Systematic Innovation: The No-Huddle, Power Pistol Offense

For Head Coach Robbie Owens of Grand Junction High School (CO), the system’s the thing. He believes offensive innovation is important, but without a system that is simple, adjustable and easy to install and teach, the value of innovation can be diminished.

Owens’ system has proved itself over multiple seasons of high-octane offense. By combining the pistol formation with a punishing running attack and an up-tempo, no-huddle pace, Owens’ Grand Junction teams have produced prolific numbers – an offense that averaged 436 yards per game last fall and 6,719 all purpose yards in 2011, for example. Coach Owens spoke to AFM about his innovative No-Huddle, Power Pistol system.
 
What is the origin of your No-Huddle, Power Pistol offensive system?
 
My college coaching career was primarily spent coordinating defenses. As a head coach, I found that coordinating offenses required that I adopt a systematic approach. There are too many moving parts, and without a systems approach, it can become difficult to put points on the scoreboard. Being able to depend on a well-rehearsed system has allowed us to compete – even when there were times that we were out-manned.

To ensure success, we had to become efficient at the things I felt were the most difficult for us to defend when I was on defense. On the top of that list were the QB run game, multiple formations and personnel groups and using shifts, motions and unbalanced formations. I was influenced by Florida and Tim Tebow’s run game, working through the spread to the pistol and transitions from true zone.  We have developed a system using all those concepts.
 
What are the base characteristics of the No-Huddle, Power Pistol offense?
 
•  It is built on a system  that is:
    -  Easy to teach
    -  Easy to install
    -  Easy to make adjustments
•  Includes multiple formations
•  Multiple personnel groups
•  Has a conflict assignment run game
•  Vertical passing game
•  System concepts for the run and pass game
•  Up-tempo, no-huddle
 
What advantages does the Pistol formation provide compared to being under center or in the shotgun?
 
The Pistol combines all the advantages of the Gun and I-formation.
 
- Advantages of the “Gun”
    •  QB has instant separation
    •  QB has immediate line of sight
    •  QB has a read element available with the             entire run game
    •  QB is a threat in the run game
 - Advantages of the I formation
    •  Downhill run game
    •  Iso, power, counter, and toss
    •  RB’s shoulders are square
    •  Run in either direction
    •  Pressure is off the quarterback
 
Why the Pistol?
 
•  It allows us to eliminate some tendencies with the read run game.
•  We can run the no-huddle with the entire package.
•  We can flip plays without moving a running back prior to the snap.
•  We are multiple, using various formations, backfield actions, motions, personnel groups and shifts.
•  We force the defense to play option responsibility, respect the power run game and defend the pass on every play.
•  It allows us to run base one-back and two-back plays.
•  It allows running backs to enter the LOS downhill with shoulders square which gives them better vision and easier cuts.
 
 What gives the No-Huddle, Power Pistol its “power”?
 
We have a run-first mentality. The power element of our offense is to have the ability to run any 21-personnel formations, along with one-back power concepts. As we incorporate adjustments within the offense (system), we aim at ease of teaching/learning. For example, within the system, we can change our lead blocker. We can lead our guard, H-back (FB), offensive tackle or TE on the exact same concept. What this allows us to do is simply change the personnel of who is leading play side and change angles required to block other defenders. We also have a simple way of changing who that lead blocker isolates on. So, we will lead our backside guard on an ILB, a DE, a DT or an OLB.  We will do the same with our HB, OT, and TE.
 
How important is the no-huddle, up tempo pace to this offense?
 
Tempo is a vital element to our identity. Tempo is considered a play our opponents must attempt to mimic in practice, which we feel they can’t do. We want to put the pressure on the defense to simplify their defensive calls and react to us rather than vice versa.
 
What is your base formation and its variations?
 
Our base formation is an11 personnel 3 x 1 set. But we use a variety of formations, personnel groups, unbalanced sets, shifts and motions.
 
Our formation philosophy:
 
•  Create confusion and positive match-ups with formations (We have 383 different formations).
•  Work within a systematic offensive approach.
•  Appear complicated but still simple upfront.
•  Easy to teach a player to line-up but harder to teach the overall scheme.

What are your blocking schemes in your run game?

Our primary concept works off our ability to isolate a lead blocker at the point of attack. For example, in our Gator concept, we will pull our backside guard and lead on the ILB to the playside (Diagram 1). We teach simple rules that each of our linemen can use to adjust to different schemes and alignments. Obviously, these rules don’t cover every possible alignment, but they do give our players a firm understanding of the foundational understanding of our offense.

Diagram 1:  Gator Concept

As we incorporate adjustments within the offense (system), we aim at ease of teaching/learning. For example, within the system, we can change our lead blocker.

What this allows us to do is simply change the personnel of who is leading play side and change angles required to block other defenders. We also have a simple way of changing who that lead blocker isolates on.
 
 
Can you describe your basic formations and personnel groupings?
 
We have 14 different formations and personnel groupings. This includes everything from “Ram Over” which is a 2 X 1 set to “Ram Flip Over” which is a trips set. We also have a number of slot formations as well as empty-backfield sets (See Diagrams 2-15).

Diagram 2: Ram Over

Diagram 3: Ram

Diagram 4: Ram Wing Flip

Diagram 5: Ram Flip Over

Diagram 6: Rip Slot

Diagram 7: Ram Slot Stop

Diagram 8: Reo Wide

Diagram 9: Reo Over

Diagram 10: Ram Queen

Diagram 11: Ram King Flop

Diagram 12: Ram Queen Flip

Diagram 13: Rip King Kong

Diagram 14: Rambo Empty

Diagram 15: Rhino

 
What are the key aspects of the passing game in the No-Huddle Power Pistol offense?
 
We feel the key to our passing game is the systems approach, working similarly to the run game. We want most of our passing game to work off our run game with run/pass combo plays, play-action and boot. A complement of the drop back passing game gives our passing game variety and vertical elements.  We still teach a simple read progression for our quarterbacks. It is similar to our running game where we can isolate on an OLB, ILB, corner or free safety for our quarterback read.

 As a system, what makes the No-Huddle Power Pistol easy to install and effective to implement? What is the process?
 
Albert Einstein once said, “Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.” It’s an important distinction in the case of coaching football. If we were merely interested in building the simplest offense in football, we would line up and run one play, every time, from one formation. This is not feasible, nor smart. So how does a coach go about building a systematic offense that is simple to teach, adjustable, and strikes fear in defensive coordinators?

The first step is examining how you teach your offense. It is imperative that in a systematic approach, players learn and fully understand the primary concepts – what the play is designed to do. Only after they understand the primary concepts do we install the adjustments. In the No-Huddle Power Pistol, we have based the entire offense on this premise.

With today’s technology, the only way players can become better is viewing themselves on film. It is critical that you are able to identify the skills each player needs to perform for the responsibilities involved in each play concept. We spend a great deal of time identifying the three skills and the five drills we feel are necessary for our players to develop to ensure success. We let our practice film and game film determine which aspects of our skill development need fine-tuning on a weekly basis. Success on the field doesn’t happen by accident. Preparation precedes performance and, again, allows for your players to become better learners of your offensive identity.

We have a systematic approach to how we install our offense. We group our plays with similar concepts and make them into teachable ideas. Our process of installation is the following:

•  Install viewing power point playbook.

•  Draw on the white board.

•  Show the techniques with cut-ups.

•  Install on the field in walk and talk settings.

•  Practice position techniques in individual periods.

•  Work techniques and scheme in team sessions.

•  Watch the individual and team sessions on film with position groups.

•  Make adjustments.

•  Repeat necessary steps.

What types of athletes and teams would benefit from your No-Huddle, Power Pistol offense?
 
    We have had success highlighting a variety of athletes and teams. Just about every high school team can benefit from this offense. Here are some of the things we’ve accomplished:
 
•  Over the past four years we’ve have averaged 432.66 yards in total offense, 37.27 points per game, and 307.96 yards rushing offense.

•  We’re 35-10 the past four seasons with two final 8 appearances in the Colorado highest classification and qualified for 5 straight playoffs. 

•  This past season, our QB threw for 1729 yards and 16 TDs, while rushing for 1054 yards and 16  TDs. Our RB rushed for 1373 yards and 17 TDs.
 
    The three QBs that have been in our system have been very different but their results have been similar (See Chart).
 
    What this has proved to us is that the system is adaptable and works with many different types of personalities and ability levels.
 
About Robbie Owens: Coach Robbie Owens has led Grand Junction High School to a 35-10 record over the last four seasons with his prolific No-Huddle, Power Pistol offense. He started his coaching career at his alma mater, Mesa State College. During his 11 seasons there, Owens served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator. Before coming to Grand Junction, Owens was the head coach at Coconut Creek High School (FL).
 
Coach Owens completed a four-set series of DVDs on his No-Huddle, Power Pistol offense, now available at AFMvideos.com. The series includes, “The Run Game”, “The Drop Back Passing Game”, “Run-Pass Combo Plays”, and “Implementing Tempo in Your Offense.”