Have any of you all played real football before? When I played we set-up a game plan which consisted of a few plays and then they adjusted during the game and ran those plays out of different formations and had different motion accordingly. I don't consider it cheap at all. It's how football is played. I mean heck, go look up some of the VG playbooks. They basically script the exact same thing and then sell them to you guys.
I found this online when searching for the Nevada playbook......
Playbook:
- Nevada
Formations:
- Pistol Jumbo Wing
- Pistol Ace Twins
- Pistol H Twins
- Pistol Trips
- Pistol 4WR Trips
- Shotgun Ace Twins Wk
Audibles:
- Pistol H Twins: Triple Option
- Pistol Jumbo Wing: Power Option
- Pistol Ace Twins: HB Counter
- Pistol Trips: TE Corner
- Shotgun Ace Twins Wk: Slot Under
Part I: Introducing the Base Formation - Pistol Ace Twins
Why Pistol Ace Twins?
- The great thing about this formation is the fact you can read if the defense is in man or zone coverage straight from the huddle in any 2 CB (4 DB) formation. From 4-3, 3-4, to 4-4, 4-2-5, etc...you can read the defense with ease
(if both CBs line up over the WRs = man. If only 1 CB lines up on the WR's side zone). Secondly, the balance of 2 WR, 2 TE, and a HB of Twin WRs keep a nice passing or running formation and the Pistol version gives a slight bit more time to read blitz than the Ace version. Lastly, to make any formation effective, it must simply have GOOD PLAYS and quick audibles.
Type of Team to Use With The Pistol Ace Twins?
- I think any team with 2 solid WRs and TEs, along with a quick pass catching RB is great for this formation. If you have a mobile QB, even better but pocket passers can work just as fine.
The play I come out of the huddle in 90% of the time is Pistol Ace Twins - Power Option. However if you have a pocket QB, you might want to break the huddle with HB Slip Screen, Curl Flat Corner, PA FL Stretch, or some other play.
Power Option
The first thing to do is to read if the defense is in man or zone coverage. Now, if there are 3 or more CBs on the field, try motioning the slot WR and reading if the Nickel back follows him to the or just slides with him, the later being zone or a blitz from the NB. If it is man coverage with 2 CBs, I will run the option to the right and look to break a huge gain. Any other defensive formation, time to audible.
Slants = Quick Audible + UP
This play can work against man or zone coverage
- Man
1. Hot route left TE to a streak
2. Hot route RB to a streak
3. Motion RB to the right and snap once he reaches the outside yard marker
First roll out to the right and look to hit the right TE in the flats. Next watch the slot and outside WRs on the slants over the middle. Then glance deep to see if either the left TE or RB has their man beat deep. If none of the slants are open once they get to the other side of the field, tuck it down and scramble.
- Zone
1. Hot route RB to a slant right
2. Hot route right TE to a fade
3. Hot route far left WR to a slant left
4. Hot route slot WR to a streak
Here you have your streak/corner combo with the WRs. After the snap first look is the left TE to the flats and then the RB to the right side flats. Next move towards the WRs and see which WR the deep zone defender has chosen to cover. Lastly, look towards your right TE or dumb it off to the TE on the left sideline.
Smash - Quick Audible + Right
This play only requires one setup that works against man or zone coverage.
1. Smart route the right TE
First read is your RB in the flats. Next look up towards your right TE on the mini corner route. Then move to the left and watch the streak/corner combo with the left TE and slot WR. If nothing else is open look to scramble or throw the hitch curl on the outside.
HB Dive - Quick Audible + Down
After you have made your opponent respect the Power Option from this formation, you can generally expect them to start using move 3-4+ CB formations such as Nickel 3-3-5, Dime, or Quarters thus leaving less LBs and DL to clog the middle. If you notice this, make them play with the quick audible down and follow the blockers.
PA Deep In - Quick Audible + Left
After hitting the defense with a couple HB Dives, expect this Play Action to burn them for a deep gain.
1. Hot route left TE to a drag
2. Hot route left outside WR to a slant right
If the defense is in any type of man coverage, first look for the left TE on the drag to beat his man or watch the RB and outside left WR cross over the middle. If nothing short is open, the slot WR should draw any deep safety away from the right TE on the post.
If the defense is in zone, again look short for one of the underneath routes. The nice thing about this play is against a Cover 2, the deep left safety will follow the slot WR streaking every time leaving your right TE wide open once he gets past the hook/yellow zones.
HB Counter - Audible #3
This is where our first audible comes into play. Let's say the defense is running a lot of zone coverage no matter what running plays you use and it is stopping the HB Dive and Option...it's time for the HB Counter. Especially against a 2 CB formation, you'll have a pulling Guard leading the RBs path along with the slot WR free to pick up a roaming LB or FS.
Final Thoughts on Pistol Ace Twins
These are the 6 basic plays I stick to with this formation and use according to the read I get from the defense. Keep in mind that if there are more than 2 CBs on the field, make sure to motion a WR and get the best read you can. What's great though is that most of these plays can beat any type of coverage once the reads are learned.
Some other plays to check out from Pistol Ace Twins:
- PA FL Stretch
- Curl Flat Corner
- HB Slip Screen
- Slot Under
- Stick
- Comeback
- Posts
Part II: Breakdown of Pistol H Twins & Jumbo Wing
* Pistol H Twins *
Strengths of Pistol H Twins
- Just like Pistol Ace Twins, this formation can allow you to read man/zone coverage of any 2 CB defensive formation right from the huddle.
- Unlike any other Pistol or Shotgun formation, you have the treat of 2 RBs in the backfield. This is great help to the running, passing, and blocking to help out your offense.
Weaknesses of Pistol H Twins
- The major downside to this formation is that there are only 2 pages (8 plays) in the formation (most formations have 4-5 pages). So if you decided to break the huddle out of Pistol H Twins, I suggest the Twin HB package and Double Flares.
Note: Keep in mind that we are coming out in Pistol Ace Twins Power Option and using our #1 audible, Pistol H Twins Triple Option to access all these plays.
Triple Option - Audible #1
The triple option is one of the best plays in college football and works great from this formation. If you see the defense is in zone and only 1 CB is on the left side of the field, slide protect left and after the snap give the ball to your FB. Now if you have the right side open, go ahead and keep the ball and utilize the QB/RB option. I like using the Aggressive slide protection if I don't plan to hand off to the FB.
Quick Drag - Quick Audible + Up
This can work against both man or zone defenses
1. Hot route the FB to a slant right
Right from the snap, watch the FB and TE cross. Against man, the FB slant should be wide open. Next read, look for the TE and slot WR crossing over the middle. Then glance to the RB cutting up the flats. If nothing short is open, look deep or to scramble.
X Flag - Quick Audible + Right
This play is better against zone but can work vs man too
1. Hot route FB to a slant left
2. Hot route slot WR to a streak
With this play, I like to sit in the pocket and watch the FB/TE over the middle for a second and then rollout left. The next read is the RB in the flats. Last, look deep at the streak/corner combo. What makes this play so effective against zone is "zone flooding" meaning there are routes at multiple levels on the same side which will allow someone to get open.
HB Dive - Quick Audible - Down
The HB Dive from Pistol H Twins is almost the same as the Ace Twins version, except now you will have a FB lead blocking for you on the right. If the defense is spreading the DL or LBs out or in a DB favored formation, look to hit them with the HB Dive
PA Deep In - Quick Audible + Left
Once you run the HB Dive from this formation a few times, the Setup % should increase which will make this play even better.
1. Hot route far left WR to a drag
Immedieately after the snap, look for the FB hitting the flats. Next move to the corner route by the TE. Your next read is the WR and RB crossing short, hit the open guy. Lastly, look deep or for a scramble opportunity.
Final Thoughts on Pistol H Twins
The Pistol H Twins is a very good formation in the Nevada playbook however the lack of plays prevent it from being a base formation for an offense. If you mix in these few plays though a couple times a game, you should have success.
* Pistol Jumbo Wing*
Why the Pistol Jumbo Wing?
- This is my "power" formation for short yardage situations. So this is not a formation to use often but in certain parts of the game such as 2nd, 3rd or 4th and short. Just like Pistol H Twins, this formation only has 2 pages of plays so there is not much depth of plays to use this formation often.
Power Option - Audible #2
When I want to run this option I read the DL & LBs and how they line up against the formation and run the play the oppposite way the front 7 are looking to defend the play. Also if the D is stacking the middle, go to the Power Option
HB Dive - Quick Audible + Down
This is the go to running play in short yardage sitation. If you want to run the ball right, motion the right TE that side into the backfield. If you want to run left, motion the left TE (off the line of scrimmage) to the left into the backfield.
PA Deep In - Quick Audible + Left
If you see the defense heavily defending the HB Dive from this formation, this play might just get you a quick TD.
1. Block the right TE (on an out route)
2. Motion whichever TE you choose into the backfield to sell run.
After the snap, read the defense if it is man or zone coverage. If it is man coverage, wait for your right TE on the post to cross under the streaking WR and he should be wide open. Next look for the RB short.
Final Thoughts on Pistol Jumbo Wing
This formation might not use many plays, but it is very good for the short yardage situations. Running the HB Dive or Power Option from Jumbo Wing in a short yardage situation will result in a 1st down the majority of the time. Then the Play Action can get a quick score after a couple successfull short yardage HB Dives.
Some other plays to check out from Pistol Jumbo Wing:
- HB Counter
- PA FL Stetch
- HB Screen
Part III: Learning the Pistol Trips & Shotgun Ace Twins Wk
* Pistol Trips *
Why Pistol Trips?
- When I use the Pistol Trips, I use the formation very similar to the Pistol Ace Twins. So, some of you may ask, why even bother switching from Twins to Trips? Well the answer is that instead of only being able to read 2 CB defensive sets from Ace Twins, you can read man or zone from any defensive formation in the Trips.
How Do I Read Man or Zone Against 3+ CB formations?
- Since there are 3 WRs on one side of the field and no defensive formation has 3 CBs on the left side by default, it is pretty simple:
Man: If 3 CBs are lined over the 3 WRs from the huddle
Zone: If only 2 CBs are lined up over the 3 WRs from the huddle
TE Corner - Audible #4
1. Smart route the TE
From the snap, look to hit the RB right away in the flats. Next move to the WR on a drag over the middle. Next look at the TE on his short corner route. Last look at the post/corner cross deep on the left. If your opponent is in a zone you can also check down to your RB, he will sit right on the sideline for a dump off.
Slants - Quick Audible + Up
Man
1. Hot route slot WR closest to QB on a slant right
2. Hot route middle WR in Trips to a streak
3. Hot route RB to a streak
4. Motion RB right and snap at last yard marker
First look for the TE in the flats. Next watch the 2 slants over the middle and hit the open man. Then look for your RB or slot WR deep or back to the slants once they continue to the opposite side of the field.
Zone
1. Hot route slot WR closest to QB to a streak
2. Hot route far left WR to a slant left
Your first read is the TE to the right flats. Next look for the slot WR on a streak over the middle. Next read if the slot WR sitting in the flats are covered or if the streak/corner combo will be open. Last look to check down to the TE or slot WR in the flats.
Smash
1. Smart route the TE
First read is to watch the RB and TE on the right side of the field. Next move to the left and watch the streak/corner combo. Last look to check down to the outside curl or scramble.
HB Dive - Quick Audible + Down
This is a very effective running play if the defense spreads out to cover the Trips on the left side. It is simply a numbers game here. Count the DL, LB or DBs over your offensive linemen. If there looks like no one will shoot through to stop the run, run it. If the front 7 is stacked, audible out.
PA Deep In - Quick Audible + Left
1. Hot route far left WR to a slant right
2. Hot route slot WR closest to QB to a drag
Of course set this up with the HB Dive. The first read is the short options with the drag and then the slant over the middle. Next look deep for the TE on the post route or slot WR if he has the coverage beat deep.
Final Thoughts on Pistol Trips
The Pistol Trips formation is very similar to my base formation in this playbook: Pistol Ace Twins. Except the left TE is now the slot WR in the Trips. This allows you to read if the defense is in man or zone from any defensive formation in the game, giving you a huge edge.
Some other Pistol Trips plays to check out:
- HB Counter
- Inside Switch
- Inside Cross
- Middle Slant
- Power Option
* Shotgun Ace Twins Wk *
What's special about this formation?
- This is the Shotgun version of the base Pistol Ace Twins so it gives more time to defend the blitz. This will have a lot of the same plays but a little different.
Slot Under - Audible #5
1. Hot route right TE to a drag
Right from the snap, look to hit the RB in the flats (this destroys man coverage). Next watch the right TE and slot WR cross over the middle. Then move deep to see if the left TE is open. Lastly, check to the curl or scramble for easy yards.
Slants - Quick Audible + Up
This play can work against man or zone coverage
- Man
1. Hot route left TE to a streak
2. Hot route RB to a streak
3. Motion RB to the right and snap once he reaches the outside yard marker
First roll out to the right and look to hit the right TE in the flats. Next watch the slot and outside WRs on the slants over the middle. Then glance deep to see if either the left TE or RB has their man beat deep. If none of the slants are open once they get to the other side of the field, tuck it down and scramble.
- Zone
1. Hot route RB to a slant right
2. Hot route right TE to a fade
3. Hot route far left WR to a slant left
4. Hot route slot WR to a streak
Here you have your streak/corner combo with the WRs. After the snap first look is the left TE to the flats and then the RB to the right side flats. Next move towards the WRs and see which WR the deep zone defender has chosen to cover. Lastly, look towards your right TE or dumb it off to the TE on the left sideline.
Smash - Quick Audible + Right
1. Hot route the RB to a drag (hit the flats quicker than the default route)
2. Smart route the TE
First read is your RB in the flats. Next look up towards your right TE on the mini corner route. Then move to the left and watch the streak/corner combo with the left TE and slot WR. If nothing else is open look to scramble or throw the hitch curl on the outside.
HB Sweep - Quick Audible + Down
I really only like to run this play against man coverage with 2 CBs. Otherwise, the CB(s) on the right defend this outside sweep too well. When running this play, I think it's best to use slide protection to the right.
Play AC - Quick Audible + Left
1. Hot route slot WR to a streak
2. Hot route far left WR to a slant right
Just like the Pistol Trips formation set this up with the HB Sweep. The first read is the short options with the drag and then the slant over the middle. Next look deep for the TE on the post route or slot WR if he has the coverage beat deep.
Final Thoughts on Shotgun Ace Twins Wk
This can very well replace the base formation of Pistol Ace Twins by coming out in Speed Option, however I prefer the running plays from the Pistol over this Shotgun. What I really like about this Shotgun is how quickly the RB hits the flats against man on the Slot Under play along with having the same plays/reads as the Pistol version.
Some other Shotgun Ace Twins Wk plays to try:
- Speed Option
- Inside Cross
- Stick
That's a little more in depth from what I do but it's basically the same thing. Would you consider that cheap?
