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Hybrid Power – The Pistol-Flex Triple Option is an innovative offense that combines two distinct styles – the Pistol and the Flexbone.

by: AFM Editorial Staff
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So many new offenses have been introduced in recent years, it is sometimes difficult to decide if one system or another will work best for your team. How do you choose from the variety of offensive schemes, given your team make-up and objectives?


Editors Note: Coach Markowski hosts a blog on the pistol-flex triple option, you can visit by clicking here



    Paul Markowski decided to mix it up. He matched two popular offenses to develop his own hybrid scheme – the Pistol-Flex Triple Option offense. By combining the pistol’s advantageous placement of the quarterback four yards off the line of scrimmage with the flexbone’s triple option package, the assistant coach at Simon Fraser University (Division II) in British Columbia has conceived a unique, run-based attack. It’s a simplified offense that can be utilized by undersized personnel.

    Markowski recently shared the basics of the Pistol-Flex Triple Option with AFM.

AFM:  What is the Pistol-Flex Triple Option?

Markowski: The Pistol-Flex Triple Option offense is a hybrid of both the Pistol and Flexbone offensive philosophies. What I did was take the strengths from each offense and combined them into the Pistol-Flex offense. This is a run-first type of offense. Our base play is the Veer triple option. A total of 12 plays comprise the entire Pistol-Flex offense. The 11 plays that complement our base play (Veer) all feed off of the success of the Veer. A very potent play action passing game can be realized once the running game has been successfully established (See Diagram 1 – Base Formation).


How did you develop this offense?

    I have always been a football “schemer” of sorts. A few years ago, I was just on my computer devising new plays out of the wishbone, flexbone and pistol offensive formations. It suddenly came to me how much more effective the flexbone could be if we just put the QB four yards behind the center instead of under center. I figured, if the QB is further away from the LOS, his vision of the defense will be magnified. He will have a panoramic view of the defense. In addition, because the QB will now be further away from his dive key read, he may be able to get a better read on the intentions of that key defender.

What makes it unique?

    I would say that any offense that runs any form of triple option football is indeed “unique” since very few programs at the high school or collegiate level run a true triple option offense. The combination of the following things also makes the Pistol-Flex unique: a) QB is set 4 yards behind center; b) B-back is set in a two-point stance three yards behind the QB; c) we only need a total of 12 plays to make this offense effective; d) and it has only two formations in total (no need for any more). If you do something effective, you don’t have to try and fool the defense by having countless formational sets.

What is the base play out of the Pistol-Flex?

    Our base play is the Veer triple option play. Every other play in the offense feeds off of this single play. The QB has three options in the Veer: a dive option, pitch option, or QB keep option. This play is our bread and butter play (See Diagrams 2 and 3).
 



How important is deception and misdirection?

    In any offensive philosophy, deception and misdirection are very important and the Pistol-Flex is no different. Our “deception” comes from the triple option philosophy itself. Who really knows who has the ball at any given time. Our counter option play is our one and only counter play (no need for any more).

How intricate are the blocking schemes?

    I have always been a firm believer in the old “KISS” principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Why confuse athletes with fancy, pumped-up blocking schemes when they can be made very simple. The less that any player has to think about during the course of any play, the better he will play. Confusion leads to uncertainty, which leads to passivity. Having said that, I am proud to state that our blocking schemes are very simple. We are a base veer blocking team. The beauty of this is that our often undersized O-linemen are able to release to the second level on most of our plays. They do not have to take on a 330 lb. defensive tackle. Instead, they only have to block a LB. In addition, because both of our formations are totally balanced, when an audible is called by the QB to simply “flip” the play, panic will not ensue since we will have practiced flipping plays a lot during practices. 


    For example, in our PF open formation, we have one WR on either side of the formation. Both players know the following: if veer is called, the playside WR will stock block the cornerback, while the backside WR will go for a cutoff block on the FS. If the QB flips the play, there should be no problem since both receivers will only have to switch responsibilities on the play. However, if there was a TE on one side of the formation (which gives away the strength of the formation) and the play is flipped, then that TE will NOT have the same responsibility that the WR had on the other side before the flip. 

What kinds of athletes at the skill positions are needed to make this offense successful?

    Triple option football in general is the “great equalizer” offense. Undersized athletes do very well in this system. Having said that, our A-backs, who are undersized halfbacks, are anywhere from about 5’7” – 5’11” and weigh anywhere between 165-185. Above all, they must be quick. B-backs are tailback size (about 6’1” and 200-220 lbs). The QB must be an athlete. He does not have to have a strong arm, just an accurate one. He must be smart and a very tough competitor. 

It seems as if many triple option quarterbacks get hurt and miss significant playing time. Is this a concern for you in installing this offense?


    It really irritates me when false information about something suddenly becomes ‘fact.’ Triple option quarterbacks getting hurt because of the way the offense is run is unequivocally false. In reality, the prototypical drop-back quarterback is the one who is susceptible to more injuries because of the possibilities of being sacked – many times from the blind side – and often not expecting it. Therefore, he is not braced for the collision.
   

In triple option football, not only do we rarely pass the ball – therefore, nullifying sacks – our quarterbacks are true athletes. They play the game more like a running back than a pocket passer and, as a result, they can take the physicality that is part of any option scheme. In fact, because QBs within the option know they are going to get hit, they can do many things to cushion the blow. 

What adjustments are made when you face an odd or even front?

    We run our offense regardless of the front they have against us. Our QB’s first decision on every play is to look over the defense and decide which way the play should go (taking into consideration the play that is called, blocking angles and the number of defenders on each side of the defense). Other than that, we are very confident running this offense vs. any front. We will never allow a defense to dictate to us what we can and cannot run.

What adjustments are made to pick up blitzes?

Triple option teams in general do not see many blitzes since blitzing will not help the defense contain the triple option running game. Also, because we always outnumber the defense at the point of attack, even if they do “blitz” a LB, we would have already accounted for him in our base scheme so that blitzing has no effect on what we do.

What is the most effective pass play out of this offense?

    Our play action passing game (3 plays) are the most effective pass plays we have. This is true because each of these pass plays, prior to the snap, appears to be our base veer play. So, if the defense “bites” on the Veer “look”, we will make them pay (See Diagram 4 – PFTO Pass Play).



Watch an interview with Coach Paul Markowski on the Pistol-Flex Triple Option.








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