The Pistol Down Pass

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 run plays from a pistol formation, you need the down pass in your playbook. Chris Klenakis, an innovative offensive line coach who helped develop the pistol offense, details his play action passing game. In this presentation, he explains how the play action pass stresses defenses by forcing them to defend both the run and pass. This gives the offense a clear advantage when throwing the ball, especially when it's been successful running the ball.

The down pass uses a simple yet aggressive blocking scheme that gets your quarterback on the move, adding a run threat to the play. This play is a safe, easy completion that helps you break defensive coverage rules and your own run/pass tendencies. Watch as the drill helps your quarterback become more confident.

Beginning with offensive line assignments, Coach Klenakis shares a complete overview of the blocking scheme for each position, plus the calls or adjustments players make based on what the defense is showing. Using game footage, he covers the basic form of the play and then gives answers to situations that may occur as the defense tries to adjust.

Coach Klenakis also explains quarterback responsibilities and the correct mechanics to attack the defense with confidence. You'll learn how to teach your quarterback to read high to low and to run if covered.

Drawing Xs and Os on the whiteboard, Coach Klenakis then shows game footage to clarify and reinforce the concepts he's introduced. See how this play was used successfully at Nevada, Arkansas and Iowa State. He does a great job of showing the blocking adjustments, quarterback mechanics, and formation adjustments using a wing and motion to pin the defense so the quarterback can break contain.

Coach Klenakis is one of the masters of the pistol offense. His detailed presentation of the down pass is essential for your offense this season. Take this easy-to-implement scheme to your offense to keep defenses off balance and convert those critical third down possessions.

49 minutes. 2014.