Maximizing the Shotgun Formation

The shotgun formation has become more and more popular, with some teams now using it to run as well as pass. We talked to three outstanding coaches about the intricacies of the shotgun. Lew Johnston, head coach of Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, VA, uses the shotgun as a change-up to his standard Delaware Wing T offense. New Mexico State quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme is part of a team that uses the shotgun about 50 percent of the time. And Keith Simons, head coach at Santa Rosa Junior College in California, uses the shotgun 90-95 percent of the time. KEY FACTORS     For Simons, the fundamental advantage of the shotgun is that it “gets the quarterback away from the bad guys in a more comfortable position to see the defense better.” For Johnston, the shotgun represents an attractive way to pass the ball, adding variety to his run-oriented Wing T. “If