The improved Run N’ Shoot

With rumors swirling that June Jones could return to Hawaii, the Run N’ Shoot offense could once again see it’s return to the collegiate ranks. Most recently used at Washington State, the firing of Nick Rolovich and promotion of Jake Dickert will see the Cougars run a more spread offense. The Run N’ Shoot is a dynamic but old offense which needs some fine tuning, Jones himself said he’ll run a more modern Run N’ Shoot if given the Hawaii job.

Let’s break down what the Run N’ Shoot offense is. It’s a simple concept offense with two standard formations.

A shotgun formation which serves as the base of the Run N’ Shoot. 4 receivers, 1 running back and no tight ends

Then there is the trips formation which can be run as trips left and trips right.

The basis of the Run N’ Shoot is to attack the open space. Simple concept but the way I put it is the Quarterback must be a space interpreter. Basically the receivers have route concepts but are allowed to break off and run up to 8 different route combinations based on the defensive coverage. The Quarterback must one anticipate where the receiver is going, where the space in the defense is and be able to deliver an accurate pass into tight windows. This offense takes a lot of trust and chemistry between the QB and his receivers along with the time for plays to develop. Thus the O-line must be able to give a QB a clean pocket on a consistent basis.

The main areas of attack are

1. The flat. The quickest pass should get the receiver the ball with space to pick up yards after the catch. Other route concepts should take the corners out of the play enough to fire the ball into typically the slot receivers hands.

2. The deep pass. One of the beauties of the Run N’ Shoot is that is puts a lot of receivers on the field. The best way to defend this is to drop eight in coverage and rush three. However that is almost impossible as very few teams can apply pressure in a 5 v 3 matchup. So they must rush four. That creates a 8 v 5 or 8 v 4 matchup in the secondary, dependent on if the running back turns into a receiver or blocker.

3. The gap between the safety and linebackers. Depending on the underneath route, the line backers should either stay in place of take a step forward. If the safety breaks off with the streaking receiver, there should be a gap or space in the second/ third level.

The issue with the Run N’ Shoot is its simplicity and inability to effectively run the ball on a consistent basis. This changed in 2010 when Hawaii running back Alex Green became UH’s first 1000 yard rusher since Travis Sims in 1992. Yes Hawaii ran the Run N’ Shoot under OC Nick Rolovich but what helped was the introduction of the pistol formation. The pistol formation was created and popularized by Nevada HC Chris Ault and with QB Colin Kaepernick, Nevada won a share of the WAC in 2010. The pistol is a formation which requires a short snap to the QB and for which the ball can get out of the QB’s hands in a second. The pistol is most effective at throwing screen routes, short routes, read option/ rpo plays and running the football.

I think the new Run N’ Shoot needs to incorporate more pistol formations while still maintaining the fundamentals of the Run N’ Shoot.

As shown, the QB lines up halfway between the center and where he would be in a standard shotgun formation. The route concepts of the Run N’ Shoot are still available, now the screen, bubble screen, HB draw and HB dive are all in play.

I would also like to see the incorporation of a tight end in the Run N’ Shoot. BYU, Baylor and Coastal Carolina have found great success using 3 receivers, 1 tight end and a running back in creating a dynamic offense that employs a variety of pass, run and rpo concepts which freezes the linebackers at the point of attack.

Also a multiple tight end set would boost the Run N’ Shoot’s ability to pick up short yardage on the ground in 3rd and short situations.

I would also like to see Hawaii or the user of the Run N’ Shoot use more 5 wide concepts. A plain numerical advantage, defenses are either gonna rush 3 or 4 because a blitz would easily be countered by a quick pass. Either way its going to be a 9 v 5 or 8 v 5 match up and I’ll take those numbers all day of the week. Especially with the level of athlete Hawaii has at the skill positions.

The last formations are a bunch trips pistol formation which squeezes defenders and causes hesitation with a variety of route concepts. Used at Alabama with DeVonta Smith and Mac Jones, it allows the offense to have multiple blockers on the run and the ability to hit the inside or flat with quickness.

Next is a two running back concept with 3 receivers allowing dynamic route patterns and extra protection in the backfield. It doesn’t need to use running backs. The 2019 LSU Tigers would put Ja’Marr Chase in the backfield, allowing him to have a favorable matchup with the linebacker in space. The Niners employ such a tactic with Deebo Samuel and the Falcons do the same with Corderelle Patterson.

Lastly is a new take on the wildcat which places 3 running backs on the field at one time.

The last improvement is that I would add the use of motion. The Run N’ Shoot typically doesn’t use motion because it really didn’t change how the passing concepts used to work. However we live in a new era with new defensive concepts and motion helps reveal what type of coverages a defense might run. Also it keeps defenses on their toes.

Below are some new play concepts I would like to see incorporated in the Run N’ Shoot playbook. In this time we live in, adapting is essential to survival. I truly think Hawaii would be served well with more RPO concepts along with different route patterns that still follow the basis of the Run N’ Shoot. The Run N’ Shoot is the grandfather to the modern spread and west coast offense. Thus it time to get with the times and dominate in the classroom, thus dominating on the football field.

1. The left side running back motions into a extended pistol formation. The 7 blockers on the line stop the d-lineman from getting into the backfield for the second it takes the ball carriers to exit the backfield. The right side running back should take out the OLB thus creating a 1 v 1 match up with the running back where he has the option to keep or pitch. There’s another play where we motion the right-side receiver to the left, bringing to corner with him or shifting the defense to the newly established strong side. Dependent on corner skill and receiver blocking ability.

2. Motion the right side receiver into the slot. At the snap, the running back in the quarterback slot will hand off to left side running back. RB will run outside as motioned RB cuts back inside. Left side RB will pitch ball backwards to motioned RB and he will run on the opposite side of field. Right guard will pull as left side tight end sets the edge along with RB in QB slot blocking as well. The ball carrier should have at least 2 blockers, a possible third in the DE cuts inside and the tight end is able to break off.

3. Simple up the gut running play to achieve short yardage. Uses the rugby scrum concept. Multiple man push to gain 1-3 yards beyond line of scrimmage.

4. Same play as 3 but left side tight end will break off from block. Ball carrier will have a jump pass option dependent on where the linebackers are at that time.