This play is dedicated to Coach Ziats (O-Line Coach at Mansfield U).  He is a huge fan of the QB Sweep play!

Assignments

QB: Reverse out and get some depth; then follow your convoy!
B: Get to A -B gaps NOW; cut DT
A: Arc out and block (cut) OLB
T: Arc out and block Corner towards sideline
Z: attack inside shoulder of man-on; get to FS
C: secure play side gap; get to second level LB
PST: chip DE to slow him down; get to ILB
PSG: short pull to log DE…or cut!
BSG: cut man on
BST: protect play side gap; get to 2nd level
X: cut off block

This is a B-Back every day drill.  Use pylons or a Gilman Strip to show where the Center, PSG and PST are located.  Have a team manager hand the ball off to the diving back during this drill.  The position coach will play the AK (Action Key defender).  The Action Key is defined as the first defensive lineman inside the dive key.  This defender is the player who the B-Back must find prior to the snap of the ball. Depending on how this defender is blocked by the O-Line, will ultimately determine if the B-Back cuts inside or outside. The B-Back takes his regular track (12/13) on triple option (crack of the butt of the PSG).  In this drill, the ball is handed to the B-Back who is running at full speed towards his aiming point.  The Coach will then either move up field or move to cross the face of the diving back.  The B-Back must then make his one cut off of what he sees the Coach doing. 

NOTES:  AK= Action Key….this is the first defensive lineman inside #1 (dive key defender).  The B-Back must read the way the AK is blocked and determine his course from that point forward.

#1: Dive Key…the first defensive lineman on or outside the play side OT (an inside shade…4i…will be read by the QB)

#2:  Pitch Key…the “next” defensive player outside of #1 (we will read stacked LBs)

#3:  Primary Run Support Defender…the play side A-back is responsible to block this man; if two deep safeties, the play side safety is #3; if only 1 safety in middle, Corner Back becomes #3).

 Coaches:

I decided to update the base formation of the greater Pistol-Flex offense.  Of course, this adjustment will also be applied to some of the other Pistol-Flex formations.

This change was a response to the 2011 NCAA rule change that now forbids any offensive player who is not between the tackles, to “cut block” a defender from the outside/in.  For example, a slot receiver cannot come back to the inside of the play and cut the Middle Linebacker.  He would only be allowed to cut the defender who is either “on” him, or a defender who is to his immediate “outside”. 

As you all know, our PS A-Back is required to cut #3 in our option count (usually the SS or in some cases, a quick flowing LB who is screaming to the play side).   In order to ensure we do not receive a major foul penalty for an illegal cut block, we will now have both our A-Backs line up directly behind the tackles.  Of course, in the past, we had the A-Backs align in a 1X1 set just outside the tackles.

I do not foresee any technical problems relating directly to this new alignment.

 ZONE 12

This play is your everyday, basic zone run play with an option twist to it!   The backside running back (B-back) runs his zone running track.  If he is given the ball, he treats the play like a “zone right” run play.  Remember, on zone, the running back can only make ONE cut and then must go north/south.  If he is not given the ball, he will then hit the LOS and cut the first wrong color jersey.  Meanwhile, the QB must make two reads.  The Zone Dive Key read defender is the first defensive lineman on or outside the BST (in the diagram above, that defender is marked with a #1).  If #1 comes up field on the snap of the ball, the QB gives that ball every time to the zoning B-Back.  If, however, #1 comes both hard and flat on the B-Back, the QB will pull the ball and then attack #2 (his second read).  #2 is the QB’s option read.  He is the “next defensive player outside of #1.  If #2 takes the QB all the way, the ball is pitched to his pitch back.  If #2 takes the pitch back, the QB replaces #2 and heads up field.  Below are the assignments of all offensive players.

QB:  put the BS A-Back in short motion.  Read #1…give or pull.  Either way, after a decision is made, QB attacks #2.  If he still has the ball, he either pitches or keeps off of #2’s actions.

B-Back:  if given the ball, run “zone”.  If not given the ball, attack the LOS and cut 1st wrong color jersey.

PS A-Back:  on the snap, drop step; get into pitch relationship with QB.

BS A-Back:  go into “short” motion; on snap, retrace steps and block #3 (primary run support).

C/PSG/PST: block Zone

BSG:  block Man-On

BST:  veer release (inside) and block Mike

X:  Man-On (block for QB/pitch-back)

Z:  Man-On (block zone on your side)

This is a triple option play with the “shovel pass” being the first option instead of the B-Back Dive.  Notice that the two defensive keys (Shovel Key and Pitch Key) are the very same as they would be if this was our regular triple play (12 or 13).

Notes:  Upon the snap of the ball, the QB attacks his Shovel Key defender and if that defender comes upfield towards him, the QB then shovels it to the BS A-Back.  If that defender takes the A-Back, the next phase of the option then takes form.  The QB attacks his pitch key defender.  He will either keep the ball or pitch it depending on how he plays the QB.

This play is great when you want to get a big gain vs a cover three shell.  Having four of your best athletes go straight down the field and attack the two corners and FS puts the defense at a decided disadvantage.  Add to this, your two A-backs being covered by LBs!  The FS is the key for the QB to read during this play.  If he helps out to either side (which he will have to do), the QB now knows where to go.  Roger Protection is a six man pro that utilizes the five O-linemen as well as the single B-back.  The O-line is responsible for the four down D-linemen and the middle LB (in this case, because we have a four LB look, the O-line will call out the # of the LB that they will pick up if he blitzes).  The B-back now makes a Roger call (right side) which indicates that he will have the two LBs on that side.  If both LBs blitz, the B-back picks up the most dangerous.  The remaining (4th) LB on the backside is the responsibility of the QB….he must either throw “hot” or get rid of the ball to one of his receivers who should be open by this point. 

Just a little reminder to all coaches out there that the only way to ensure that your players execute with both aggressiveness and confidence, is to make things as simple for them as possible!Do not, EVER try to mix two extreme offensive philosophies in an effort to try and have the best of both worlds.  For example, The Air Raid offense is an extreme pass-oriented offense and thus, will need at least 80% of practice time for your players to master.  The Pistol-Flex is an extreme run-oriented offense and thus, will need at least 80% of practice time for your players to master.  The last time I checked, 80% + 80% = 160%.  There is no such thing as 160%.  So coaches, do yourself, assistant coaches , and most importantly, you players a big favour:  commit to an offensive philosophy and coach it up to the best of your ability.  Don’t try and mix and match and come out with some bastardized version of an offense that is doomed to fail!  After all, there is only so much practice time alloted.

It is extremely important that Pistol-Flex O-Line coaches preach two cardinal rules to their charges: a) get depth; b) use large splits.

Getting Depth:  O-Linemen need exceptional footwork in order to complete their assignments properly.  Ensure that, with the exception of your Center, all O-Linemen line up as “deep” off the LOS as possible.  Have them push the boundaries during the game until an official lets them know that they are not to move deeper or else risk a penalty.  Having your linemen sit deep from the LOS allows them to explode at the snap and complete their assignment with all due diligence!  O-Linemen need to “fire” off the LOS and engage (or cut) their target with all due speed.

Huge Splits:  ensuring that your linemen are in very big splits (min. 3 foot) is extremely important in any triple option offense.  The wider your linemen can take their opponents along that LOS, the easier you are making the “reads” for your QB.  A QB reading a 5-tech lined up over a tackle who is in a very tight split with his OG will not give your QB that much time to make that all important “dive key” read.  In other words, by taking your opponent as far out from the QB as possible, you will make your Pistol-Flex offense run like a well oiled machine!