Pistol Offense: Putting Defenders in Conflict

Learn how to use tempo, confidence and execution to create an offensive system that puts defenders in conflict. Former Chaska High School (MN) head coach Lambert Brown shares his years of experience in running systems that create problems for defenses. Using the pistol option base, Coach Brown explains how a multi-faceted offense with different schemes can be unified into an identity that creates a competitive advantage.

Coach Brown starts with a detailed overview of his pistol offense. He discusses why he runs the pistol and why he uses the no-huddle tempo in his offense. His reasons include, in part, the ability to run an entire option package from any formation while making it difficult for the defense to make substitutions.

Knowledge is power, and Coach Brown wants to know these things each week when going into a game: Who is the flat defender? Who is the edge defender? Is it the same person? Does the DE crash or box? What is their favorite coverage? Do they roll coverages? What can we take advantage of? Coach Brown shares his "pick-on" packages, which give the offense plays to run against various players (cornerbacks, defensive end, outside backers, inside backers and safeties). This is vital knowledge for any coach who has struggled offensively because of one or two defensive positions.

Coach Brown also shares his successful packaged play, where he calls two plays in one to take advantage of how a defense is weakened by its adjustments to stop certain base plays. Examples of run/pass, pass/draw options are provided in detail to give a better understanding of how to "put a defense in conflict."

See how the pistol allows the option package to run out of any formation, and learn how Coach Brown has built mental toughness and swagger into his players. You'll find these fundamentals and more in this excellent presentation.

72 minutes. 2015.