<h3><span class="editsection">[
<font color="#002BB8">edit</font>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Pistol</span></h3>
Main article: <font color="#002BB8">Pistol Offense</font></p> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="WIDTH: 277px">
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</div>Chris Ault's "Pistol" formation </div> </div> </div>
This offense was originated by Chris Ault of The
<font color="#002BB8">University of Nevada</font> Wolf Pack. It is essentially a shotgun variation, with the quarterback lined up closer than in standard shotgun, and a
<font color="#002BB8">running back</font> lined up behind, rather than next to, the QB.</p>
The Pistol formation adds the dimension of a running game with the halfback being in a singleback position. This has disrupted the timing of some defenses with the way the quarterback hands the ball off to the halfback. This also allows the smaller halfbacks to hide behind the offensive line, causing opposing linebackers and pass-rushing defensive linemen to play more conservatively. The Pistol can also feature the option play. With this offense, the quarterback has the ability to get a better look past the offensive line and at the defense. Pistol formations have gained some popularity in NCAA football, and in fact a variant of this offense was used by the 2008 BCS National Champs, LSU.</p>
In 2008, the Kansas City Chiefs began using the Pistol prominently in their offense, and are the first NFL team to do so.
As mentioned, LSU runs out of it a lot.</p>