Posted by: @seth54

My youth club is trying to add some to add a Pistol series for reasons that I won’t bother with here. Just wondering if you guys have any tips or resources. I found this on the googles. Seems as good as anything to start. I’ll be coaching 10-11s and the main questions I have are about getting wide in the run game. Stretch seems doable, but a true perimeter run seems limited unless you count the screen and quick game in there. Also, any issues with pass pro using a 5 man line that I should be on the lookout for? I’m assuming I’ll need some type of slide since we see a lot of 50 fronts. Appreciate any insight, thanks. 

http://www.playbookexchange.net/playbooks/Offense/01040301-DCPistol.pdf

I ran the pistol once for one half of one game. 5th graders I do believe. After watching 3 of 10 snaps bounce off the facemask of an experienced gun QB because the Center was now amp'd...I decided I wasn't smart enough to teach pistol. I stuck a fork in the idea at half time and changed back to normal depth or UC that next week. One of my many failed experiments. Pistol make little to no sense too me but I had to see for myself.

It was ugly. 

Pass pro is solid vs a 50 front. Nice clean reads. Any walkups needs a Bandit call obviously. Im a slide fan because I dont like RB's blocking interior overloads because they simply get in the way of the QB. Always slide away from the TE with the RB picking up for the vacating TE. Its tough for any OT to have to block a DE by going around a vacating TE. 

If you have 2 TE's then stick with pass pro and your Bandit call keeps one TE in to block....or use two RB's to pick up for the vacating TE's. 

If you are using SE's then call the direction of the slide so the RB can go opposite.  

Pistol series? 

I've been apart of 2 teams from an oline coaches perspective that were in pistol. 

1 was a creation my oc randy made of dcwt and pistol.  Basically just jet with inside zone. Was ok until playoffs. 

1 was an a option variant similiar to kapernic at Nevada. 

The option variant was most fun to watch multiple read option looks. 

If I had to construct a scheme from pistol ide use this approach with called plays that look like option.

My opinion currently is single wing concepts are best for kids younger than high school. Mesh and spin techniques with gap scheme will confuse and destroy most offensive schemes.

@bucksweep58

Single wing? That’s interesting, I guess I thought you were more the ECO guy around here. Not saying this means you don’t know a variety of systems, just a little surprised you’d favor Single Wing

I definitely like the idea of option looks where the play has been predetermined by the coaches. I think it’s a great way to get the QB involved in the run game without putting the pressure of reading a defensive player on a kid

@mahonz

I think that’s a good description. It different enough that I’m curious, but I can’t say it makes a ton of sense to me. 

Besides the QB depth and the RB alignment, how different were you planning to make this offense compared to your normal shotgun sets?

Posted by: @seth54

@bucksweep58

 

Single wing? That’s interesting, I guess I thought you were more the ECO guy around here. Not saying this means you don’t know a variety of systems, just a little surprised you’d favor Single Wing

 

I definitely like the idea of option looks where the play has been predetermined by the coaches. I think it’s a great way to get the QB involved in the run game without putting the pressure of reading a defensive player on a kid

Eco from pistol isn't better than under center.  Pistol adds to the pass and option game but that's the only real advantage. If you're not doing a lot of both (50% of plays) don't think it's worth the effort.

ECO is a lot different than todays Offenses. The reason the Spread is in use is that most of the QB's were in Spread Offenses.  Hence the Gun is used a great deal.   Todays offenses are more akin to West Coast and Air Raid concepts.  The infinite variety of Short Passes are, theoretically,  an extension of the running game.  So much depends on YAC.   

ECO for the purest is Single Back, under center, Run based offense that uses play action more for Passing.  That is not to say they don't have the 3-5 and 7 Step passing game.   

Which one is better?   Not for me to say. 

However, if you have a real QB and find 4 (2 at least) kids that can Catch 80% and get some YAC. Use simple slide protection to accomplish the screens, slants, comebacks and outs GO FOR IT.  Just understand that most youth teams are less than 50% in efficiency.

I strongly suggest developing a few plays that work between the Tackles to make your sweeps and short passes Sing!

 Just thinking out loud!