Maximum reps
Perfect plays
o 3 run and 1 pass, must get done in 1 min.
o Must get 12 perfect plays
o Any mistakes you go back to zero
Race between two teams.