Here's my question so far. What is the benefit of the Pistol formation for running the AIR RAID? I'm wanting to run the Air Raid the way Mike Leach did at ttu, in the 2000's.
Early on they used strong I and some Ace formations but mainly they lined up in the SG, threw the ball ALL over the field and if they had numbers in the box they would audible to a Read Option, Draw, Gut, something up the middle, but they would make this change at the LOS. They usually had GREAT rushing stats as they would get big gains up the gut, mainly to keep the D honest and then go right back to working the flats (Wes Welker style).
I under stand the HB is lined up directly behind the QB in the base pistol but what really is the benefit of the pistol formation if you are a FLING it all over the field kinda offense? If you have success rushing out of the SG when numbers are in your favor, why do you even need the pistol formations?
Kevin Sumlin said at SEC media day that he's glad people "think" we are going to be pass happy offense, he said at Houston he was not this 70-30 pass-run offense, he says he was more 55-45....the problem I have w/ that is, I've watched Houston play and the defenses they played....well 1, they weren't SEC caliber and 2, they seemed to always come out to defend the pass. It seemed like the other Air Raid teams they would audible at the LOS to a run when they had numbers in their favor and then they also had A LOT of speed so they would get really good rushing yards.
Again, they didn't use the pistol so I'm not sure why it's necessary, is it just another look to give the defense to get them thinking? Kinda like how I'm wanting to combine the WCO and the Air Raid so I can keep the defense on it's toes?
EDIT: Leach and Holgerson on a radio show:
http://smartfootball.com/offense/mik...-offense-maven
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