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AFM Subscribers Ask...with Steve Rampy

by: Steve Rampy
Head Coach, Blue Valley High School, Stilwell, KS
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When Head Coach Steve Rampy of Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, KS changed last fall from the Shotgun to the Pistol, the results were immediate: Blue Valley led all state high schools in total points scored. Rampy’s team scored 594 points in 13 games or an average of 46 per contest. In the process, Blue Valley won the state championship. Rampy has been at Blue Valley for 26 years, the last 22 as Head Coach. In that time, his teams have played in eight state championships and have four titles (1991, 1998, 2003, and 2006). He answers your questions on the Pistol offense...

When preparing for an opponent’s defense what are your thoughts on organizing your attack based upon personnel and formations. Also, how do you ensure the match-ups will lead to your success? Tom Creguer, Wide Receivers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, Northwood University, Midland, MI. AFM subscriber since 2007.
We script out the first 12 plays of each game. In that script will be all the different formations that we hope to utilize for that game and where we ‘think’ they will be aligned for each. We have a very experienced coach in the box that makes any alignment adjustments to what we thought and we attack them from there. We also double call many plays if we are still unsure of the defensive alignment. This means that we would call two plays in the huddle and ‘check’ to the best play for us for that particular situation. An example would be: in the huddle we call ‘Right Over-34, Check 19.’ In this particular play, we want to run zone read to the TE side with a bubble on the backside. If the defense was in an edge blitz or had aligned in some way that we should not run zone read, we would just say ‘check, check’ at the LOS and we would then run speed option to the split side. We double call frequently against defenses that like to bring pressure or change their fronts.

Because of the success of your Pistol offense, what are your strategies for attacking blitzes? Phil Price, Offensive Coordinator, Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Watertown, WI. AFM subscriber since 2007.
A blitzing defense is not specific to the Pistol any more than the spread offense. Anytime you’re going to a spread ‘passing’ offensive look, you’re going to have to be able to handle the blitz. We work on the blitz everyday, trying to develop in our offense the belief that if someone blitzes us, it’s because they can’t stand up and play straight up defense with us. We try to instill confidence in our offensive unit, particularly the QB, that we will hurt a team when they blitz us.

The double calls we make in the huddle allow us to take advantage of blitzes when we recognize them. We will always try to release five receivers into the pattern. We spend a lot of time identifying the hot defenders so that both the QB and receivers know if they are hot. Then we are content to throw short and avoid the sack; put the ball in the hands of a back or receiver and give them the chance to make something happen with it. We also try to avoid long yardage passing situations. First and second downs are very important downs. We couldn’t have enjoyed the offensive success we’ve enjoyed had we been facing third and long all the time.

Two other factors that we believe help control the amount of blitzing we see are no-huddle tempos and the fact that we change our offensive formations so often without changing offensive personnel. We feel like these two aspects of our offense tend to make our opponents play base defense.

Based on the tailback’s alignment in the Pistol three yards behind the quarterback, are you able to utilize the tailback in drop back passing situations as a blocker? Also, what are your favorite plays in short yardage situations? Karl Liedtka, Offensive Line Coach, Lebanon High School (PA). AFM subscriber since 2007.
Our tailback’s alignment is actually 1 1/2 yards behind the QB, and because of that alignment we have not been able to use him in pass protection schemes, but we can still release him in routes. The tailback’s inability to help in protections and vertical releases into pass routes has been the only detraction from the Pistol alignment we’ve discovered.

Our favorite short yardage plays come from our Rhino package. It is the only time we substitute personnel. We will take out our wide receivers and insert a second TE and two ‘Rhino’ backs into the game. The Rhino backs’ alignment is one yard behind each offensive guard. These two players are usually linemen or defensive players. Their only jobs are to lead block. We will run the A back lead, where we down block with a TE and lead outside with the Rhinos, the first one kicking out and the second one leading up in the hole. Or, we can utilize this same blocking scheme but fake to the A back and the QB keeps following the Rhinos. Our next favorite play is speed option with Rhinos leading on the first off color outside the TE. This play really becomes the QB stretch play, as we never really pitch the ball in short yardage situations. We just tell our QB to find a gap and get in it. All Rhino plays are run from the Pistol.

In this sophisticated offense, what are the general attributes you feel you need in your quarterback to maximize the Pistol? Bob Warren, Assistant Coach, Springfield High School (LA). AFM subscriber since 2006.
I believe he must have the savvy and patience of an option/veer QB, able and willing to run the ball but disciplined enough to take whatever the defense gives. He must also be able to throw well enough to keep the defense spread and concerned about the pass. But he must be intelligent enough to keep the ball on the ground and pound it out when they do. He also has to be courageous enough to be empty in the backfield and dare the defense to come after him. Our QB last year was 5’11, 170 lbs., ran about a 4.7 40 with decent quickness and strength. His best trait was his savvy and toughness. He threw for 2,250 yards, ran for about 750 and accounted for 43 TD’s. This year, we will not ask our QB to have those kinds of numbers. He will be able to run to keep the defense honest and throw when he needs to; but most of our running game will come with the A back.

Coming in October: Macalester College Head Coach Glenn Caruso talks specifically about the Pass Action Run. While at South Dakota, Caruso transformed an offense that had averaged 13 points per game to one that averaged 44 ppg over a two year period with the Pass Action Run. Last fall, his first at Macalester, his offense averaged 8.3 yards per carry every time the Pass Action Run was called. He answers your questions in next month's issue. Go to www.AmericanFootballMonthly.com/askacoach or send your question to AFM’s Managing Editor Rex Lardner at rlardner@lcclark.com





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