Article On The Pistol Formation

CapstoneGrad06

Hall of Fame
Jan 19, 2006
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I was extremely excited when Coach McElwain and Coach Saban added this to the offense. I watched Nevada have great success with it, and LSU first used it in the SEC in 2007. They've done well with it as too. However, it seems we're more commited to using it has one of our regular plays than most. I know LSU, Arkansas, and Florida have used it some, but not to the degree that I've seen Alabama use it thus far in 2009.
 

TidePrideGA

All-American
Dec 6, 1999
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Athens GA
I was extremely excited when Coach McElwain and Coach Saban added this to the offense. I watched Nevada have great success with it, and LSU first used it in the SEC in 2007. They've done well with it as too. However, it seems we're more commited to using it has one of our regular plays than most. I know LSU, Arkansas, and Florida have used it some, but not to the degree that I've seen Alabama use it thus far in 2009.
I like the variety that comes with it, you can use it to attack defenses in a variety of ways. I really like the broken pistol.
 

Saban14

All-SEC
Apr 24, 2009
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Alpine, Al
What's exciting is seeing a Bama team with a coaching staff that adapts quickly to maximize effectiveness. The pistol is also a very exciting addition from a fan's perspective. It's almost a given that Bama will have a top 10 defense under Saban year in and year out, but Mcelwain is improving offensive performance consistently and is an extremely good OC. That, combined with excellent recruiting, is what wins national championships. If we could figure out special teams, then things would be where they should be.
 

TidePrideGA

All-American
Dec 6, 1999
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Athens GA
What's exciting is seeing a Bama team with a coaching staff that adapts quickly to maximize effectiveness. The pistol is also a very exciting addition from a fan's perspective. It's almost a given that Bama will have a top 10 defense under Saban year in and year out, but Mcelwain is improving offensive performance consistently and is an extremely good OC. That, combined with excellent recruiting, is what wins national championships. If we could figure out special teams, then things would be where they should be.
Yeah McElwain is doing one hell of a nice job. I love the corrdinator who can beat you with a dizzying array of formations. Keeps the opposition on its toes.
 

briancm

All-SEC
Feb 24, 2003
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Sheffield, AL USA
Love the "sawed off shotgun" !

We are watching a very dynamic offense thus far. Can't wait to see it in full force once into the SEC schedule.

We haven't even come close to seeing what we can do for 4 full quarters and clicking on all cylinders. , or as cbi1972 would rather read it, "the offense is firing on all cylinders". (with that in mind the offense is the spark plug. Now, what about the fuel? Also, if the engine is not clicking, it will not matter if the offense/plugs are firing, due to the gas not making it to cylinder, hence, the valves are stuck and no piston movement. So, valve clicking is a good thing. Timing is also a factor. And lets not forget the timing chain or the rest of the team. :) ) "No soup for you, next!"

Go BAMA!!!!!
 
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cbi1972

Hall of Fame
Nov 8, 2005
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Birmingham, AL
clicking on all cylinders.
I hear this mixed metaphor a lot recently, and every time I hear this I think of a guy in a western shooting a revolver that is out of ammo, *click* *click* *click*.
One expression is 'the offense is clicking"
The other is "the offense is firing on all cylinders" like an engine would.
 

BamaMoon

Hall of Fame
Apr 1, 2004
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Boone, NC
Against FIU I noticed that in the first offensive series we came out with mulitiple looks. The first play was out of the traditional i formation with Gmac under center. In the same drive we used an empty backfield and qb in the shotgun, the wildcat, the pistol formation and Gmac under center with single back. Several different looks. It's been a while since Bama was this versatile.
 
In addition to the obvious advantages listed in the article, I love the fact that opponents have to focus on multiple sets, multiple plays from those sets and an array of personnel to run those.

With any luck at all, McElwain is allowing the team to work on the foundations of the system and will unveil one or two wrinkles per week to produce explosive plays and for future opponents to consider. By the end of the season so many facets of the O will be on the table that DCs will be forced to focus on the parts of the O that they expect to see. I wonder how McElwain is at chess?
 

GulfCoastTider

Hall of Fame
I would love to see Ault's offense run with players who can get it done in the open field. It is a very dangerous system, with the potential of changing the game of football the way Walsh did.

No, I don't want to see him at Alabama (yet). But it'd be fun to see him run that offense with the talent levels USC has.

"Danger, danger, Will Robinson!"
 

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