@theboycalledleaf OK.....here's some stuff I found kinda helpful....
Charcoal set was about like this, but I added a LITTLE more to the back pile & after the wood was heated some, I threw those on the back & buried them in a bit....
After it burned for a bit & the (pre-heated) wood began to catch, I assembled the rig...
Don't know if you can rig something up for above the pie, but that really seemed to help things cook on the toppings & also sort of contain / heat up the chamber..........
This was from the stone where it cooked, right next to the pizza....
If you're able to pre-heat the wood some way, it will burn WAY more clean (much less smoke)....
I learned that from reading / watching the big boys run their giant trailer cookers...the offset type.....always pre-heat your splits / logs so they are much closer to the temp where they catch & burn....cleaner & much less of a dip in heat output.....
...hope this helps some !!!