131:, and during a conversation, he mentioned that his team needed to go into a new direction because his running back was quick, but his quarterback was tall and slow. Armed with this new idea of Shotgun I, Michael spent weeks developing new formations and schemes as a way of maintaining a downhill running game, while allowing his quarterback to be comfortable in the pass game. The plays worked; the backfield set was exclusively two back and included a full complement of runs to both the I back and the offset back (aligned next to the quarterback).
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they can be effectively executed to either side of the QB, opening up more options for the offense. This can make for a more effective running game, but may limit pass efficiency due to quicker recognition of play action by linebackers and defensive backs. This formation works well with dual threat quarterbacks who can both throw and run and is also used when quarterback's mobility has been limited by injury.
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161:, Ault's Nevada Wolf Pack is most strongly associated with the formation. Using the Pistol Offense, during the 2009 season, Nevada led the nation in rushing at 345 yards a game and were second in total offense at 506 yards. The Wolf Pack also became the first team in college football history with three 1,000-yard rushers in the same season: quarterback
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combined with a fullback for pass protection. In a pistol formation, handoffs occur 2-3 yards closer to the line of scrimmage than in the shotgun. In the traditional shotgun, run plays are most effectively run to the side opposite the running back, without a cutback to the other side. In the pistol,
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The pistol retains the position and advantages of a shotgun formation, allowing the quarterback to see easily over the line and make downfield reads. The running back, however, is positioned further back, allowing him to time to run up and build momentum similar to a play under center. The pistol
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then lines up three yards directly behind the quarterback, which is in contrast to the shotgun, where they are beside each other. It is argued that the position of the quarterback in the pistol formation strikes an advantageous compromise: the quarterback is close enough to the
227:, the pistol has added more of a college "playmaker" aspect to the professional game. After week 10 of 2023 the LA Ram's adopted a pistol formation 16% of the time with the resulting plays being pass/run about 50/50, challenging defenses to adapt their coverages.
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Michael Taylor of Mill Valley developed the Pistol formation as a complete offense (called the "Shotgun I" at that time) in 1999 while playing softball. Taylor introduced the formation to his friend, a college football coach at
Division III
90:. The pistol formation is thus very versatile, particularly if the quarterback himself is a threat to run the ball, which makes it difficult for the defense to correctly anticipate the play. This flexibility is enhanced by the
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popularized the single back alignment (and renamed it "the Pistol") in 2005. While the pistol offense has been experimented with by dozens of
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Today, it is common in all levels of college football, and is gaining popularity among high school teams and in the
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set the all-time single game rushing record for a quarterback with 181 yards. Along with the
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on
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offenses. In the pistol offense, also commonly referred to as the "pistol formation", the
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offense can effectively use draw plays, counters, and options using three-
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to be able to read the defense, as with run situation sets such as the
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309:"Colin Kaepernick and the pistol: A marriage made in football heaven"
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the ball to the running back or keep it and run himself.
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http://starbulletin.com/2006/10/04/sports/story01.html
324:"My Two Cents: Terrelle Pryor and Darren McFadden"
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279:
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350:"Out on video: defending the 'pistol' offense"
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98:, then makes a rapid decision whether to
179:used the pistol to help beat #13 ranked
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16:American football formation and strategy
234:used the Pistol offense so quarterback
45:developed by coaches Michael Taylor of
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195:, and became popular once used by the
165:and running backs Luke Lippincott and
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375:"Inside the Playbook: Pistol Offense"
280:Charean Williams (February 1, 2013).
219:, who in the NFL Playoffs versus the
348:Tom Silverstein (February 3, 2013).
57:. It is a hybrid of the traditional
432:"Hall of Fame to honor Nevada trio"
187:in 2008 with offensive coordinator
13:
438:. Associated Press. August 4, 2010
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173:Football Championship Subdivision
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211:, as well as the aforementioned
122:against the San Francisco 49ers
69:lines up four yards behind the
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322:Old Timer (February 2, 2013).
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53:when he was head coach at the
1:
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1216:American football formations
238:could play with a bad foot.
118:in the 1990 season with the
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10:
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511:American football strategy
405:"Nevada's Runaway Offense"
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55:University of Nevada, Reno
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230:On December 5, 2010, the
114:Pistol formation used by
287:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
177:James Madison University
129:Ohio Northern University
328:silverandblackdaily.com
258:formations or multiple
47:Mill Valley, California
123:
27:
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26:'s "pistol" formation
22:
1177:Resting the starters
1071:Defensive formations
968:Offensive formations
403:(October 10, 2010).
135:University of Nevada
232:Pittsburgh Steelers
217:San Francisco 49ers
209:Washington Redskins
49:and popularized by
878:Defensive strategy
410:The New York Times
236:Ben Roethlisberger
205:Robert Griffin III
185:Kansas City Chiefs
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819:Statue of Liberty
221:Green Bay Packers
197:Carolina Panthers
80:line of scrimmage
36:American football
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944:Icing the kicker
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860:Clock management
814:Hook and lateral
749:Play-action pass
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163:Colin Kaepernick
143:college football
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1016:Single set back
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385:September 11,
381:. May 6, 2016
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282:"Read Option"
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918:Bump and run
804:Fumblerooski
799:Flea flicker
576:Buck-lateral
535:Play calling
452:
440:. Retrieved
435:
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416:December 23,
414:. Retrieved
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383:. Retrieved
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357:. Retrieved
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331:. Retrieved
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291:. Retrieved
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75:running back
31:
29:
1036:Pistol-Flex
996:Single-wing
809:Hidden ball
759:Double pass
741:Trick plays
721:Stop-and-go
566:Air Coryell
530:Two-platoon
525:One-platoon
442:October 16,
401:Pete Thamel
359:February 3,
333:February 3,
293:February 3,
189:Chan Gailey
137:head coach
84:I formation
67:quarterback
63:single back
1051:Jump shift
1001:Short punt
892:Man-to-man
829:Hard count
789:Fake spike
764:End-around
628:West Coast
618:Smashmouth
544:Offensive
267:References
260:tight ends
249:Advantages
201:Cam Newton
139:Chris Ault
51:Chris Ault
24:Chris Ault
1089:Miami 4–3
911:Coverages
784:Fake punt
608:Pro-style
458:"Welcome"
379:Krossover
215:with the
39:formation
1210:Category
1195:Category
1026:Flexbone
1021:Wishbone
656:Crossing
586:Multiple
581:Hurry-up
571:Air raid
546:strategy
436:ESPN.com
167:Vai Taua
159:Missouri
151:Syracuse
100:hand off
43:strategy
1156:Prevent
1141:7–1–2–1
1079:2-level
1046:Wildcat
1011:Pro set
1006:Shotgun
981:Split-T
902:Tampa 2
834:Pyramid
774:Spinner
769:Reverse
518:Systems
225:wildcat
207:of the
155:Indiana
106:History
88:shotgun
59:shotgun
1151:Nickel
1031:Pistol
923:Double
885:Scheme
716:Sluggo
701:Screen
651:Corner
638:Routes
623:Spread
591:Option
554:Scheme
157:, and
92:option
71:center
34:is an
1170:Other
1136:7–2–2
1106:3–3–5
1041:Trips
949:Stunt
937:Other
853:Other
731:Wheel
726:Swing
711:Slant
646:Chair
199:with
175:team
1146:Dime
928:Zone
897:Zone
754:Draw
706:Seam
696:Post
686:Jerk
671:Flat
666:Drag
661:Curl
561:A-11
444:2010
418:2012
387:2017
361:2013
335:2013
295:2013
203:and
96:snap
61:and
41:and
30:The
1131:6–2
1126:5–3
1121:5–2
1111:4–4
1101:3–4
1084:4–3
954:Spy
691:Out
681:Hot
676:Fly
243:NFL
147:LSU
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