A Primer For Neveda's Pistol Offense

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Deconstructing: Nevada's 'Pistol,' by any other name, would fire as sweet -... - NCAA Football - Rivals.com

Chris Brown, for Rivals July 16, 2009

... since Nevada coach and pistol brainchild Chris Ault made the switch from his old I-formation attack in 2005, ... His team immediately improved by 30 yards and almost five points per game from 2004 (449.3 from 418.8 and 34.2 from 29.7, respectively), and improved its record from 5-7 to 9-3. The Pack have been to four straight bowl games for the first time in school history, and 2008 ... Nevada was fifth in the nation in total offense and twelfth in scoring, and, by most definitions, they did it with incredible balance, as one of only three D-1 teams to both rush AND pass for over 3,000 yards. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the WAC offensive player of the year with more yards rushing and passing than Tim Tebow.
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...

Most shotgun offenses put their quarterback at five yards deep (some six, and Missouri puts theirs as deep as seven or eight) and the running back at five to six yards, aligned next to the quarterback. Nevada, by contrast, puts their quarterback only four yards back while the running back aligns directly behind him, between seven to ten yards deep depending on the play
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That alignment gives the defense no hint of the direction of the play and they can rush from the "I" or throw off of play action. Ault than uses Kaepernick's running skill to attack via the Veer. Kaepernick can keep the ball or hand off depending on "his read" of the defender at the point of attack.

Think Navy or Air Force here - except Nevada has a 6-foot-6 QB that throws for 300 yds a game not 300 yds a season. Think how many times against Navy or AF, ND's DBs have been caught cheating against the run and have been burned. Think Tony Rice with Jimmy Clausen passing skill.

The article has a number of diagrams and videos to demonstrate the pistol.

Good read.
 
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notredomer23

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Even if they have some success on offense, they have NO defense at all. First play of the game we are going deep to Tate
 
phork

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So basically you kill the QB and kill the offense, like the spread.
 
NDOM

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Yeah and dont forget those are all WAC teams they were playing against. You know..... Teams like Unlv, Idaho, New Mexico St, Utah State, San Jose St etc etc. In case any of you are worried about Nevada being a tough team our first game lets just take a deep breathe and I will break down their schedual and games from last year.

Game #1 Grambling State. Nevada won 49-13
Game #2 #12 Texas Tech. Loss 18-39
Game #3 @ #6 Missouri. Loss 17-69
Game #4 @ Unlv. Won 49-27
Game #5 @ Idaho. Won 49-14
Game #6 New Mexico State. Loss 45-48 (This is a game where Nevada was favored by 19 points)
Game #7 Utah State. Won 40-17
Game #8 @ Hawaii. Loss 31-38 (Nevada was favored by 7)
Game #9 @ Fresno State. Won 41-28
Game #10 San Jose State. Won 41-17 (It was SAN JOSE STATE!!!!!)
Game #11 #9 Boise State. Loss 34-41
Game #12 Louisiana Tech. Won 34-31 But Nevada was favored by 16 points.

Nevada returns 7 starter on offense and 7 on defense. They went 7-6 last year. This is an average team at best. Nevada does not worry me one fucking bit. Matter of fact.......FUCK NEVADA and their PISTOL.
 
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notredomer23

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Yup, ndom i agree for once. They only put up 31 on hawaii. HAWAII!!! They gave up 69 points to missouri who had a VERY mediocre year last year
 
HawaiianIrish

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On D Nevada has small but quick Dline man. I believe thier ends are something like 6-3 235-245.

The Irish must "BANG" upfront and set the pace early. They must use thier size and strength to wear down this quick athletic D-line.

On Defense Notre Dame will make the pistol look like a water gun. I would put a spy on that QB and hit him every time he runs out. This may be Teo's assignment.

The Irish D line is far superior than the small Nevada O line

Bottom line is this. The outcome will be something like the Hawaii Bowl. Notre Dame just has the better athletes.

Irish 42 Wolfpack 14
 
NDOM

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HawaiianIrish said:
On D Nevada has small but quick Dline man. I believe thier ends are something like 6-3 235-245.

The Irish must "BANG" upfront and set the pace early. They must use thier size and strength to wear down this quick athletic D-line.

On Defense Notre Dame will make the pistol look like a water gun. I would put a spy on that QB and hit him every time he runs out. This may be Teo's assignment.

The Irish D line is far superior than the small Nevada O line

Bottom line is this. The outcome will be something like the Hawaii Bowl. Notre Dame just has the better athletes.

Irish 42 Wolfpack 14
Click to expand...

I see an Irish victory as well but a little closer. Irish 37 Nevada 23
 
jason_h537

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at the very least we will have a good idea of what our defense will be like this year.
 
BillyIrish

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We should win this game by atleast 3 scores... however if we shoot ourselves in the foot like we did in so many games last year, including SDSU, this is a team that will take advantage of a short field. I think we win the TO battle and win the game going away...

48-17 Irish!!
 
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notredomer23

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jason_h537 said:
at the very least we will have a good idea of what our defense will be like this year.
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No, we will not at all. With gimmick offenses you never really know. I dont think we will find out to MSU because Michigan honestly sucks
 
phork

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I am curbing my enthusiasm until I see the boys in action. I was so pumped last year to have a decent season and figured SDSU was a fluke. Opening game jitters and all. We all saw what happened last year.
 
Riddickulous

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This game scares me. Sure, it's Nevada, and we're expected to win, but after SDSU last year, I'm not so sure.

It should be a huge shootout.
 
TDHeysus

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as stated earlier these clips were against questionable talent. #94, unless otherwise told to do so, should have had 'stay-home-containment' on that play. but he chose to leave his post; that is why that particular play worked. If it were an option play to his side, #94 assignment would be to force the QB to give the ball up, and that is done by laying him the F out. Hopefully ND's defensive ends will have more discipline than to leave their posts.

From those clips, the biggest advantage 'The Pistol' gives was on play-action plays; the actual 'play-action' takes place late in the play (therefore freezing LB's longer into the play) thus giving the WR's more time to get into their routes. With good talent, that could be exploited to gain that half-second advantage on the defense.

A good disciplined defensive unit would have no problem with an offense like Nevada. I keep coming back to it, but on the field leadership/discipline is so crucial. It can be the difference in overcoming adverse situations.
 
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TDHeysus said:
as stated earlier these clips were against questionable talent. #94, unless otherwise told to do so, should have had 'stay-home-containment' on that play. but he chose to leave his post; that is why that particular play worked. If it were an option play to his side, #94 assignment would be to force the QB to give the ball up, and that is done by laying him the F out. Hopefully ND's defensive ends will have more discipline than to leave their posts.

From those clips, the biggest advantage 'The Pistol' gives was on play-action plays; the actual 'play-action' takes place late in the play (therefore freezing LB's longer into the play) thus giving the WR's more time to get into their routes. With good talent, that could be exploited to gain that half-second advantage on the defense.

A good disciplined defensive unit would have no problem with an offense like Nevada. I keep coming back to it, but on the field leadership/discipline is so crucial. It can be the difference in overcoming adverse situations.
Click to expand...

I agree which is why Navy or Air Force will never be competitive with ND much less beat them.
 
NeuteredDoomer

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It was a Cracker Jacks (surprise inside) issue.

God kicked my ass.
 
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