Run and shoot offense

The run and shoot offense is an offensive system for American football which emphasizes receiver motion and on-the-fly adjustments of receivers' routes in response to different defenses. It was conceived by former Middletown, Ohio, High School football coach Glenn "Tiger" Ellison and refined and popularized by former Portland State Offensive Coordinator Darell "Mouse" Davis.

The Run & Shoot system uses a formation consisting of one running back and between two and four wide receivers. This system makes extensive use of receiver motion (having a receiver suddenly change position by running left or right, parallel to the line of scrimmage, just before the ball is snapped), both to create advantageous mismatches with the opposing defensive players and to help reveal what coverage the defense is using.

The basic idea behind the Run & Shoot is a flexible offense that adjusts "on the fly," as the receivers are free to adjust their routes as they are running them in response to the defensive coverage employed. The quarterback, as a result, also has to read and react to the defense's coverages in a more improvised manner than with other offensive systems.

In the purest form of the offense, the proper complement would consist of two wide receivers lined up on the outside edges of the formation and two "slotbacks" (running backs who are capable of catching the ball as well as running with it, e.g. Ricky Sanders and Richard Johnson of the USFL's Houston Gamblers) lined up just outside and behind the two offensive tackles.

Many of the National Football League teams that used the Run & Shoot in the early 1990s used true wide receivers in all four receiving positions. The types of running backs used varied from smaller backs who could catch passes to big, bruising running backs who could run with power. The frequent passing plays run out of this formation tend to spread out the defense's players. If repeated pass plays work, the defense is not as prepared for running plays; running the ball between the offensive tackles, or just off-tackle, is now possible and more likely to succeed.

At the Collegiate level, the 1989 Houston Cougars football team demonstrated the scoring potential of the run and shoot offense as quarterback Andre Ware set 26 NCAA records and won the Heisman Trophy while the #14 ranked Cougars finished the season 9-2. The Cougars were disallowed from having its football games televised or playing in a Bowl Game that season due to NCAA sanctions imposed some years earlier. The following two seasons Houston quarterback David Klingler continued the success of the run and shoot throwing for 9,430 yards and 91 touchdowns, including 716 yards and 11 touchdown passes in a single game which were all records. Quarterbacks Ware and Klingler were both drafted in the NFL first round. The success of Houston's run and shoot offense and the inability of its record setting quarterbacks to translate their success into the NFL lead to the label of being a "system quarterback".

Contents 1 Formation History 2 Running the Run & Shoot 2.1 Player and motion names 2.2 Route concepts 2.3 Key concepts 3 Advantages of the Run & Shoot 4 Disadvantages of the Run & Shoot 5 Roster Positions for the Run and Shoot 6 Teams that used or are using the Run & Shoot 7 Single Game Statistics 8 Teams that considered using the Run & Shoot but decided against it 9 Quotes about the Run & Shoot 9.1 Run & Shoot News and Highlights 9.2 Run & Shoot playbooks 10 Videogames that featured a Run and Shoot Formation or Offense 11 References

Formation History

The original inventor of the Run & Shoot, Tiger Ellison, first started out with a formation that overloaded the left side of the offensive line for his scrambling quarterback. He called it "The Lonesome Polecat."

A year later, he came back with a more balanced formation that is similar to the diagram below.

• WR................LT.LG.C.RG.RT...............WR
• ...........SB...............QB..............SB
• ...............................FB

Other variations of the above formation are similar to the way spread offenses like to set up their systems. Originally, the run and shoot was set up so that the quarterback would be positioned behind the center in a single back position, with the single running back lined up a few yards back. Later, during his tenure with the University of Hawaii, June Jones used quarterback Colt Brennan out of the shotgun. In this case the running back is offset to the right of the quarterback (as in the formation below).

• X........LT.LG.C.RG.RT...........Z
• ....W...........................Y
• ..................QB..SB

Another formation that can often be seen with the run and shoot is the "trips" formation, where three wide receivers are situated to the right or left side of the line of scrimmage. Most of the time, this formation will be created out of motion when the W or Y receiver moves to the opposite side of the formation.

• X........LT.LG.C.RG.RT...........Z
• .................................W...Y
• ..................QB..SB

Running the Run & Shoot

Player and motion names

Every team has its own specific naming conventions, but they all have the same basic principles. To make diagramming plays easier, the receivers used in the Run & Shoot are often given standardized names depending on their position. One way to do this is to label the receivers, from left to right, X, W (for "Wing"), Y, and Z, with the running back being called an S-Back (for Singleback or Superback).

The initial movements of the receivers can also be labelled by using code names for "left" and "right" such as "Lil and Rob," "Liz and Rip," or "Lion and Ram." As an example, a quarterback may call an "X Liz, W Liz, Y Go, Z Rip, SB flat", which tells the X and W receivers to run to their left, the Y receiver to run a go (or fly) route, the Z receiver to run to his right, and the S-Back to run to the flat (close to the line of scrimmage and toward the sideline).

Route concepts

There are several kinds of routes a receiver can run, depending on the specific type of Run & Shoot offense that is being used:

• The Choice Route is probably the most recognizable element of the Run & Shoot. This route gives the receiver the option of which direction to run depending on the play of the opposing defensive back. If the DB is playing inside of the receiver, then the receiver can run an out route that's essentially an L shape to the right. If the DB is playing outside of the receiver, then the receiver can run an inside route that's essentially an L shape to the left. This is one technique that defenses use to try and dictate how receivers run their routes. A smart receiver will see where there's an open area and run there using a designed route.
• The Switch Route allows for the receivers to "switch" as they run their routes. This often entails the X (or Z) receiver running to the inside while the W (or Y) runs to the outside so that the two receivers cross paths with the intention of confusing the defenders as to who they should cover.
• The Slide Route often employs motion from the W receiver or the Y receiver to form a trips formation, where one side of the offense has 3 wide receivers on one side of the field.
• The Go Route gives the receiver the option of running a go route (also known as a fly route).
• The Hook Route gives the receiver the option of running a hook route (also known as a button hook or curl route).
• The Streak Route gives the receiver the option of running a streak route. (also known as a go/fly route)

Another important concept to the Run and Shoot is the ability to improvise depending on defensive coverage. One aspect is generally what is called MOFO or MOFC. Those two acronyms stand for: Middle of Field Open or Middle of Field Closed. This relies on the play of the Free Safety and where he is lined up in the defense and often is mentioned in relation to the W or Y receiver.

One example is to have the W receiver be told: If it's MOFO, run an inside post route. Upon lining up at the line of scrimmage, the QB can see that the FS is moved to the left to help double team the X receiver. As a result, the W receiver will have a MOFO situation. Upon the snap, the W receiver would then run an inside post route to where the open area is, that was normally covered by the FS.

A second example is to have the Y receiver be told: If it's MOFC, run a hook route. So the QB sees that the FS is in his general spot and the middle of the field will be "closed" (or covered by the FS). Upon the snap, the Y receiver will run up and then hook or curl back towards the QB in the open area beneath the FS. The Y receiver may also curl to the left or right opposite of the FS depending on how his DB is playing him as well.

Key concepts

The following concepts are key to understanding the Run & Shoot:

• Throw to the open receiver. This is fairly obvious but if the receiver is open, the quarterback must recognize the coverage and find him in time to get him the ball.
• If the QB reads 5 or less in the box, run the football. This means that traditional defensive formations using a 3-4 or 4-3 front will have moved 2 defenders outside of the "box" for coverage help. The "box" is the area about a yard outside of the tight end or offensive tackle on one side of the line to the other offensive tackle/tight end on the other side of the line and about 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
• Use motion and formations to spread the defense out and anticipate what the defense is going to do. If one uses motion and the defensive back follows the motioning receiver, they are probably playing man coverage or blitzing. If no defensive back follows the motion receiver, then they are probably playing zone defense.

Advantages of the Run & Shoot

As the Run & Shoot offense incorporates four receivers running routes on every play, it forces defenses to substitute extra defensive backs who excel in coverage in place of linebackers and defensive linemen who excel in tackling and stopping the run. This often results in formations with 5 and 6 defensive backs, also known as nickel and dime defenses. The defense is forced to make their team smaller (cornerbacks are often shorter and slimmer than linebackers) and move them away from the ball. This spreads the defense out, creating wider running lanes inside. This not only creates a physical size advantage for the offensive line if they get past the defensive line when run blocking, it also allows teams to play smaller runners with better agility who may not have seen the field otherwise because now they can physically match up against a defensive back.

This kind of offense can create many mismatches in the passing game, with slower defensive players trying to cover faster, more agile receivers. The inside receivers are often known for being very agile (Wes Welker was a W/Y receiver for Texas Tech's 4 WR sets) and can match up well against teams' 5th or 6th defensive back depth wise. A defensive team starting their 5th best DB is usually at a disadvantage when he's going up against the offense's 3rd best WR. If a team has 4 really talented receivers like the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons did in the early 1990s, they can easily abuse the weakest cornerback on defense since most teams rarely have more than 3 really good cornerbacks on a roster at one time.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of the Run & Shoot over other competitive offensive schemes is the advantage it offers in personnel. The 4' 10" Mouse Davis has publicly stated that much of his admiration for the offense comes out of the fact that it turns the game from a game of size and strength (DL and LB on defense) into an intellectual game of speed and intelligence (Finding seams and holes against 5 and 6 DBs).

Disadvantages of the Run & Shoot

There are several potential disadvantages to using a Run & Shoot offense:

• Since the formation does not use any tight ends or fullbacks, the quarterback is at increased risk for being hit or sacked since there are fewer players available to block a defense's blitz.
• Teams often use a strong running game to keep possession of the football, especially at times when it would be advantageous for them to run out the clock. A criticism of the Run & Shoot offense is that teams would often continue to rely upon the pass rather than establish the run to finish off a game. One example of this is the 1992 AFC Wild Card game where the Houston Oilers, after earning a 35-3 lead against the Buffalo Bills, rather than winding the clock down with the running game and preserving the lead for the victory, called 22 pass plays against only four runs in the second half and eventually lost the game by a score of 41-38. Alternatives like the Spread offense have been preferred over the Run & Shoot in part because they place more emphasis on the running game.
• Many commentators noted that the Run & Shoot is less effective in the "Red Zone," when the offense is less than 20 yards from the goal line. In this area the offense has less room to move around and cannot spread the defense out as in other areas of the field.

Roster Positions for the Run and Shoot

• Quarterbacks often have to be either mobile or have a very quick release if they are not mobile. Having a lot of arm strength is not a requirement but they need to have enough to make various throws. Jim Kelly was 6'3" and around 215 pounds. Andre Ware was 6'2" and around 200 pounds. David Klingler was 6'3" and around 210 pounds. Colt Brennan was 6'2" and around 205 pounds. Warren Moon was 6'3" and around 215 pounds.
• SuperBacks need to be built much like fullbacks as they often have to deal with no lead blocker and are often the only defense to blitzers for the QB's protection. Chuck Weatherspoon was 5'7" and around 230 pounds. Craig Heyward was 5'11" and around 240 pounds. Dorsey Levens was 6'1" and around 230 pounds. Kimble Anders was 5'11" and around 230 pounds. Lamar Smith was 5'11" and around 230 pounds. Gary Brown was 5'11" and around 230 pounds.
• Wide Receivers can vary although Mouse Davis was prone to opting for shorter receivers who were more explosive due to their smaller size. Andre Rison was 6'1" and around 190 pounds. Sterling Sharpe was 6'0" and around 210 pounds. Drew Hill was 5'9" and around 170 pounds. Ernest Givins was 5'9" and around 180 pounds. Haywood Jeffires was 6'2" and around 200 pounds. Eric Metcalf was 5'10" and around 190 pounds. Michael Haynes was 6'0" and around 190 pounds. Jason Phillips was 5'7" and around 170 pounds. Davone Bess was 5'10" and around 190 pounds.
• Offensive Linemen need to be stout in pass protection and fast/agile enough to drop back constantly. Jamie Dukes was 6'1" and around 290 pounds. Bill Fralic was 6'5" and around 280 pounds. Chris Hinton was 6'4" and around 300 pounds. Bob Whitfield was 6'5" and around 310 pounds. Lomas Brown was 6'4" and around 280 pounds. Bruce Matthews was 6'5" and around 300 pounds. Mike Munchak was 6'3" and around 280 pounds. Don Maggs was 6'5" and around 290 pounds.

Teams that used or are using the Run & Shoot

The following colleges and teams used the Run & Shoot as their main offensive strategy for at least a little while, with varying degrees of success.

• 1974 Portland State: 5-6. QB Mike Gardner threw for 2,001 yards with 11 TD.
• 1975 Portland State: 8-3. QB June Jones threw for 2,280 yards with 25 TD. RB Byron Chambers ran for 533 yards and 5 TD. WR Scott Saxton had 1,091 yards receiving and 8 TD.
• 1976 Pacific Lutheran^[1]: 6-4. RB John Horner had 985 yards. WR Al Bessette had 1,245 yards and 18 TD.
• 1976 Portland State: 8-3. QB June Jones threw for 3,518 yards with 25 TD. RB Jeff Salta ran for 673 yards and 21 TD.
• 1977 Lewis and Clark: 4-4.
• 1977 Portland State: 7-4. QBs Mike Atwood and Neil Lomax combined to throw for 3,644 yards with 32 TD.
• 1978 Lewis and Clark^[2]: 2-7. QB Herm Tappin threw for 1,764 yards with 13 TD.
• 1978 Portland State: 5-6. QB Neil Lomax threw for 3,506 yards with 26 TD. RB Joel Sigel ran for 725 yards and 15 TD. WR John Urness had 1,052 yards receiving and 6 TD.
• 1979 Minnesota^[3]: 4-6-1. QB Mark Carlson threw for 2,188 yards and 11 TD. RB Garry White ran for 866 yards with 6 TD. RB Marion Barber ran for 526 yards with 12 TD. WR Elmer Bailey had 522 yards receiving with 7 TD.
• 1979 Lewis and Clark: 5-4. QB Geoff Steenson threw for 1,527 yards with 10 TD.
• 1979 Portland State University: 6-5. QB Neil Lomax threw for 3,950 yards with 26 TD. RB Joel Sigel ran for 646 yards and 12 TD. WR Stuart Gaussion had 1,132 yards receiving and 8 TD.
• 1979 Williamette^[4]:
• 1980 Florida: 8-4 - Won Tangerine Bowl. RB James Jones ran for 657 yards and 4 TD.
• 1980 Minnesota: 5-6. RB Garry White ran for 959 yards and 9 TD. RB Marion Barber ran for 769 yards and 11 TD.
• 1980 Portland State: 8-3. QB Neil Lomax threw for 4,094 yards with 37 TD. WR Clint Didier had 1,091 yards receiving and 12 TD.
• 1981 California: 2-7.
• 1981 Florida: 7-5 - Lost Peach Bowl. QB Wayne Peace threw for 1,803 yards with 11 TD. RB James Jones ran for 617 yards and 9 TD.
• 1981 Olympic Community College^[5]
• 1982 Florida: 8-4 - Lost Bluebonnet Bowl. QB Wayne Peace threw for 2,053 yards with 8 TD. RB James Jones ran for 752 yards and 4 TD. RB Lorenzo Hampton ran for 664 yards and 6 TD. RB Neal Anderson ran for 449 yards and 6 TD. RB John L. Williams ran for 404 yards and 4 TD.
• 1982 Toronto Argonauts: 9-6-1 - Lost Grey Cup. QB Conredge Holloway threw for 4,661 yards with 31 TD. WR Terry Greer had 1,466 yards and 11 TD.
• 1982 Wilkes College^[6]:
• 1983 Florida: 9-2-1 - Won Gator Bowl. QB Wayne Peace threw for 2,079 yards with 10 TD. RB Neal Anderson ran for 835 yards and 9 TD. RB John L. Williams ran for 553 yards and 5 TD. RB Lorenzo Hampton ran for 465 yards and 2 TD.
• 1983 Toronto Argonauts^[7]: 12-4 - Won Grey Cup. QBs Conredge Holloway and Joe Barnes combined to throw for 5,458 yards with 29 TD. WR Terry Greer had 2003 yards and 8 TD. WR Emanuel Tolbert had 1,225 yards and 11 TD.
• 1984 Georgia Southern: 8-3 (31.1 PPG)
• 1984 Hanover College^[8]:
• 1984 Houston Gamblers: 13-5 (34.3 PPG) - Lost Division Game
• 1984 Rice: 1-10.
• 1984 Widener^[9]:
• 1985 California-State Northridge^[10]:
• 1985 Denver Gold: 11-7 (24.1 PPG) - Lost Division Game
• 1985 Georgia Southern: 13-2 (30.7 PPG) - Won Division I-AA Championship
• 1985 Houston Gamblers: 10-8 (30.2 PPG) - Lost Division Game
• 1985 New Mexico State: 1-10.
• 1985 Ottawa Rough Riders^[11]:
• 1985 Rice: 3-8.
• 1985 Widener^[12]:
• 1986 Cincinnati: 5-6. QB Dave McCoin threw for 2,831 yards with 13 TD. RB Reggie Taylor ran for 1,325 yards with 11 TD.
• 1986 East Carolina: 2-9. RB Anthony Simpson ran for 753 yards with 5 TD.
• 1986 Holy Cross: 10-1 (28.5 PPG)
• 1986 New Haven: 8-2 (26.6 PPG)
• 1986 New Mexico^[13]: 4-8. WR Terance Mathis had 955 yards receiving and 10 TD.
• 1986 Oregon Tech:
• 1986 Pittsburgh: 5-5-1. QB John Congemi threw for 2,048 yards with 11 TD. RB Craig Heyward ran for 756 yards with 8 TD.
• 1986 Rutgers: 5-5-1. QB Joe Gagliardi threw for 924 yards with 7 TD. RB Matt Prescott ran for 606 yards with 6 TD.
• 1986 South Carolina^[14]: 3-6-2. QB Todd Ellis threw for 3,020 yards and 20 TD. RB Harold Green ran for 388 yards and 6 TD. WR Sterling Sharpe had 1,106 yards receiving and 10 TD.
• 1986 Southwestern Louisiana^[15]
• 1986 Wyoming^[16]: 6-6. QB Craig Burnett threw for 1,242 yards with 13 TD. WR James Loving had 673 yards receiving and 6 TD.
• 1987 Holy Cross: 11-0 (46.5 PPG) - Patriot League Champions
• 1987 Houston: 4-6-1.
• 1987 Houston Oilers:
• 1987 New Haven: 8-2 (26.7 PPG)
• 1987 Oregon Tech:
• 1987 South Carolina: 8-4 - Lost Gator Bowl. QB Todd Ellis threw for 3,206 yards with 10 TD. RB Harold Green ran for 1,022 yards and 15 TD. WR Sterling Sharpe had 915 yards receiving and 5 TD.
• 1987 Southwestern Louisiana:
• 1987 Wyoming: 10-3 - Lost Holiday Bowl. QB Craig Burnett threw for 3,131 yards and 21 TD. RB Gerald Abraham ran for 1,305 yards and 13 TD. WR Anthony Sargent had 929 yards receiving and 11 TD.
• 1988 Boston University: 4-7 (20.9 PPG)
• 1988 East Carolina^[17]: 3-8. RB Tim James ran for 787 yards and 5 TD.
• 1988 Holy Cross: 9-2 (30.4 PPG) - Patriot League Champions
• 1988 Houston: 9-3 - Lost Aloha Bowl. QB Andre Ware threw for 2,507 yards with 25 TD.
• 1988 Houston Oilers:
• 1988 Kentucky: 5-6. RB Alfred Rawls ran for 477 yards and 7 TD. RB Ivy Joe Hunter ran for 451 yards and 6 TD.
• 1988 Oregon Tech:
• 1988 Southwestern Louisiana:
• 1988 Stanford: 3-6-2. QB Jason Palumbis threw for 1,569 yards and 8 TD. RB Jon Volpe ran for 1,027 yards and 6 TD.
• 1988 Wyoming: 11-2 - Lost Holiday Bowl. QB Randy Welniak threw for 2,791 yards with 21 TD. RB Dabby Dawson ran for 1,119 yards and 9 TD.
• 1989 Boston University: 4-7 (26.5 PPG)
• 1989 Detroit Lions: 7-9 (19.5 PPG)
• 1989 Holy Cross: 10-1 (36.0 PPG) - Patriot League Champions
• 1989 Houston: 9-2. QB Andre Ware threw for 4,699 yards with 46 TD.
• 1989 Houston Oilers:
• 1989 Merchant Marine: 5-4
• 1989 Pacific:
• 1989 Purdue: 3-8. QB Eric Hunter threw for 1,368 yards with 11 TD. WR Calvin Williams had 630 yards receiving and 7 TD.
• 1989 Southern Methodist^[18]: 2-9. QB Mike Romo threw for 2,927 yards with 14 TD. WR Jason Wolf had 676 yards receiving and 4 TD.
• 1989 Southwestern Louisiana:
• 1989 Tennessee-Martin:
• 1989 Texas Christian: 4-7. QB Ron Jiles threw for 1,763 yards with 9 TD. RB Tommy Palmer ran for 642 yards and 3 TD. RB Curtis Modkins ran for 522 yards and 2 TD.
• 1989 Wyoming: 5-6. QB Tom Corontzos threw for 2,005 yards with 14 TD. RB Dabby Dawson ran for 1,005 yards and 6 TD. WR Gordy Wood had 632 yards receiving and 4 TD.
• 1990 Allegheny College: 13-0-1 (Won DIII National Championship Stagg Bowl)
• 1990 Atlanta Falcons: 5-11 (21.8 PPG)
• 1990 Brown: 2-8 (16.0 PPG)
• 1990 Detroit Lions: 6-10 (23.3 PPG)
• 1990 Hofstra: 12-1 (42.7 PPG) - Lost Division III Semifinal Game
• 1990 Holy Cross: 9-1-1 (30.8 PPG) - Patriot League Champions
• 1990 Houston: 10-1 - Won Coca-Cola Classic. QB David Klingler threw for 5,140 yards with 54 TD. RB Chuck Weatherspoon ran for 1,097 yards and 7 TD. WR Manny Hazard had 946 yards receiving and 9 TD.
• 1990 Houston Oilers: 9-7 (25.3 PPG) - Lost Wildcard Game
• 1990 Howard^[19]: 6-5 (23.7 PPG)
• 1990 Indianapolis Colts: 7-9 (17.6 PPG)
• 1990 Pacific:
• 1990 Purdue^[20]: 2-9. QB Eric Hunter threw for 2,355 yards with 12 TD.
• 1990 Seattle Seahawks^[21]: 0-3^[22] (14.7 PPG)
• 1990 Southern Methodist: 1-10. QB Mike Romo threw for 2,434 yards with 19 TD.
• 1990 Texas Christian: 5-6. QB Leon Clay threw for 1,565 yards with 16 TD. RB Curtis Modkins ran for 893 yards and 3 TD. WR Kelly Blackwell had 832 yards and 5 TD.
• 1990 Wesleyan:
• 1990 Wyoming: 9-4 - Lost Copper Bowl. QB Tom Corontzos threw for 2,956 yards with 15 TD. RB Dwight Driver ran for 684 yards and 5 TD. WR Shawn Wiggins had 1,018 yards and 6 TD.
• 1991 Allegheny College: 11-1 Lost in 2nd round of NCAA's
• 1991 Atlanta Falcons: 10-6 (22.6 PPG) - Lost Division Game
• 1991 Brown: 1-9 (22.7 PPG)
• 1991 Detroit Lions: 12-4 (21.2 PPG) - Lost NFC Championship Game
• 1991 Hofstra: 8-2 (38.0 PPG)
• 1991 Holy Cross: 11-0 (33.8 PPG) - Patriot League Champions
• 1991 Houston: 4-7. QB David Klingler threw for 3,388 yards with 29 TD. WR Marcus Grant had 1,262 yards receiving and 10 TD. WR Fred Gilbert had 957 yards receiving and 5 TD.
• 1991 Houston Oilers: 11-5 (24.1 PPG) - Lost Division Game
• 1991 Indianapolis Colts (Games 1-5): 0-5 (8.0 PPG)
• 1991 New Mexico: 3-9. QB Stoney Case threw for 1,564 yards with 10 TD. WR Carl Winston had 1,177 yards and 10 TD.
• 1991 New York/New Jersey Knights: 5-5 - Won North American East Division
• 1991 Pacific:
• 1991 San Diego Chargers^[23]: 4-12 (17.1 PPG)
• 1991 Southern Methodist: 1-10 (12.8 PPG)
• 1991 Texas Christian: 7-4. RB Curtis Modkins ran for 659 yards and 6 TD.
• 1992 Allegheny College: 8-2
• 1992 Atlanta Falcons: 6-10 (20.4 PPG)
• 1992 Georgia Tech: 5-6. QB Shawn Jones threw for 2,397 yards with 15 TD.
• 1992 Hofstra: 4-6 (17.7 PPG)
• 1992 Houston: 4-7. QB Jimmy Klingler threw for 3,818 yards with 32 TD. RB Lamar Smith ran for 845 yards and 9 TD. WR Sherman Smith had 923 yards and 6 TD.
• 1992 Houston Oilers: 10-6 (22.0 PPG) - Lost Wildcard Game
• 1992 Maryland: 3-8. QB John Kaleo threw for 3,392 yards with 17 TD. WR Marcus Badgett had 1,240 yards and 9 TD.
• 1992 Minnesota: 2-9. QB Marquel Fleetwood threw for 2,168 yards with 7 TD. RB Antonio Carter ran for 572 yards and 5 TD.
• 1992 New Haven: 12-1 (47.2 PPG) - Lost Division II Semifinal Game
• 1992 New York/New Jersey Knights: 6-4
• 1992 Pacific:
• 1992 Southern Methodist: 5-6. QB Dan Freiburger threw for 2,580 yards with 15 TD. WR Korey Beard had 813 yards and 6 TD.
• 1993 Allegheny College: 9-2 (Lost 1st round of NCAA's)
• 1993 Atlanta Falcons: 6-10 (19.8 PPG)
• 1993 Boston: 12-1 (33.5 PPG) - Lost Division I-AA Quarterfinal Game
• 1993 California-Davis: 10-2 (38.3 PPG) - Lost Division II Quarterfinal Game
• 1993 Georgia Tech: 5-6. RB Dorsey Levens ran for 823 yards and 8 TD. RB William Bell ran for 752 yards and 7 TD.
• 1993 Hofstra: 6-3-1 (27.1 PPG)
• 1993 Houston Oilers: 12-4 (23.0 PPG) - Lost Division Game
• 1993 Long Island-C.W. Post:
• 1993 Maryland: 2-9. QB Scott Milanovich threw for 3,499 yards with 26 TD. WR Jermaine Lewis had 957 yards and 7 TD.
• 1993 Minnesota: 4-7 (23.0 PPG)
• 1993 New Haven:
• 1993 Pacific:
• 1993 Southern Methodist: 2-7-2.
• 1994 Allegheny College: 10-1 (Lost 1st round of NCAA's)
• 1994 Atlanta Falcons: 7-9 (19.8 PPG)
• 1994 Boston: 9-3 (33.0 PPG) - Lost Division I-AA 1st Round Game
• 1994 George Mason:
• 1994 Hofstra: 8-1-1 (37.1 PPG)
• 1994 Houston Oilers: 1-9 w/Jack Pardee (14.7 PPG)
• 1994 Maryland: 4-7. QB Scott Milanovich threw for 2,394 yards with 20 TD. WR Geroy Simon had 891 yards and 5 TD.
• 1994 Pacific:
• 1994 Southern Methodist: 1-9-1. WR Mick Rossley had 857 yards and 4 TD.
• 1995 Allegheny College: 9-1
• 1995 Atlanta Falcons: 9-7 (22.6 PPG) - Lost Wildcard Game
• 1995 Emporia State^[24]:
• 1995 Hofstra: 10-2 (32.8 PPG) - Lost Division I-AA 1st Round Game
• 1995 Jacksonville Jaguars^[25]: 4-12 (17.2 PPG)
• 1995 Maryland: 6-5. RB Buddy Rodgers ran for 718 yards and 7 TD. WR Jermaine Lewis had 937 yards and 3 TD.
• 1995 Pacific:
• 1995 Southern Methodist: 1-10.
• 1995 Wake Forest: 1-10. QB Rusty LaRue threw for 2,775 yards with 17 TD. WR Marlon Estes had 833 yards and 9 TD.
• 1996 Holy Cross
• 1996 Allegheny College: 10-1 (Lost 1st round of NCAA's)
• 1996 Atlanta Falcons: 3-13 (19.3 PPG)
• 1996 California-Santa Barbara:
• 1996 California University of Pennsylvania^[26]:
• 1996 Georgetown: 7-3 (30.3 PPG)
• 1996 Hofstra: 5-6 (18.5 PPG)
• 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-7 (20.3 PPG) - Lost AFC Championship Game
• 1996 Marshall: 15-0 - Won Division I-AA Championship. QB Eric Kresser threw for 3,407 yards with 31 TD. WR Randy Moss had 1,709 yards and 28 TD.
• 1996 Southern Methodist: 5-6 (22.4 PPG)
• 1996 Washington State (Spread): 5-6. QB Ryan Leaf threw for 2,811 yards with 21 TD. RB Michael Black ran for 948 yards and 8 TD.
• 1997 Holy Cross:
• 1997 Allegheny College: 9-2 (Lost 1st round NCAA's)
• 1997 Butler:
• 1997 California-State Northridge:
• 1997 Georgetown: 8-3 (25.1 PPG) - Lost Eastern Athletic Conference College Bowl
• 1997 Hofstra: 9-3 (33.1 PPG) - Lost Division I-AA 1st Round Game
• 1997 Marshall: 10-3 - Lost Motor City Bowl. QB Chad Pennington threw for 3,480 yards with 39 TD. RB Doug Chapman ran for 908 yards and 10 TD. WR Randy Moss had 1,647 yards and 25 TD.
• 1997 San Diego Chargers: 4-12 (16.6 PPG)
• 1997 Washington State (Spread): 10-2 (40.3 PPG) - Lost Rose Bowl
• 1998 Georgetown: 9-2 (29.5 PPG) - Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Champions
• 1998 Hofstra: 8-3 (38.7 PPG)
• 1998 San Diego Chargers: 5-11 (15.1 PPG)
• 1999 Georgetown: 9-2 (33.1 PPG) - Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champions
• 1999 Hawaii: 9-4 - Won Oahu Classic. QB Dan Robinson threw for 3,853 yards with 28 TD. WR Dwight Carter had 1,253 yards and 9 TD.
• 1999 Hofstra: 11-2 (32.2 PPG) - Lost Division I-AA Quarterfinal Game
• 1999 Jackson State^[27]: 9-3 (37.3 PPG) - Lost SWAC Championship
• 1999 Georgetown College: NAIA National Runner-Up
• 2000 Hawaii: 3-9. QB Timmy Chang threw for 3,049 yards with 19 TD. WR Ashley Lelie had 1,110 yards and 11 TD.
• 2000 Hofstra: 9-4 (34.2 PPG) - Lost Division I-AA Quarterfinal Game
• 2000 Virginia Military Institute: 2-9 (20.6 PPG)
• 2000 Georgetown College: NAIA National Champion
• 2001 Georgetown College: NAIA National Champion
• 2001 Hawaii: 9-3. QB Nick Rolovich threw for 3,361 yards with 34 TD. WR Ashley Lelie had 1,713 yards and 19 TD.
• 2001 Hofstra: 9-3 (36.8 PPG) - Lost Division I-AA 1st Round Game
• 2001 Virginia Military Institute: 1-10 (14.9 PPG)
• 2002 Hawaii: 10-4 - Lost Hawaii Bowl. QB Timmy Chang threw for 4,474 yards with 25 TD. WR Justin Colbert had 1,302 yards and 8 TD.
• 2002 Virginia Military Institute: 6-6 (26.2 PPG)
• 2003 Bickley Bison: 10-1
• 2003 Butler^[28]:
• 2003 Hawaii: 9-5 - Won Hawaii Bowl. QB Timmy Chang threw for 4,199 yards with 29 TD. WR Chad Owens had 1,134 yards and 9 TD. WR Jeremiah Cockheran had 997 yards and 9 TD.
• 2003 Saint Mary's^[29]: 1-11 (13.5 PPG)
• 2003 Southwest Texas State (Triple Shoot)^[30]: 4-8 (26.3 PPG)
• 2003 Virginia Military Institute: 6-6. QB Jonathan Wilson threw for 2,260 yards with 12 TD. RB Sean Mizzer ran for 1,244 yards and 8 TD.
• 2004 Hawaii: 8-5 - Won Hawaii Bowl. QB Timmy Chang threw for 4,285 yards with 38 TD. RB Michael Brewster ran for 722 yards and 6 TD. WR Chad Owens had 1,290 yards and 17 TD.
• 2005 Hawaii: 5-7. QB Colt Brennan threw for 4,301 yards with 35 TD. WR Ryan Grice-Mullen had 1,228 yards and 12 TD. WR Davone Bess had 1,124 yards and 14 TD.
• 2006 Hawaii: 11-3 - Won Hawaii Bowl. QB Colt Brennan threw for 5,549 yards with 58 TD. RB Nate Ilaoa ran for 990 yards and 13 TD. WR Davone Bess had 1,220 yards and 15 TD. WR Jason Rivers had 1,178 yards and 10 TD.
• 2007 Hawaii: 12-1 - Lost Sugar Bowl. QB Colt Brennan threw for 4,343 yards with 38 TD. WR Ryan Grice-Mullen had 1,372 yards and 13 TD. WR Davone Bess had 1,266 yards and 12 TD. WR Jason Rivers had 1,174 yards and 13 TD.
• 2007 Portland State^[31]: 3-8. QBs Brian White and Drew Hubel combined to throw for 3,641 yards with 25 TD.
• 2008 Hawaii: 7-7 - Lost Hawaii Bowl. QB Greg Alexander threw for 1,895 yards with 14 TD.
• 2008 Portland State: 4-7. QB Drew Hubel threw for 2,912 yards with 18 TD. WR Aaron Woods had 1,028 yards receiving and 6 TD. WR Mario D'Ambrosio had 900 yards receiving and 9 TD.
• 2008 Southern Methodist: 1-11. QB Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 2,865 yards with 24 TD. WR Aldrick Robinson had 1,047 yards and 11 TD.
• 2009 Hawaii: 6-7. QB Bryant Moniz threw for 2,396 yards with 14 TD. WR Greg Salas had 1,590 yards and 8 TD.
• 2009 Portland State: 2-9. QB Drew Hubel threw for 1,976 yards with 9 TD. WR Ray Fry had 904 yards receiving and 3 TD.
• 2009 Southern Methodist: 8-5 - Won Hawaii Bowl. QBs Bo Levi Mitchell and Kyle Padron combined to throw for 3,647 yards with 22 TD. RB Shawnbrey McNeal ran for 1,188 yards and 12 TD. WR Emmanuel Sanders had 1,339 yards and 7 TD.
• 2010 Hawaii: 10-4 - Lost Hawaii Bowl. QB Bryant Moniz threw for 5,040 yards with 39 TD. RB Alex Green ran for 1,163 yards and 18 TD. WR Greg Salas had 1,889 yards and 14 TD. WR Kealoha Pilares had 1,306 yards and 15 TD.
• 2010 Southern Methodist: 7-7 - Lost Armed Forces Bowl. QB Kyle Padron threw for 3,828 yards with 31 TD. RB Zach Line ran for 1,465 yards and 10 TD. WR Aldrick Robinson had 1,301 yards and 14 TD. WR Cole Beasley had 1,060 yards and 6 TD.
• 2011 Hawaii:
• 2011 Southern Methodist:

Single Game Statistics

• 1975-09-06 Portland State vs Montana State: RB Mike Woodard ran for 181 yards on 26 carries with 4 TD.
• 1975-10-05 Portland State vs Southeastern Oregon State: QB June Jones goes 18/26 for 331 yards with 4 TD. Team gained 553 total yards
• 1977-10-02 Portland State vs Idaho State: RBs Joel Siegel and Jeff Salta combined to run for 105 yards on 19 carries with 2 TD.
• 1979-10-08 Portland State vs Puget Sound: QB Neil Lomax goes 19/30 for 305 yards with 5 TD. Team scored 72 points.
• 1980-10-26 Portland State vs Cal Poly-Pomona: QB Neil Lomax goes 13/20 for 339 yards with 3 TD. QB Lloyd LaFrance goes 15/17 for 264 yards with 4 TD. Team scored 93 points.
• 1980-11-09 Portland State vs Delaware State: QB Neil Lomax goes 16/28 for 311 yards with 8 TD (7 in 1st Quarter) and 1 rushing TD. Team scores 105 points.
• 1987-10-03 Houston vs Baylor: QB Andre Ware goes 31/62 for 404 yards.
• 1987-11-14 Houston vs Temple: QB David Dacus goes 36/50 for 376 yards with 3 TD.
• 1987-11-28 Houston vs Rice: QB David Dacus goes 34/58 for 450 yards.
• 1988-11-05 Houston vs Texas: RB Chuck Weatherspoon ran for 218 yards on 11 carries with 1 TD.
• 1988-11-26 Houston vs Rice: QB Andre Ware goes 39/53 for 471 yards with 5 TD.
• 1989-10-07 Houston vs Baylor: QB Andre Ware goes 33/53 for 514 yards with 6 TD.
• 1989-10-21 Houston vs SMU: QB Andre Ware goes 25/41 for 517 yards with 6 TD. Team scores 95 points. Team gains 1,021 yards of total offense with 771 passing and 250 rushing.
• 1989-11-04 Houston vs TCU: QB Andre Ware goes 42/63 for 477 yards with 6 TD.
• 1989-11-30 Houston vs Temple: QB Andre Ware goes 30/45 for 413 yards with 7 TD.

Teams that considered using the Run & Shoot but decided against it

• Bruce Coslet has a working knowledge of the Oilers' offense because he studied the run-and-shoot offense last year, thinking that he might want to install it for the Jets. He decided against it, because it didn't fit his personnel. (1991)^[32]
• The Redskins' head coach, Joe Gibbs, said that his offense has adopted some run-and-shoot principles, but that his organization has never considered using that offense because it prefers power football. (1992)^[33]
• Kevin Gilbride was a HC finalist along with Joe Greene, Dave Wannstedt, and Bill Cowher for the Pittsburgh Steelers. (1992)^[34]
• "I wanted the option of the two-back or the power game with fullback and tight ends. I didn't feel the run-and-shoot was flexible enough with what we wanted to do with our offense." - Jimmy Johnson (1993)^[35]
• "We do have some of the run-and-shoot principles, but we're not rolling out as much,' he said, adding that the Jets would not often go to four wide receivers in a run and shoot." - Boomer Esiason (1993)^[36]

Quotes about the Run & Shoot

• It basically is a 'read' offense with everything done on timing." - Conredge Holloway (1982-11-25) ^[37]
• "What the fuck is the run & shoot?" John Brodie, NFL All-Pro quarterback and NBC TV analyst (1982-26-9)^[38]
• "That's what the Run-and-Shoot is all about. Going out there, having fun, and watching those little guys run all over the field." - Jim Kelly (1985-03-04)^[39]
• "I guess I'm in love with this offense. There's no one else in the country that runs the run-and-shoot the way we ran it." - Andre Ware (1988-12-23)^[40]
• "He doesn't need a whole lot of hole, and that stretched-out offense can create holes." - Bill Belichick (1989)^[41]
• "I kept getting caught up watching their offense. It's interesting. I've never seen it run quite like that." - Steve DeBerg (1990-08-26)^[42]
• "When the league switches totally to the run-and-shoot, I'm gone. Retiring. I can't tell you what a nightmare it is." - Howie Long (1991)^[43]
• "It was "like walking through a minefield. We could play them again next week and give up 500 yards. If everything's clicking in that thing, it's hard to stop." - Richie Petitbon (1991)^[44]
• "I don't think anybody stops it. They always make their yardage. What you hope to do is keep the scoring down the best you can to give yourself a chance to be successful." - Marty Schottenheimer (1992-09-20)^[45]
• "I asked this guy, this NFL scout, 'How do you stop this thing?' He told me, 'You don't." - Bruce Keidan (1992-01-06)^[46]
• "You have to play a lot of different stuff against them. If you confine yourself to one coverage, they'll find the answer." - Richie Petitbon (1992-01-11)^[47]
• "It's not a coincidence we've been in this offense for seven years and we've been to the playoffs seven years. To me, somebody has to strike the correlation there and recognize it has to be a contributing factor, no matter how grudgingly people want to admit that." - Kevin Gilbride (1994-01-16)^[48]
• "You know, with their chuck and duck offense, they're usually going to get 400 yards or something, even if they don't score much." - Buddy Ryan (1994-12-26)^[49]
• "The way they throw, I think they can hold up. I know from a defensive standpoint, the run-and-shoot gives me nightmares." - Rusty Tillman (1994)
• "The run-and-shoot got the Oilers where they are. I think defenses all over the league are going to be very relieved." - Rod Woodson (1994)
• "I've seen them beat everyone on their schedule. Look at the numbers they've posted. They've won more games than a lot of conventional offenses. I just don't see how you can change something that works." - Derrick Thomas (1994)
• "Their offense always puts a lot of pressure on any defense." - Rich Kotite (1994)^[50]
• "The biggest misconception about the run- and-shoot is that it's a totally passing offense. It's really not. It's a one-back, spread offense, but it's not a passing offense completely." - Bill Parcells (1995)^[51]
• "As a matter of fact, we use some the exact routes from the run-and-shoot scheme in our offense. And just about everybody does. That's just the truth." - Chan Gailey (2001)^[52]
• "People couldn't stop the run-and-shoot and then they figured out that you better just find ways to get to the quarterback." - Cam Cameron (2001)
• "Originally, there was no tight end, four wides, a lot of motion, a lot of trips (formation), sometimes five-receiver sets. But our connotation of it involved the reading of coverages and varying routes accordingly." - Mouse Davis (2004)^[53]
• "It's just evolved to where everybody in the United States now runs it, including everyone in the NFL. A portion of all packages has been developed out of it. You don't see the pure Run 'n' Shoot much anymore. It's been incorporated into other offenses." - Mouse Davis (2004)
• "Sometimes, we'll do some run-and-shoot. We'll sit back with one back and four wide receivers and do that. I remember the run-and-shoot in Atlanta. We always had a 1,000-yard rusher every year. We had a 1,000-yard rusher because we spread the field." - Robbie Tobeck (2006)^[54]
• "Yeah. The offense makes average quarterbacks a whole lot better than they would be in another scheme. But when we have a great one, they’re better in what we do. . . . All the quarterbacks I’ve worked with had their best seasons in this offense." - June Jones (2006)^[55]
• "I always used to think the Run-and-Shoot was one of the toughest offenses to stop." - Jim Johnson (2006)^[56]
• "I just feel that you can’t play without a tight end. At times, when the situation presents itself, I would use four wide receivers and take out the tight end. But certainly not on a regular basis." - Sid Gillman (2007)^[57]
• "It’s really a fun offense to watch and very difficult to defend. The different situations they can put you in based on down and distance really can raise havoc with a defense." - Chris Ault (2007)^[58]
• "As far as read routes and timing and leverage, all those things he teaches, it’s all very current. His systems are simple, yet very complicated to the defensive side. And Mouse started the whole thing right there at Portland State." - Marty Mornhinweg (2008)
• "Now I look around, and the Patriots and the Colts and people like that are running what we ran and saying, 'That's how you play the game.' Knowing I was a part of that with Jerry and Mouse (Davis) gives me a lot of satisfaction. Now everybody in the National Football League does what we do now. It just so happens that New England does it every play." - June Jones (2008)^[59]
• "It's fairly simple conceptually. But within the play, there are a lot of multi-reads, depending on how the defense is playing you. Then, if you get too soft on routes, they'll kill you in the screen and draw department." - Paul Wulff (2009-09-11)^[60]

Run & Shoot News and Highlights

• Run & Shoot Message Board Thread for NCAA 2K5 (Must Read)
• A Diagram Explaining the Switch Route
• A look at myths about the offense.
• The running game in the offense at the NFL level.
• A look at the 1996 Atlanta Falcons.
• A look at the big play ability of the offense.
• Notes from Mouse Davis' 1984 Playbook.
• Zone Blitz's effect on the offense in the NFL.
• 3-4 Defense. Notice that the "box" has only 4 players.
• 4-3 Defense. Notice that the "box" has 4 with LB blitz.
• Nickel Defense. Notice that the "box" has only 5 players.
• Dime Defense. Notice that the "box" has only 5 players.
• Video Highlights of Hawaii Football Offense
• Video Highlights of QB Colt Brennan at Hawaii
• 1980 Portland State Football Video Highlights
• 1993 Boston University Football Video Highlights
• 2005 Hawaii Football Video Highlights
• 2006 (Part 1) Hawaii Football Video Highlights
• 2007 Hawaii Football Video Highlights
• 2007 Portland State Football Video Highlights
• 2008 June Jones Breaks Down Some of the Run and Shoot

Run & Shoot playbooks

• 1984 Houston Gamblers (Mouse Davis) and 1985 Houston Gamblers (Kevin Gilbride)
• 1985 Denver Gold (Mouse Davis)
• 1992 Houston (John Jenkins)
• 1995 Hofstra (Manny Matsaksis)
• 1997 Georgetown

Videogames that featured a Run and Shoot Formation or Offense

• - Tecmo Super Bowl for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis
• - Joe Montana II Sports Talk Football for the Sega Genesis
• - John Madden Football '93 for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis
• - Madden '94 for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis
• - Madden '95 for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis
• - NCAA Football '11 for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360
• - NCAA Football '12 for the Playstation 3 and XBox 360

References