Who was the first NFL team to use the shotgun?

In the latter part of the 1940s, the Philadelphia Eagles, under Hall of Fame Coach Earl "Greasy" Neale, implemented the shotgun formation in their offensive attack with quarterback Tommy Thompson. The formation was named by the man who actually devised it, San Francisco 49ers coach Red Hickey, in 1960.

What NFL team first used the shotgun formation?

San Francisco first used the shotgun on November 27, 1960 in a game against the Baltimore Colts. Hickey knew the Colts had a terrific pass rush, so in preparing for the game he had his quarterbacks practice taking snaps seven yards deep rather than from under center.

Why is it called shotgun in football?

Combining elements of the short punt and spread formations ("spread" in that it had receivers spread widely instead of close to or behind the interior line players), it was said to be like a "shotgun" in spraying receivers around the field. (The alignment of the players also suggests the shape of an actual shotgun).

What is a shotgun quarterback?

In the shotgun, instead of the quarterback receiving the snap from center at the line of scrimmage, he stands farther behind the line of scrimmage, often five to seven yards back.

How far back is QB in shotgun?

A shotgun snap in football is a snap to the quarterback in the shotgun formation. The shotgun formation has the quarterback not standing directly behind the center. The quarterback lines up between five and seven yards behind the line of scrimmage and the ball is snapped to them from there.

Who invented shotgun offense?

Red Hickey, 89, an NFL player and coach who is credited with inventing the shotgun formation, died Thursday of natural causes in Aptos, Calif., east of Santa Cruz, where he was receiving hospice care, his son Jeffrey said.

What does quarterback under center mean?

The term shotgun vs under center in football refer to the way in which a quarterback is given the ball to start a play. When a quarterback is under center he will be standing directly behind the center and will be handing the ball between the center's leg.

Who invented the pistol formation?

A particular new concept — and “new” can still be debated — is the “pistol” formation. Invented in the mid-2000s by Nevada head coach Chris Ault, this concept has gone from gimmick to mainstay but has evolved philosophically, as well.

Why does shotgun mean front seat?

In the Wild West era of US history, a "shotgun guard" used to ride alongside a stagecoach driver as his protection, keeping a keen eye out for bandits and highwaymen. When we call "shotgun" to secure the front seat, it's a reference to that once-vital job.

What does Pistal mean in football?

In simple terms, the "pistol" is a formation where the quarterback stands up a few yards behind the center (in shotgun), and the running back lines up behind him.

Where does the QB stand?

The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line.

What is the Wildcat offense?

Wildcat formation describes a formation for the offense in football in which the ball is snapped not to the quarterback but directly to a player of another position lined up at the quarterback position.

How far back is QB in pistol?

It is a hybrid of the traditional shotgun and single back offenses. In the pistol offense, also commonly referred to as the "pistol formation", the quarterback lines up four yards behind the center, which is much closer than the seven-yard setback in a traditional shotgun formation.

What formation has two Runningbacks?

A split back formation, also known as a pro set, is an offensive formation that places the quarterback directly behind the center. Two running backs line up near him: one to the quarterback's left and behind him and one to his right and behind him.

What is under center in football?

In slang, the player receiving the snap is said to be "under center" if he receives the ball directly from the center (not in shotgun). This phrase is typically applied to quarterbacks but has been used in reference to other positions as well.

What is the Pistol offense in football?

The pistol is similar to the shotgun formation in that the quarterback is lined up a few yards removed from the center, but rather than having a running back beside him, the running back is a few yards behind him. It is a blend of shotgun and traditional under-center formations.

What does shotgun a beer mean?

To shotgun, you simply hold your can of beer horizontally, poke a hole in the lower side opposite the actual can opening, put said hole to your mouth, turn the beer so it's vertical, open the beer “traditionally,” and let the magic of physics and atmospheric pressure force the beer into your mouth without any ...

Can I sit shotgun?

To ride in the front passenger seat of a car. An allusion to stage coaches in the 19th-century US, which were often protected from outlaws by someone who sat wielding a shotgun next to the driver.

What is shotgun slang for?

(slang) The front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver; so called because the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn stage-coach, wagon train, or gold transport was next to the driver on a forward-mounted bench seat. synonym ▲ Synonym: death seat. I call shotgun!

What is the key difference between the shotgun and pistol formations?

In the pistol, the quarterback lines up four or five yards behind the center, and the running back lines up two or three yards behind the quarterback; in the shotgun, the quarterback lines up seven yards behind he center, and the running back lines up to the side of the quarterback.

Why is it called the shotgun formation?

Shotgun combines elements of the short punt and spread formations — "spread" in that it has receivers spread widely instead of close to or behind the interior line players. The origins of the term are thought to be that it is like a "shotgun" in spraying receivers around the field.

What is the spread offense football plays?

The spread offense is an offensive scheme in gridiron football that typically places the quarterback in the shotgun formation, and "spreads" the defense horizontally using three-, four-, and even five-receiver sets.

Why is a play called a flea flicker?

From SI.com: “The play and its name are both credited to legendary University of Illinois coach Bob Zuppke, who intended the phrase to evoke the quick, flicking action of a dog getting rid of fleas.” According to Coach Zuppke, he introduced the flea flicker while coaching at Oak Park High School in 1910.

What is AI formation in football?

The I formation in football is an offensive formation in which the quarterback stands behind the center and two other running backs stand in a line behind the quarterback. This an offense primed for running, but it can also feature a receiver split from the formation on either side of the ball and a single tight end.

Why do quarterbacks line up under center?

Under center they never have to take their eye off the defense and the ball gets in their hands faster. Seems like that could be beneficial on certain quick passes. It's the 20 seconds or so before the ball is snapped. Farther from the line is better than closer.

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