TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

The Pistol- Spin Theory, Ball Handling , and Backfield Action

Kyle Hockmann- Head Coach, Campbell High School –GA

Where did it come from ? Nevada bowl game during Christmas of 2005

-Studied and implemented it through trial and error

Benefits of the Pistol:

– Great for offenses with a tailback type / downhill runner with a above average thrower, although
not a necessity
– Easily adaptable as a package to most offenses
– “Better coaches don’t copy line for line another coaches ideas, but adapt what they like to their
own system”

Why the Pistol ? Advantages of the gun

– QB has instant separation

– Better line of vision for QB (their QB was only 5’7’’)
– Easier QB read element
– Better QB run element (based on single wing run philosophy)

Why the Pistol ? Advantages of the I

– Downhill run game (iso, power, counter, toss, etc)

– RB has shoulders square to L.O.S.
– Can be run in either direction
– Runners are runners and blockers are blockers
– Takes immediate pressure off QB
– Kids know their roles

Offensive Alignment

Plus the SPIN

– Deception: we all need it, not good enough to line up and pound people
– QB blocks vision of defense to RB
– QB turning back to defense to hide the ball
– Plays hit quicker
– .35 average time to QB in Pistol, under center .75
– .95 average time pistol +3, under center 1.35 +5
– Gain .5 seconds from being under center
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

Is the Pistol for you ?

– Will run the pistol regardless of field position or weather conditions

– The chance of the snap going over the head of the QB is much slimmer in the pistol than the
shotgun
– In their youth system, the same pistol offense is ran from K-8
– At youth level until 6th grade, snap is 2 handed
– Easy to install at youth levels (7-8th grade done within a week)

Ball Handling Considerations

– Must practice snaps every single day

– Center snaps require more accuracy
– QB ball skills- same reason as above, if QB reaction is slower, move him back more

Center Snaps

– Techniques: both spin and flip, whatever works best for center
– Snap- don’t look at QB, aim at belt buckle
– Firm but not fast- trial and error
– Adjust depths and steps according to speed of snap
– Narrow base and low butt- small window =small miss

Backfield Techniques

– Timing- adjust depths

– RB Toes at 6 ½ yards, have moved to 7 and 8 yards based on speed
– QB spin must be quick and consistent to specific play
– QB must “stomach” the ball as if he was under center
– Hand offs are executed like under center
– QB angle will be adjusted based on play
– Toss must be a quick pitch like toss

Risky ?

– Campbell 2006- Pistol/Gun , 500 snaps = 2 bad snaps, 1 bobble

– Undercenter: 100 snaps- 1 muffed snap
– 7 turnovers all season- 6 fumbles, 1 interception

“If you’re any good, you can get what you emphasize, but you can’t emphasize everything”
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

Wildcat Spin Offense- Base Run Plays

Brad Scott – Desoto High School, Kansas

What is the “Spin”

– Comes from Barry Gibson and Dale Weiner

– Email: bscott@usd232.org
– 5 offensive lineman in standard splits
– 2 Wingbacks in a 1 by 1 alignment to the EMOLS (tackle or TE)
– QB in shotgun
– FB in a 1 by 1 alignment in front of QB
– Receivers and TEs can line up in many different formations

Base Formations

– Doubles – 2 Recievers
– Ace Right / Left: 1 reciever, 1 TE
– Double Tight: 2 TEs

Wing Back Basics:

– Wingbacks go in motion one snap count ahead of the snap

– Snap count is GO, SET, HIT HIT
– If play is on HIT, motion is on set
– Wing stance is outside foot forward, hands on thigh pads
– Pivot is on inside foot, crossover with outside foot and sprint to QBs hip for mesh

QB Basics:

– Must time the cadence perfectly with the snap

– Secure the football and jab step forward with the foot opposite the motion
– Pivot on the jab foot and open to the wing
– Mesh the football just like the option
– Continue to spin into the rest of the play

Sweep:

– Traditional I formation toss play

– Reach and pull backside guard, lead FB, crack with outside receiver, wing leads on corner
– Wing goes in motion, QB spins and hands off, continues to spin and fakes blast into B gab
– Wing takes ball and sprints to outside looking for daylight

Blast:

– Traditional I formation off tackle power

– Down block and kick out with FB, backside guard leads through hole
– Same action as sweep, QB keeps the ball through B or C gap depending on formation
– Play side WB fakes reverse
– We tell QB, if hole is cloudy then cutback
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

Counter:

– Traditional I formation counter trey

– Down on play side, backside guard pulls and kicks, backside tackle pulls and wraps, FB blocks
back
– Same action as sweep, QB continues spin and hands underneath to WB
– WB steps back, cross over, then takes handoff and follows tackle

Dive:

– Tradition I formation FB Dive and trap

– We base out and fold, you can trap it also
– Sweep action with QB faking reverse, FB intercepts snap and runs through A gap
– QB continues spin and fakes blast

Reverse:

– Traditional I formation receiver reverse

– Base front side, backside guard pulls like sweep, FB takes two steps toward sweep then leads on
corner
– Sweep action in backfield with QB coming over the top for reverse handoff
– QB runs it like a wall punt return, get wide before turning up field

Base:

– Traditional I formation ISO play

– Base block, lead FB on LB
– Sweep action in backfield with QB spinning and then attacking ISO gap
– Wingback fakes sweep, no reverse fake
– Tell QB to cut off FBs block on LB
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

Wildcat Spin Offense- Play Action- Arc, Vets, Arrow and Screens

Sc

Brad Scott – Desoto High School, Kansas

Base Formation:

Run 75% Pass 25%

Run-n-Shoot philosophies

Arc Route:

– Fake sweep play

– Pass pro is BOB, FB has frontside blitz to backside blitz
– Wing goes in motion, QB spins, fakes weep, takes gather step and reads corner
– Wingback runs same path as blocking scheme then runs on the numbers
– Receiver runs crack/seam route
– X & T are always on same side
– Throw to landmarks
– Doesn’t read defense
– Looks outside in, plants back foot and throws
– Aim points change slightly when on right or left hash

Verts Route:

– fake sweep play

– pass pro is BOB, FB has frontside to backside blitz
– Wing goes in motion, QB spins, fakes sweep, takes gather step and reads corner
– Wingback runs vertical on hash (upright)
– Receivers run vertical on numbers

Arrow Route:

– fake sweep play

– pass pro is BOB, FB has frontside to backside blitz
– Wing goes in motion, QB spins, fakes sweep, takes gather step and reads corner
– Wingback runs arrow route to sideline
– Receiver runs crack/corner route
– TE runs corner route
– Great third and medium play
– Arrow Technique: step forward, cross over and go
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

F Screen:

– Fake arc play action

– Playside tackle runs the defensive end upfield, guard has kickout on CB, center has seal on
playside LB, backside guard has safety, backside tackle- first 2nd level defender
– Wing goes in motion, QB spins, fakes sweep, takes gather step then drops
– FB takes pass pro path and then turns for ball
– FBs goal is to get 4 yards
– Aim point for QB- numbers and below on FB
– Playside guard has playside CB

Y Screen:

– Fake arc play action

– Play side tackle runs the defensive end up field, guard has kick out on CB, center has seal on
play side LB, backside guard has safety, backside tackle- first 2nd level defender
– Wing goes in motion, QB spins, fakes sweep, takes gather step then drops
– FB stays on play side, Y peels back once again, stress get 4 yards
– Great goaline play

X Screen:

– Traditional tunnel screen

– Play side tackle runs the defensive end up field, guard has kick out on CB, center has seal on
play side LB, backside guard has safety, backside tackle- first 2nd level defender
– Run from spread formations, with arc play action fake, with drop back fake
– Wingbacks block the most dangerous man

Conclusions:

– Snap: pick ball up by nose and snap (WVU style)

– Biggest Defensive problem: keying motions or Fullback
– Packages in with Power I in goaline situations
– Most players go both ways
– Use hand blocking technique
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

D Line Rush Techniques While Stopping The Run

Sc

Matt Edwards- Defensive Line Coach, Kent State University

Openings:

– Plays attack style 4-3 defense

– Rush the passer as a team
– Goal is to get in the QBs face A.S.A.P.
– Try to get 3 yards deep
– Obscure pass lane windows
– Cannot get behind the QB
– Limit the lanes of escape

2 Imaginary lines on the field you cannot cross as a DL:

– 2 yards behind the QB

– Directly down the center of the QB

Versus 5 man protection:

– Guaranteed 3 one on one battles, must win the one on one battle everytime
– DE’s have outside contain
– Speed moves first

Drills:

Gauntlet: (line of dummies, plays zig zag through them executing moves)

Keys: shoulders and hips turning

– Same hand to same leg

– Execute move on each dummy
– Finish drill with strip of ball with “far” arm from QB

Hoops

– Progress to cone squares to further improve change of direction speed

Every DL needs 3 moves:

– 1 speed rush move

– A good bulrush
– Good counter move

Handfighting

– Speed Chop: nearest hand chops elbows, far hand jams shoulder
– Swim Chop: far arm chops lineman’s “post punch”, swims with near arm
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

Pass Rush Manuevers:

Rip Move: meet resistence from OL, pull arm out, transition hips and get upfield

Chop Down: come off ball and chop punch with nearest arm (automatically lowers shoulders)

Bull rush: violently turn into OL, using your hands explode into his shoulder area, KEEP FEET
MOVING

Club Rip/Swim- club elbows with outside arm and swim/rip with inside arm

Jab and Go- most used at Kent, quick jab inside then go inside, make OL move his inside leg

Counter Club and Rip/Swim- fake outside, go inside with rip or swim move

Dip- dip inside shoulder, draws holding penalties (uses broomsticks behind back to emphasize how
much you need to lower shoulders to get back someone)

Installing the Shotgun Offense : Zone Read

Jerry Campbell- Head Coach Clovis High School- California

 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

http://www.jcfb.com

midlineopt@aol.com

Advantages:

– Kids get to see it every Saturday on television

– QB is always reading backside
– Don’t teach what you can fix
– Easily adaptable with pistol formation

Front Digit= Series Second Digit= Blocking Scheme

– Zone Blocking
– Anything ending in 2’s or 3’s = read 5 technique
– Footwork on the line predicated on where the ball is being delivered
– 2 ft splits
– QB @ 5 yards in the shotgun, @ 3 yards I the pistol

BACK NUMBERS:

QB- 1

FB- 3 – Inside Runner (aligned: outside foot to inside foot of tackle)

TB- 4- Outside runner

Base Formations:

Motions:

TE: Tom= toward Tim= away

FB: Hump= toward Jump=away
TB: Rip= Right Liz= Left
Z: Zip
X: Jet (only guy who runs jet motion)

Zone Read:

– Uses tackle trap to set up zone read over true counter (to prevent backside LB run throughs)
– Slots will use a “cowboy” motion to get into pitch man relationship with QB
– Slot Alignment- split the difference between X and offensive tackle
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

Tackle Trap:

– Test the backside defensive end’s reaction to pullers

– White call= trap vs. 4 man front
– Black call= trap vs. odd front
– QB reads: if inside jersey number is coming down, pull the ball
– Backs carry out their fakes 15 yards down field
– When the ball is gone, the OL is expected to be in the 2nd and 3rd level
– Anytime you see a odd front, don’t give them a tight end, having no tight end creates a 3 man
game on the edge

NOTE: Coach Campbell also did a great presentation on the Pistol running game.
However the majority of the presentation was done using his Pistol Manual (which
I already owned) which you can get from his website. If you have the chance to
hear Coach Campbell speak I recommend it.

Shifting Trends in Strength Training for H.S. Football

Cal Dietz- Head S & C Coach at University of Minnesota

http://www.xlathlete.com

dietz011@umn.edu

Openings:
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

– Mental Toughness is very valuable, however cannot be taught

– Change the thinking process: What is training to the body ?

Stress:

– Many types of stress, weightlifting = mechanical stress

– Right stress = right results
– First book on Soviet Sports Empire and their style of training, Stress of Life by Hans Seyle
– The body will adapt to enormous amounts of stress
– S.A.I.D. Principle- Specific Adaption to Imposed Demand

Adaption:

– If it doesn’t exist, you will not survive

– Push athletes to highest level of stress and allow them time to recover
– Biggest Mistake coaches make: lack of system of application of methods, lack of skill knowledge
– How to fix this? Analyze everything you do
– Recommended Supertraining book

Adaptability Training:

– Volume based program, 2-3 weeks long at a time

– 2 excercises, 1 weight, complete as many sets as possible in 7 minutes
– Next day: add 1 more set
– When you switch to your normal program, you will see greater results because their bodies can
adapt to more stress
– Use 50-55 % of their normal max

Ways to Increase Stress:

– Train multiple times per day (in high school, ideal would be lifting before school, then practice
after school)
– Nutrition- 65 % of recovery

Chocolate Milk for Recovery ?:

– Nutrients found in 16 oz of flavored milk can’t be matched in any other workout product
– Ratio of carbs and proteins perfect for recovery
– Very important to drink within 30 minutes of workout
– Improves body composition
– 90 % water
– Get boosters involved in purchasing milk
– Parents and administrators will feel safer purchasing milk over other supplements

Training various types of strength:

– Weeks 1-2: tempo training use 4 seconds

– Weeks 3-4: pause squats use 3 seconds
– After: explosion training

Important Concepts:

– Don’t overcoach
– Sound technique
– Keep things simple and on point
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

– Let athletes play other sports

– Let them be athletes and not robots

Learning Styles:

– Logical- explain why you are doing what you are doing
– Kinesthetic- athlete needs to perform it to understand
– Visual- coach needs to physically demonstrate it

Linebacker Fundamentals

Ron Vanderlinden- Linebackers Coach at Penn State University

Stance:

– Knees bent
– Feet shoulder width
– Neck bolted
– Should be in this position when making a tackle from any defensive position

Agility and Reaction:

– Use drills that apply to what you use in games

 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

– What is most important?

– Every drill should have a proper finish (making a tackle, scooping a ball up, etc.)
– Side to side speed is critical for Linebackers
– Accelerate feet on contact
– Key guards and feel flow of the play

Defeating Blocks Progression:

• Lock out separation drill

– Twice a week
– Lock out and shed blockers
– 10 minute period
– Keys: attack inside foot up, eyes up, elbows close to body, feet shoulder width, heel-toe
relationship

3 Reasons Big Plays Occur:

– 1. Support player lets ball outside

– 2. Missed tackles near line of scrimmage
– 3. Lack of effort

1st Down Production and 3rd Down Conversions

Charlie Stubbs- Offensive Coordinator @ Univ. of Louisville

Scripting:

– Have calls for every situation mapped out beforehand

– Chart how many times each play is ran in practice and compare it to how many times you run it in
a game
– After you run through opening script, script next couple series on mini sheet: up tempo plays,
slow down plays, etc.

1st and goal:

– Goal: 4 yards or more

– Execution is the key
– Having more input from players increases commitment
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

Core run game: Inside Zone, Outside Zone

3 Step game: rhythm throws, not much adjusting, challenge wide receivers for Y.A.C.

Screens

3rd Down:

– Goal: finish drive = touchdown

– Never script 2nd down, transitional down
– Every conversion over what the opponent makes, represents about 40 yards of field position

3 and 1-2: best runs, change cadences, quick play actions, know when you’re in 4 down territory
beforehand

3 and 3-5: best runs, check run/pass, crossing routes, option routes

3 and 6-9: create favorable matchups, screens, draws

3 and 10+: seam, don’t air it out before halftime

• Good teams convert on 3rd down at the following rates:

3rd and long: 20-25 %
3rd and medium: 45-50 %
3rd and short: 85-90 %

– Teach them correlation between 1st down production and third down conversions
– Teach them how to watch film

Off Season Leadership Program

Doug Martin- Head Coach @ Kent State University

Point System:

– Each team’s “bank” starts out with 5000 points

– Deductions and earn points for various actions (missing class, all As, etc.)
– Players can be kicked off or demoted from team (cost team points however)
– Team with lowest point total that week receives Saturday morning workout
– Encourages competition
– Makes them accountable for everything
– 2 assistant coaches assigned to each team

Purpose of Leadership Program:

– Expose which players are viewed as leaders on your team

– Exposes which players are viewed as problems on your team
– Develops positive peer pressure
 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

– Teaches them to enjoy competing

– Holds them accountable to each other
– Rewards the winners
– Punishes the losers
– Gets them to know each other
– Develops leaders and builds new leaders
– Gives the coach another bridge to the team

– Senior captains

– Holds draft

– Players can be promoted to captain by request of existing team captain

Blitz and Stunt Pickup: Blocking with Big Splits

Bill Bedgenbaugh- Offensive Line Coach. @ Univ. of Arizona

Line Fundamentals:

– Each individual must know who to block, how to block, and then they can be aggressive
– Stress technique and fundamentals
– Be great at communication if you’re going to play offensive line
– Trust each other to do their job
– Trust what your eyes see
– Know your area (see and feel what is going on around you)
– Use different formations and releases by backs to not give keys to the defense
– Use wide splits to indentify where the blitz is coming
– All 11 players need to be involved in blocking
– Keep things simple

– Teach assignment then technique

– Establish a daily routine of drills

 TOLEDO MEGA CLINIC NOTES THURSDAY, FEBUARY 14Th- 16th 2008

– Establish 4-5 core coaching points that they will always remember

Blitz Pick Up Period:

– Must do it daily
– 9 of 11 are involved
– We use this as a warm up period for practice vs. calisthenics
– Introduce the blitzes for each week in a warm-up manner
– QB, OL, RBs, and Slot Receivers start getting acclimated to the game
– Scout team gets use to the opposition’s blitzes as well

Why Wide Splits:

– Makes defense show their intentions

– Widen out great pass rushing defensive ends
– Makes defensive line twists more difficult
– Opens up passing lanes
– Opens up run lanes
– Makes things different for blitzing safeties or linebackers
– Defense focuses on it all week in practice
– Know your athletes on the line
– Use common sense