Ferris State University

Presents
Presents

The Show Gun Offense

Rob Zeitman
zeitmar@ferris.edu

Ferris State Football

Spring Clinic
Saturday, April 20th is the Show-gun Option Clinic. The Saturday
Morning Schedule is as follows:
9:00 am Registration
Offensive & Defensive Presentations
12:301:30Lunch (Pizza)
1:303:00On Field Demo / Practice

Cost is $40 per coach

Ferris State University

Bulldogs

OFFENSIVE SYSTEM

WE ARE A HYBRID OF:

Traditional Veer Option

Georgia Tech / Navy

WE ARE A HYBRID OF:

Traditional Veer Option

Georgia Tech / Navy

Spread Passing Team

Oklahoma ST./Washington ST.

WE ARE A HYBRID OF:

Traditional Veer Option

Georgia Tech / Navy

Spread Passing Team

Oklahoma ST./Washington ST.

Pistol Offense
Nevada

WE ARE A HYBRID OF:

Traditional Veer Option

Georgia Tech / Navy

Spread Passing Team

Oklahoma ST./Washington ST.

Pistol Offense
Nevada

At the pace of Oregon

The Show-Guns first

year at Ferris State
Finished 6th in the NCAA in Rushing Off
at 306 yds per game
15th in the NCAA in Total Off.
Set single game FSU Rushing Record
Single season FSU Rushing Record
The GLIAC Conference All-Time Record
for Rushing Yds by a QB in a season
GLIAC Conference Rookie of the Year

1. Win with inferior talent (control

superior Talent)
2. Dont block players by design
3. It forces defenses to play assignment
football
4. Opponents have hard time emulating
in practice
5. It controls random blitzing

6. Simple blocking schemes

7. Fun to practice
8. Can use Multiple formations to run
same plays
9. Easy to use audibles to attack the
weaknesses of defenses

S
C

S
B

B
E

Conventional offense: 5 Defenders to 4 Blockers

Double Option Play: 4 Defenders to 4 Blockers
Triple Option Play: 3 Defenders to 4 Blockers

Advantages of the Short Pistol

1. We have emphasized for years for the QB to step deep at 5
oclock or 7 oclock to mesh our triple play. The short pistol
accommodates our desire for depth by aligning the QB 2 1/2
yards away from the center.
2. We reduce the box with our alignment of our slots our slots
previously lined up 1 x 1 off of the outside leg of the tackle
when we were under center. Now they align 5 yards wide and
level with the quarterback. We did this to make the orbit
motion the correct angle.

Advantages of the Short Pistol

3. Quick passing game Our quarterback simply catches the
snap and is in position to throw the quick game.

4. It hits vertically quicker than the true shotgun or true

pistol and just a little slower than the under center
option game (we lost a yard on our fullbacks alignment).
5. It protects the mesh from being attacked.

Advantages of the Short Pistol

6. It allows us to widen our splits to 3 feet in the A gap and 3
1/2 feet in the B gap which spreads the defense out and
creates great blocking angles and natural creases.
7. It forces the hand-off key to be very definitive in his angle
to attack the dive back. Consequently, it makes the read
for the quarterback easier.
8. It gives the quarterback more time to read the hand-off
key and then transition his eyes to the pitch key, because
the pitch key is wider due to our alignment and line splits.

1. A two handed snap with end-to-end rotational spin. We had

two mishandled snaps this past season in over 750 snaps.

2. The running back lines up with his Helmt five yards from the
tip of the ball.

3. The slots must be lined up on the same horizontal plane as

the quarterback. Your motion must be quick and at an angle
where the defense cannot recognize the goal of the motion.
undetectable motion.

4. The quarterbacks footwork is more pivot style footwork

rather than stepping on an imaginary clock.
5. The quarterback has to be louder in our no huddle option
attack, he is our communicator.

Alignment / Splits
QB toes 2 Yds. from
tip of the ball

5 yards from tackle

And level with QB

5 yards from tackle

And level with QB

RB Helmet
5 yds from
tip of the ball

Ferris State University

Bulldogs

INSIDE VEER

F
C

B
E

C
E

The Plays Value

1. It is three plays in one to each side of the football.
2. 3 defenders vs. 4 blockers. By reading two guys on one side of the
ball it gives the offense a decisive advantage.

3. It opens up many more opportunities for your offense because the

defense must stop this play first.
4. It is a great red zone offense. Ball goes down hill fast.
5. You only have to learn how to read and mesh and that only takes time. If
the coach and players are willing to commit to mesh, your team can
really be good.

QB in the Option
Making Personnel Decisions
Leadership Ability
Work Ethic
Football Intelligence
Communication
Confidence
Speed
Natural Throwing Motion

QB in the Option
Mental Preparation
&
Physical Preparation

Mental Preparation
Quarterback Manual

QBs must learn:

Gap designations of the defense
How to identify & communicate where
defenders line-up
Handoff keys (how they change)
Pitch keys (how they change)

QB in the Option
Pages from the Quarterback Manual
C

Typically, Defenses will put one man in charge

of a single gap. That is called a gap-control
defense. Learning this concept, will enable us
to understand which defender is in charge of
each gap.

QB in the Option
Pages from the Quarterback Manual
5 4 4I 3 2 1 s 0 s 1 2 3 4I 4 5

9-Technique=outside shade of Tight end

8-Technique=head up on Tight end
7-Technique=inside shade of Tight end
5-Technique = outside shade of Offensive Tackle
4-Technique = head up on offensive tackle
4I-Technique = inside shade of Offensive Tackle
3-Technique = outside shade of Offensive Guard
2-Technique = head up on Offensive Guard
1-Technique = inside shade of Offensive Guard
0-Technique = head up on Center
Shade = shaded to one side of the Center

789

QB in the Option
Pages from the Quarterback Manual
F

C
A
E

B
T

Pitch Key

B
T

S
E

Hand Off Key

B
T

C
B
T

QB in the Option
Pages from the Quarterback Manual
S

B
T

B
T

B
B

QB in the Option
Pages from the Quarterback Manual
C

F
E

S
B

B
N

QB in the Option
Pages from the Quarterback Manual
F

C
W

F
M

C
S

C
S

QB in the Option
Physical Preparation
Constant fundamental & drill work

Stance (should not change)

Snap and Cadence
Footwork
QB/FB Mesh
Mechanics of pitch
Attacking Pitch Key

Cadence
Ready
Red
Sethit
Cadence is rhythmic and the ball is snapped on the
S in Set.

QB Mechanics in the Mesh

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Stab ball back

Ride forward with the backs momentum
Try to keep your ride step within your frame
Do not ride pass the front hip
Disengage, and sprint off mesh with slight
bubble step
Attack outside shoulder of pitch key
If pitch key is hard, youre soft and if he is
soft youre hard
Pitch with thumbs up, thumbs down
mechanics - pitch and follow

QB Pose

QB uses pivot style to point shoulder

to the HOK, stabbing the ball deep &
meshing with the hips (bring the ball
forward to the front hip)

A great way to create an

environment of learning through
many repetitions in a short
period of time

Running Back Fundamentals

Flat back with a narrower base
Have hand at 5 yards
Track through guards stance
Soft fold the ball
Pad level down
Look to cut off tackles block

Slot Fundamentals
5 yard split level with QB
2 point stance
We want undetectable motion
Go late, go fast in motion
Run through tracks of RB
Make a ball, ball, ball call when in pitch position

Optimal pitch position- 4x1

Make a go, go, go call when in possession of
the ball

Perimeter Drill
Man Blocking Scheme
F
C
B

Block the man over the top of

you, Split End has #1 & Slot
has #2

Perimeter Drill
Switch Blocking Scheme
F
C
B

Block the man over the top of

you, Split End has #2 & Slot
has #1

Perimeter Drill
Corner (as the pitch key) Blocking Scheme
F
C
B

Do Not block the Corner, every

other perimeter player is
accounted for

Perimeter Drill
Safe (safety as the pitch key) Blocking Scheme
F
C
B

Do Not block the Safety, every

other perimeter player is
accounted for

A great way to create an

environment of learning through
many repetitions in a short
period of time

#2s Man

2
Pitch Key

#1s Man

#2s Man

#1s Man

Rotation
With
Motion

TEs Man

Ferris State University

Offensive Line Play
Making Personnel Decisions
Put a premium on speed off the ball
NOT SIZE
Guards Best Drive Blockers
Centers & Tackles Quick & Agile

Play Side Tackle Play

B
E

Release move to LB
Avoid contact at LOS
Either swim or rip
Quick off the ball

B
N

B
E

Escape Level 1
Defender

Play Side Guard Play

B
E

Drive block Man-on

Must get movement
Will get help from the Center

B
E

Play Side Guard Play

B
E

B
T

Drive block Man-on

Must get movement
If outside shade, drive out one-on-one

Center Play

B
E

Double w/play side Guard

Take DL to level 2
If DT plays B gap, secure play side
A gap, then to backside LB

B
E

Double Team, Heavy Guard

Light Center Get hip to hip

Backside Guard Play

B
E

Cut off backside A gap

B
E

Backside Tackle Play

B
E

Wheel & Seal

B
E

Make sure that personnel is

rotated through the drill so that
they work it both to the left and
the right

B
E

B
N

B
E

S
N

B
E

B
N

B
E

FS
C

C
W

B
E T

S
E

1. Quarterback must know that he can never

pitch off the ILB unless we are blocking the
pitch key. Put your foot in the ground &
get vertical
2. We would look at motioning away from the
side we dive and base it up or base up the
front side and hope the ILB over runs the
play.

B
E T

S
E

3. Another attempt would be to bang

release the hand-off key and hope that the
ILB comes over top too fast. The tackle will
then go to backside ILB.
4. Another option is to insert the backside
slot and arch the tackle.
5. Our next option would be to block the
playside ILB with the slot.

B
E T

S
E

B
E T

S
E

6. The last option would be to block the pitch

key with the slot and pitch off the ILB.
7. We could use a tight end or H back to break
their scheme.

Frankenmuth High School

July 29, 30, 31

7 State Championship Teams Have Attended this Camp

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