Chris Klenakis Pistol Option Offense 5-Pack

with Chris Klenakis,
Vanderbilt Offensive Line Coach;
2025 FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year;
Kennesaw State Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach in 2023;
Liberty Offensive Line Coach in 2022;
South Alabama Quality Control Analyst in 2021;
Louisville Tight Ends/Offensive Line Coach from 2014 to 2018, Co-Offensive Coordinator in 2016;
Iowa State University Offensive Line Coach in 2013;
Arkansas Offensive Line Coach from 2010 to 2012;
Nevada Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach from 2004 to 2009;
Central Missouri Offensive Coordinator in 2003;
Southern Miss Offensive Coordinator from 2000 to 2002;
Nevada Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator from 1990 to 1999;
Churchill County (NV) HS Head Coach from 1987 to 1989;
2x Nevada HS Coach of the Year;
was the first Offensive Coordinator in D-I history to coach an offense that led the nation in rushing and passing during his career;
as a college OL coach, has developed 24 NFL offensive linemen;
as an Offensive Coordinator, developed Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) into elite, dual-threat quarterbacks;
the 2009 Wolf Pack squad featured three different 1000-yard rushers - the only school in NCAA history to do so

The Pistol Zone Read is truly dynamic when two things happen: the mesh between the quarterback and running back is seamless, and the offensive line is able to get double teams up front and effectively slide to the linebackers. In this video, Coach Chris Klenakis offers clear and straightforward instruction on these two concepts to help any coach install the Pistol zone read.

Pistol-Specific Blocking Schemes

Coach Klenakis details multiple ways to get the quarterback a lead blocker using a tight end, a tackle, a wing back, or an extra back out of the backfield. He diagrams the use of motion to creatively bring blockers to the point of attack. Klenakis defines a variety of simple and logical terminology that can be easily transferred to any coach's system.

Coaching the Quarterback and Running Back

Position-specific principles for quarterback and running back play are thoroughly summarized. Footwork, landmarks, and key coaching points for each position are outlined. The importance of the quarterback/running back mesh is clearly detailed and heavily stressed through the use of extensive game film.

The Offensive Line

Effective double teams up front make the Pistol Zone Read work. Footwork and the intricacies of the double team are thoroughly explained. Coach Klenakis also diagrams the zone read versus a variety of troublesome fronts to show you how to take care of down men as well as linebackers.

Throughout the video, Coach Klenakis uses relevant game film, as well as a white board to specifically illustrate the backfield action, backfield mesh, and offensive line blocking needed for success.

This video is a must for anyone interested in gaining a firm understanding of the Pistol Zone Read. Offensive coordinators, backfield coaches and offensive line coaches will walk away with a firm grasp of how to effectively teach the backfield action and line play of the Pistol zone read.

50 minutes. 2020.

with Chris Klenakis,
Vanderbilt Offensive Line Coach;
2025 FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year;
Kennesaw State Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach in 2023;
Liberty Offensive Line Coach in 2022;
South Alabama Quality Control Analyst in 2021;
Louisville Tight Ends/Offensive Line Coach from 2014 to 2018, Co-Offensive Coordinator in 2016;
Iowa State University Offensive Line Coach in 2013;
Arkansas Offensive Line Coach from 2010 to 2012;
Nevada Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach from 2004 to 2009;
Central Missouri Offensive Coordinator in 2003;
Southern Miss Offensive Coordinator from 2000 to 2002;
Nevada Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator from 1990 to 1999;
Churchill County (NV) HS Head Coach from 1987 to 1989;
2x Nevada HS Coach of the Year;
was the first Offensive Coordinator in D-I history to coach an offense that led the nation in rushing and passing during his career;
as a college OL coach, has developed 24 NFL offensive linemen;
as an Offensive Coordinator, developed Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) into elite, dual-threat quarterbacks;
the 2009 Wolf Pack squad featured three different 1000-yard rushers - the only school in NCAA history to do so

Coach Chris Klenakis was at the helm of the Pistol Offense that featured QB Colin Kaepernick at Nevada. Similar offensive principals aided Lamar Jackson's impressive college career that included a Heisman Trophy while Klenakis was on the Louisville staff. The advantage of the Pistol Zone Read is that it can be run from one back formations that spread the defense out. This allows the offense to attack the defense's weakest points!

Coach Klenakis shows how to teach the Pistol Zone Read to attack various defensive fronts and coverages. He uses over 40 minutes of game film, as well as in-depth whiteboard illustrations to show the intricacies of a running play that can exploit the defense by using your running back inside, or getting your quarterback on the edge.

Tips for Running a Two Man Option from Pistol

Klenakis explains the teaching points that dramatically improve the success of the running game, including:

• Adjusting your offense to read gaps, linebackers, and/or defensive linemen.
• Offensive line calls Lock, Insert, and Lead.
• Adjusting blocking angles to attack various defensive fronts.
• Attacking the defense using 10 personnel formations (3x1 and 2x2).

Game Film

Coach Klenakis shows over 40 minutes of game film that illustrates how his offense spreads the field and limits the defense to a few options within the box. He then shows how to attack each of these defensive boxes by reading gaps, first level players, or second level players. He also details how to teach linemen to take advantage of angles that will help the running back gain yards with quick hitting, downhill runs. This opens up the QB run game by attacking the edges of the defense.

You will see Coach Klenakis use game film to break down the techniques necessary to run the Pistol Zone Read. This video is a must-have for any offensive coach who wants to learn various nuances that can make a simple running play the staple of a zone running attack!

75 minutes. 2020.

with Chris Klenakis,
Vanderbilt Offensive Line Coach;
2025 FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year;
Kennesaw State Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach in 2023;
Liberty Offensive Line Coach in 2022;
South Alabama Quality Control Analyst in 2021;
Louisville Tight Ends/Offensive Line Coach from 2014 to 2018, Co-Offensive Coordinator in 2016;
Iowa State University Offensive Line Coach in 2013;
Arkansas Offensive Line Coach from 2010 to 2012;
Nevada Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach from 2004 to 2009;
Central Missouri Offensive Coordinator in 2003;
Southern Miss Offensive Coordinator from 2000 to 2002;
Nevada Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator from 1990 to 1999;
Churchill County (NV) HS Head Coach from 1987 to 1989;
2x Nevada HS Coach of the Year;
was the first Offensive Coordinator in D-I history to coach an offense that led the nation in rushing and passing during his career;
as a college OL coach, has developed 24 NFL offensive linemen;
as an Offensive Coordinator, developed Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) into elite, dual-threat quarterbacks;
the 2009 Wolf Pack squad featured three different 1000-yard rushers - the only school in NCAA history to do so

Chris Klenakis can lay claim as the only coach who was an integral part of the molding process of both Colin Kaepernick and Lamar Jackson into elite players while they were in college. Thanks to his time at Nevada and Louisville, Klenakis has observed what it takes to maximize the Pistol Option Offense.

In this video, Coach Klenakis covers how to run the Two-Man Zone Read with a lead from multiple formations. He explains how to choose which side of the defense to attack, covers blocking variations that are effective against various types of defenses, and more!

Two-Man Game with a Lead Blocker

Coach Klenakis begins by explaining what the Two-Man Read Game is - a zone read scheme that involves either a give to the running back or a keep by the quarterback. This scheme is improved upon by including a lead blocker for the QB. Klenakis details the different ways that a lead blocker can be gained, including a T-block, arc, insert, slice, and ice blocks. Additionally, Coach Klenakis explains how he uses "blinders" to take advantage of defenses that key the H-back to gain an extra defender on the QB.

In all, you'll learn how to:

• "Borrow" blockers to create a lead blocker for the QB.
• Coach the individual lead blocks and know when to use each one.
• Use "blinders" to create conflict with the linebacker's reads.

Formations Used with the Two-Man Lead Scheme

Next, Klenakis covers the individual formations and personnel groups that are used to create the lead blocker. He breaks down the differences between playing the tight end on the line as opposed to off the line, and how he uses both alignments to his advantage.

You'll also observe formations from several personnel groups, including; 1 TE, 2 TE, 1, 2, and 3RBs, as well as 2 TE, 2 RB short yardage personnel groups. Several motion and shift concepts are used to give the offense advantages from various formations. Also, Coach Klenakis covers how he counts defenders to determine which way to run the two-man read scheme.

Overall, this is a great addition to any football coach's library. Coach Klenakis' knowledge on and experiences with the Pistol is impressively rich and deep, and you'll benefit greatly from all of the coaching tips and game footage included in this video!

119 minutes. 2020.

with Chris Klenakis,
Vanderbilt Offensive Line Coach;
2025 FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year;
Kennesaw State Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach in 2023;
Liberty Offensive Line Coach in 2022;
South Alabama Quality Control Analyst in 2021;
Louisville Tight Ends/Offensive Line Coach from 2014 to 2018, Co-Offensive Coordinator in 2016;
Iowa State University Offensive Line Coach in 2013;
Arkansas Offensive Line Coach from 2010 to 2012;
Nevada Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach from 2004 to 2009;
Central Missouri Offensive Coordinator in 2003;
Southern Miss Offensive Coordinator from 2000 to 2002;
Nevada Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator from 1990 to 1999;
Churchill County (NV) HS Head Coach from 1987 to 1989;
2x Nevada HS Coach of the Year;
was the first Offensive Coordinator in D-I history to coach an offense that led the nation in rushing and passing during his career;
as a college OL coach, has developed 24 NFL offensive linemen;
as an Offensive Coordinator, developed Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) into elite, dual-threat quarterbacks;
the 2009 Wolf Pack squad featured three different 1000-yard rushers - the only school in NCAA history to do so

If you have a dual-threat quarterback in your program and are looking to implement a system that caters to their strengths, then Chris Klenakis' expertise will be of immense value to you! Klenakis was an integral part of the coaching staffs that helped develop both Colin Kaepernick and Lamar Jackson in college, and in this video, he goes in-depth on how you can get the most out of your offense by implementing a two-man game with double lead.

Building Blocks for the Two-Man Game with Double Lead

Coach Klenakis starts his presentation by explaining the concept of the two-man game with a double lead. The two-man game is the double option zone read play that involves two potential ball carriers. The double lead scheme involves including two lead blockers for the quarterback run phase of the option play. Klenakis diagrams and shows video clips of several examples of two-man game with a double lead against a variety of defensive fronts. You'll learn to:

• "Borrow" blockers to outnumber the defense at the point of attack.
• Handle blitzers and protect the mesh to avoid turnovers.
• Make adjustments that counter common defenses to the two-man game.

Individuals Blocks with the Double Lead Concept

Coach Klenakis spends a significant amount of time detailing the individual blocks that are used with the double lead concept. The arc, insert, slice, and ice blocks are all shown with coaching points illustrated for each block. He also explains when each type of block is used and how he teaches his players to apply the rules of the blocking scheme to determine which block to execute based on the defensive look. Finally, you'll see examples of several formations that the double lead concept is run from, including 3-back short yardage formations and several unbalanced formations.

There's no better resource available to help you establish your own double lead run game! This video from Coach Klenakis is the complete package and is sure to help your program this season.

88 minutes. 2020.

with Chris Klenakis,
Vanderbilt Offensive Line Coach;
2025 FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year;
Kennesaw State Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach in 2023;
Liberty Offensive Line Coach in 2022;
South Alabama Quality Control Analyst in 2021;
Louisville Tight Ends/Offensive Line Coach from 2014 to 2018, Co-Offensive Coordinator in 2016;
Iowa State University Offensive Line Coach in 2013;
Arkansas Offensive Line Coach from 2010 to 2012;
Nevada Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach from 2004 to 2009;
Central Missouri Offensive Coordinator in 2003;
Southern Miss Offensive Coordinator from 2000 to 2002;
Nevada Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator from 1990 to 1999;
Churchill County (NV) HS Head Coach from 1987 to 1989;
2x Nevada HS Coach of the Year;
was the first Offensive Coordinator in D-I history to coach an offense that led the nation in rushing and passing during his career;
as a college OL coach, has developed 24 NFL offensive linemen;
as an Offensive Coordinator, developed Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) into elite, dual-threat quarterbacks;
the 2009 Wolf Pack squad featured three different 1000-yard rushers - the only school in NCAA history to do so

Chris Klenakis has been one of the most innovative offensive minds, and a part of some of the most remarkable football successes, in the game of football over the last several years.

In this video, Klenakis covers how to make your Pistol Option Offense better by adding three-man and four-man triple option schemes. He leaves 'no stone unturned' and keeps nothing behind the curtain in his breakdowns!

Three-Man Triple Option Scheme

Coach Klenakis kicks things off by explaining that the three-man game is a triple option scheme. The basic zone read blocking scheme, quarterback and running back mechanics do not change from a traditional Pistol option look. The only difference is a third man is added to the play that become the pitch man. Klenakis diagrams several ways to gain the pitch man from a variety of formations. Also, coaching points for pitch relationship, and the QB's pitch read are covered in detail. You'll learn how:

• To include a triple option component in your zone read scheme.
• Coach Klenakis adds a third man as a pitch option.
• To game plans ways to take advantage of the defense's plan to attack the zone read.

Four-Man Game

Next, Klenakis covers the four-man game. The four-man game is a triple option scheme with a lead blocker. It's designed to outnumber the defense at the point of attack, and allows the offense to keep more running backs on the field at the same time. Coach Klenakis diagrams ways to gain the lead blocker, plus types of lead blocks that can be used, including: arc, insert, slice, and ice blocks. You'll also get several formations that are used with the four-man game, as well as ways to use motion to keep the defense guessing.

Want to add three-man and four-man attacks to your Pistol Option Offense? If so, this video from Chris Klenakis provides the ultimate breakdown you need!

54 minutes. 2020.