The Pistol

[Scrapps]

I'm considering converting my offense to the pistol. Has anyone utilized this with any success? What are some of the benefits? Disadvantages? I would also like to use a playbook that still has a fair amount of a running game from under center. Also, with a few true shotgun formations. I would appreciate any input or recommendations.

[Bucknut17]

Re: The Pistol

Ohio and Indiana both have shotgun and ace along with pistol, the counters and read options can be pretty effective and running is better than from the gun IMO, and passing especially against users is better since you are already 3-4 yard from the los. In my experience you don't have to have rg3 or denard but mobility does makes it much more effective

[Watson]

Re: The Pistol

It makes running a straight up read-option much easier. Also, if the defense starts keying on what side you're running to and is in man coverage, just flip it and read the SS for an easy TD.

I don't like the rest of it because at some point you're going to hit a wall and most Pistol playbooks lack big plays, especially passes. If you want a effective pass play, it's either a PA Rollout or curls/flats (which you can only run so many times a game before routes start getting jumped)

edit: Jeremy has a good point with the TE/WR-LB mismatch thing, but there's still little "big play" potential

[jeremym480]

Re: The Pistol

I'm in an OD playing with Miss St and I use Bama's play-book. It has a Pistol formation in it and I love it. One of the advantages is that that the running plays can go to the strong and weak side of the formation. So if you're playing a Human opponent they can't load up on the strong side like they can in other formations (the I-formation for example).

Another positive is that you can change the formation to a 3 WR. So your #1 WR comes in in the place of your outside TE/FB. If the D comes out in a base man set then this will give you a mismatch with a LB on your #1 WR.

I'd suggest going into practice mode with one of the play-books and seeing what you think of it.

[nmm666]

Re: The Pistol

I've been running a dynasty with FIU which is a spread offense with some pistol formations. Since I hate running out of the shotgun, I mostly run out of the pistol and I love it.

Good tip Jeremy, I'm going to try some formation subs, because my second string true freshman TE is only a 58 skill rating. My TE starter is a redshirt freshman 62 skill, so he isn't much better.

[sleepyeagle]

Re: The Pistol

If you really love the pistol it's hard to beat Nevada's playbook. Especially if you have a good mobile QB and a couple of good RBs. Every formation has great pass/run threats.

[Ballbright]

Re: The Pistol

Arkansas' playbook has a Pistol set, and I find it the best playbook for teams that want to go vertical a lot.

[The JareBear]

Re: The Pistol

For the next season in 12con I am going to switch from Notre Dames playbook and I was thinking along the same lines of Scrapps. I don't want Nevada because I want multiple sets but what are the best playbooks that have at least one pistol formation in them?

[BlastX21]

Re: The Pistol

I'm going to play the devil's advocate and say I dont find the Pistol that useful. First off, the handoff is painfully slow. This gives the DL extra time to get off blocks. Secondly, there isnt as much room for cutbacks and direction changes as compared to other formations, because the back gets the ball about 4 yards behind the LOS compared to 5 or 6 for Ace or shotgun. Finally, the read option animations are SO slow in the pistol. If the QB fakes it and runs, the animation and acceleration are so slow that by the time you get ready to take the corner, the DE and OLB are waiting for you.

Thats just my personal experience.

[seawolves9]

Re: The Pistol

I'm going to play the devil's advocate and say I dont find the Pistol that useful. First off, the handoff is painfully slow. This gives the DL extra time to get off blocks. Secondly, there isnt as much room for cutbacks and direction changes as compared to other formations, because the back gets the ball about 4 yards behind the LOS compared to 5 or 6 for Ace or shotgun. Finally, the read option animations are SO slow in the pistol. If the QB fakes it and runs, the animation and acceleration are so slow that by the time you get ready to take the corner, the DE and OLD are waiting for you.

Thats just my personal experience.

I agree. Sometimes I have success with it and sometimes I don't. I've given up on the read option though because it fails a whole lot more than it works. The counter works real well most of the time though.

[KingV2k3]

Re: The Pistol

For the next season in 12con I am going to switch from Notre Dames playbook and I was thinking along the same lines of Scrapps. I don't want Nevada because I want multiple sets but what are the best playbooks that have at least one pistol formation in them?

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...post2041836177

[Card-me]

Re: The Pistol

I find the Nevada playbook to be one of the best in the game if you want to run a lot. Read options are hit or miss (mostly miss), but that's the game, not the playbook. The read option barely works in any formation.

Counters are easily the best plays in a pistol playbook, and there are a ton of them in a bunch of different formations. You can motion TEs to different sides for different looks and it becomes a seriously lethal running attack. I had the number 1 rushing game nationally for four straight seasons running Nevada's book and 2 2,000 yard rushers.

In terms of other formations, you aren't going to find many in Nevada's playbook, but you really shouldn't need them often. You've got a good Ace Heavy set (No WRs, 3 TEs, and 1 FB on the edge) that has some really good power plays. And then you've got some 4 and 5 WR packages for the two minute drill/desperation.

[Roggie]

Re: The Pistol

I'm using Indiana's. They have some fantastic pass plays, along with a ton of power over runs (which happen to be my favorite play in the game). No option passes and no toss plays (which I guess makes sense, since it's the Pistol, but they could work.)

My offense with UNC's playbook (2nd season) was horrific. Zero run game. Decent pass game. With the pistol, both are improving, even though my RBs are worse and my O line still is garbage.

[sleepyeagle]

Re: The Pistol

When I use the Pistol, I use Nevada's playbook for the same reasons as Card-me. However, if the read option worked correctly I would probably use this playbook constantly. There's a PA slot post play that I love.

But the read option doesn't work, so I stick to mostly power and load options. The other playbook I use, NC State, has the best of those option plays, as well as my favorite shotgun formations.

[TheShizNo1]

Re: The Pistol

Sliders can actually fix the read option, are at least make it usable