The Pistol Offense

Coaches,

Last year was our first year to go fully with our variation of the pistol. We did not use the zone read play. Instead we used something we called "Dart" which kinda looked like zone read in theory, except what we would do is pull our backside Tackle through the front side hole between guard and tackle, still read the backside 5 and go from there.

Now in studying Rampy's zone read he has the QB (as he puts it) focus on the backside 5 and the backside invert LB. Rampy then runs a bubble to the backside invert side and the QB either throws the bubble or runs it.

My question is this: What type of QB do you have to have to get away with this? The reason I ask is from what I see, you would have to have a pretty fast kid at QB to basically be able to outrun that backer. In our dart we did not have that problem because we simply would have our slot stalk the invert. But now if I was to go with zone read that is what would scare me, as a DC I would jsut tell backside invert to stay home. Am I right in this thinking?

Thanks in advance.

I don't know much about how coach Rampy runs it, but I can tell you how we do it.

In the Pistol Spread Option (POTOMAC OFFENSE) We run our Zone Read. We have the QB Read the 5 Tech. Our HB will show inside veer steps and then break across the body of the QB once he has the ball. We also run a Swing Path with our Slot receiver. 9 times out of 10 it is a give read for the QB. Our rule is, unless the 5 Tech is going to tackle the HB, give the ball.

If the QB does pull, he is looking for the flat player as a secondary read. Keep in mind with do this with every play we run, Veer, Trap etc....

If the flat player is going to widen out with the Swing, then our QB will turn upfield and get yards. It doesn't matter how fast, or athletic he is, he just has to get yards. If the flat player is going to take QB, then our QB will quickly toss it out to the Slot who has a huge seam to run through. We stalk block with our Z Receiver.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I have a video series coming out late this summer or early fall on the Pistol Spread Option through American Football Monthly...it may help as well.

Coach Pratley, can you help me more with your HB steps on the read? You said that he cuts across the QB when he gets the ball, then what's his aiming point?

Thank you.
LJ