west coast offense passing concepts

598 means they fake a 98 run and the line protects the gap to their backside (left), and 599 means they fake a 99 run and the line protects the gap to their backside (right). From Bill Walsh's San Francisco 49ers juggernaut, to Brigham Young University's record-smashing Cougars, to the 1997 Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, this passing attack is a proven winner. An offensive player is assigned two defenders to block. When the backs release, the faking back who is more inside will break to the inside, and the back protecting outside will release outside. Rip(Right)/Liz(Left): The back on the side called check releases on the inside linebacker to that side. The Spot passing concept is design to attack zone coverage. 300 is an AGGRESSIVE slide protection (so slide protection with the O-line and backs attacking and holding their blocks at the line of scrimmage (LOS). Due to innovations in offenses, the WCO has also been implemented for shotgun-based offenses. The quarterback is looking to see what the defense gives him and looks to take advantage of it. My name is Steven and I love everything sports! This default/watered down play action system is a slide protection (so half-slide in modern terms, just like 2/3 Jet). Strong flow is the opposite of weak flow (another two-back pocket-style protection). Defenses have found the best way to do so is by attacking the element that makes this offense elite the timing. don't try to compare it to any other offense. A Complete Overview, What Is a Blitz in Football? Low-inside, high-outside. The TE to the weak-side check-releases. In this case, the protection is set to the right, so the first offensive lineman to the right of the center with no defender in the gap to their right is the first offensive lineman in the slide. Finally, a tight end will line up at the line of scrimmage next to the offensive linemen. Andy Reid is known as one of the most brilliant offensive minds in football and has created highly successful offenses with several different teams. wings95, JDG42, Guru03 and 1 others like this. The side the TE is on is the strong-side, and the side away from that is the weak-side. This article does NOT cover all the pass pro terminology in this playbook, but it covers all the basics. A Complete Overview. Before the introduction of the West Coast offense, defenses would simply play man-to-man defense and send an extra pass rusher at the quarterback. St. Louis Rams Shallow Cross concepts.doc . The concept is good versus both man coverage and zone coverage. Im always open to feedback as well, so if there is something you feel is incorrect or should be described more thoroughly, please drop a comment! The West Coast offenses core elements are rhythm, timing, and ball protection. Since the West Coast is the most prevalent offense in the NFL, it's not an exaggeration to call the slant the most important play in professional football. The Slot Cross has an inside receiver running a intermediate crossing route underneath the outside receiver who is running a deep dig route. Every NFL team's offensive scheme, illustrated and explained - Washington Post From run-pass options to the West Coast offense: Breaking down all 32 offensive schemes in the NFL. Both can be a hot receiver. In your diagram, you show 3 Jet as being the play call to the left, but the tight end is to the right! They then would blitz the quarterback using a zone blitz in an attempt to disrupt their timing. Oct 15, 2020. The first number indicates the type of backfield action/movement the backs will take, and the basic type of protection. A look at common quick pass routes, passing concepts, and route combos. X's O's Football is not affiliated or associated with EA Sports, the NFL, or their license. During Olson's tenure, BYU produced. However, this is an efficient offense that has proven to be more than capable of winning championships. In the West Coast system, there are countless formations to run the offense out of. This style also limits the defense from stacking the line of scrimmage to stop the run as they are spread across the whole field. The Smash concept has a two route combination, which are a corner (high) and the other runs a hitch (low). (Image courtesy of Bruce Eien; check out more notes on their version here .) The West Coast Offense is a philosophy that remains relevant at every level of competition. 76/77: Weak flow with scat protection to the strong-side: The TE is now free releasing. The idea is to anticipate a defensive blitz, get the quick fake to hesitate LBs and the secondary, then quickly get the ball out to the TE or 2nd back. Therefore that back attacks A-gap, and the second back attacks B-gap. Initially, Reid treated the quarterback in his system like an NBA point guard, using short accurate passes to get talented pass catchers the ball in space. The goal of this website is to provide you with content that will help you get a leg up on the competition, whether thats in the realm of coaching or on the field itself. The former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator was given the 21st-ranked offense in 2019, according to EPA per play, and improved the unit all the way to 10th. By them switching, it creates an opportunity for a big play deep down the field. Coach Walsh went on to say, I truly believe it is the single best tool available to take advantage of a disciplined defense., Utilizes pre-snap motions to generate match-up issues and confusion with the defense. it gets too hard. One of the biggest drawbacks in the West Coast and Air Coryell offenses are their elongated play calls. Understanding the West Coast offense is more complex than simply knowing that it emphasizes the short passing game. The Airraid guys tend to have the two guys cross and head in opposite directions. The first digit indicates the type of play action protection, and the 2nd and 3rd numbers indicate the run action. The weak-side back has OLB, and the strong-side back has ILB/extra/garbage. The West Coast Offense would then equate to the tactic of blitzkrieg developed by the Germans in WWII. Up to this point the teams running backs and tight ends were used in power runs to set up the vertical pass. The West Coast Offense is an innovative horizontal passing offense based on timing and route running. The WCO can be installed at a lower level of football with 10-15 core pass plays and 5-6 core running plays. It's all about the feet The best way to define the West Coast offense may be to start with what it isn't. The traditional passing game, which NFL teams ran for years, is based on deep drops . 55 is TE left, so we Rip). When you run pocket protection, the uncovered lineman to each side double-reads ILB to OLB to that side. TE check-releases off the OLB to their side. The login page will open in a new tab. Get an advantageous matchup. If the OLB does not blitz, the back releases. The spacing concept can always be found in bunch formations. Receivers, tight ends, and running backs will go in motion to try and draw a slower linebacker in coverage to create a mismatch. If the OLB blitzes, the back then becomes the hot receiver, and replaces the OLBs position to get open. When there are two backs in the backfield, they essentially cross each other off the snap. Invented by Bill Walsh, it was born in Cincinnati but popularized in San Francisco, earning its "West. Even in the West Coast offense run by some other guys the Ravens have interviewed, like Gary Kubiak, it's pretty specific what you need to make it work including a stout O-line because running backs are used primarily as pass catchers instead of extra blockers. . They release if the ILB does not blitz. During his time in San Fran, he worked with two of the most accurate, intelligent, and relatively mobile quarterbacks in the history of the NFL to show the league the dominance of the West Coast offense. 300: Remember, this book does not use 300 like modern WCO terminology uses it. Against zone coverage this creates a 2 on 1 situation. Developing the West Coast Offense Walsh's "nickel-and-dime" offense was one that relied heavily on a method, ball-control passing game that utilized the backs and tight ends as primary. In the playbook this article is based off of, Walsh uses three digits. But, two statements do help explain what it is all about. 86/87: Scat protection strong-side with both backs free releasing. Since timing is so important, there are times when the ball is thrown before the receiver is open. TE free releases by default. Cornerbacks can take advantage of this by playing underneath the receiver or looking to jump the passing lanes to beat the receiver to where the ball is being thrown. Walsh preached that at the end of the drop back, the quarterback should know exactly where the pass catchers are in their routes and be able to predict where to go with the ball. On either side of the field are two wide receivers along with a tight end lined up next to the offensive line. 88/89: Requires a TE on each side. The TE free releases by default, because now both backs are coming to their side. Many of these pass protections are the gold-standard for pass protections in the NFL today. He then break outside towards the sideline at a 45 degree angle. When there are two backs in the backfield, default rules have both backs going to the same side. With both passing routes going in the same direction, it creates a high/low read for the quarterback. Default rules tell backs in protection if their defenders do not blitz (no dog), they release. The West Coast Offense essentially provides a blue print for the modern game we know today. In both protections, the default rule for all running-backs and tight-ends is to execute an assignment called check-release, which means they are assigned to a defender (or two), and if that defender blitzes (blitz is called dog in the playbook), they block them. The Passing Game II: Slants and Flats. This makes it a quick pass, where the line and backs will block aggressively and hold the defense at the line of scrimmage. If youre still confused about the orientation of the numbering system, remember this: They are oriented based on the location of the TE. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. 400: Slide protection away from the call with a cross-action/misdirection backfield or run fake. 2/3: A-gap (between center and guard), 4/5: B-gap (between guard and tackle), 6/7: C-gap (between tackle and TE), 8/9: Outside. Still, Reids offense led the NFL in yards after the catch in the 2020 season due to the extremely talented pass-catching duo of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Triangle-O Football Clients Homepage. 9,884 posts . When first introducing the system, Walsh was criticized as trying to finesse the defense or playing too conservatively. A common Flood concept would be to have one receiver run a flat, second receiver runs a deep out, and the third runs a go route such as shown in the diagram above. In 1983 BYU's Cougars led all NCAA Division I teams with 584 yards offense per game. Another difference is that the West Coast system looks to make quick passes across the middle of the field, but the Spread looks to spread the defense out across the whole field and uses vertical routes just as much as horizontal routes. 598 means they fake a 98 run and the line protects the gap to their backside (left), and 599 means they fake a 99 run and the line protects the gap to their backside (right). The following are three of the most basic plays to pair with a three-step drop back: The offense builds upon these three basic plays by adding layers of disguise through players in motion, quarterback rollouts, and play-action plays. The offense relies on a smart, accurate, and mobile quarterback running the offense under center. In both protections, the default rule for all running-backs and tight-ends is to execute an assignment called check-release, which means they are assigned to a defender (or two), and if that defender blitzes (blitz is called dog in the playbook), they block them. A popular way offenses like to attack zone coverage is flood one side of the field with mutiple receivers. With a passing attack based on short throws, there is a smaller chance of homerun-type plays. 300 is an AGGRESSIVE slide protection (so slide protection with the O-line and backs attacking and holding their blocks at the line of scrimmage (LOS). As with any offensive system, specific player qualities are needed for each position. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. Odd numbers mean the TE is to the left. Strong back only has ILB (or Mike) to their side, and check releases off them. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! The Slant is a short timing route that has the receiver breaking towards the middle of the field for a quick pass from the quarterback. It is a traditional Cover 3 beater that goes all the way back to the passing concepts of Sid Gillman and Don Coryell and into the West Coast offense. 0/1: Off the centers left/right butt-cheek. West Coast 1983 San Diego Chargers OFF.pdf . Initially, the Spread looked to be a variation of the West Coast offense, but its a unique offensive system. Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy's roots are in the West Coast Offense, which he's now bringing to The Star - with Dak Prescott and "2.5 seconds'' a centerpiece determinant for how well it'll . When the running game becomes effective it causes the defense to set up to stop the run and potentially overcommit. We know that on first down our ball-control passing is vital. Max means all backs and tight-ends release, and the protection always becomes pocket protection (so if slide was called, max turns it into pocket protection). How the POP play streamlines the pro-style approach. All backs (so two backs) check-release, and the TE free releases if there is one. The West Coast offense does the exact opposite. 0000004677 00000 n What we like about it is its a simple high/low read for the quarterback to make. Strong back and guard double read the ILB (Mike) and the back check-releases. 29. by Mike Tanier. Since the 1980s, football teams have used the West Coast Offense to win championships. The goal was to get these pass catchers the ball in space as they ran across the middle of the field to allow them to make plays after the catch for extra yardage. Due to this, when they see any type of potential run play, the defense may overact, letting the offense take them off guard. The weak-back coming to the strong-side double-reads the ILB to strong OLB (Mike to Sam). The TE is not blocking at all, and both backs go weak, so there are only lineman blocking to the strong-side, requiring the scat protection. The West Coast Offense Walsh used primarily relies on numbers to call pass protections. Bill Walsh helped changed the offensive playing field with his West Coast offensive system. If you call the protection to the right, that means the offensive linemen on that side will BOB protect. 10s: Runs to an offset back at a depth of 4-5 yards coming across the formation/behind the QB (so like a fullback in an offset-I, or a halfback next to the fullback). Originally, the term referred to the Air Coryell system popularized by Don Coryell. The Levels concept does an excellent job at attacking zone coverage. His offense became one of the few not using the power running game as the focus through the 1980s and 1990s. Rip/Liz only applies to the weak-side (so 54 is TE to the right, meaning weak side is left, so Liz is ran. Operation Sports Forums > Football > EA Sports College Football Offensive schemes and tactics Most Anticipated Sports Games of 2023 Five Ways EA Sports PGA Tour Can Improve Golf Career Modes With all of these advantages, it may come as a surprise that this system was created out of necessity rather than want. There are two similar but distinct offensive strategic systems that are commonly referred to as "West Coast offenses". Romo will turn out to be an all time announcer for CBS. Tackles identify and block the defensive ends. When the offense feels this is happening, they often take chances by throwing the ball deep down the field. West Coast Offense Playbooks - FootballXOs.com - Free Football Playbooks Invented by Bill Walsh, the philosophy of the West Coast Offense is to emphasize a short, well-timed passing game to take advantage of defensive weakness. 0000001929 00000 n 0000000712 00000 n The West Coast Offense, has its roots in the 1960s and 70s with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals under legendary coach Paul Brown. Weak flow with scat protection to the strong-side: The TE is now free releasing. means all backs and tight-ends release, and the protection always becomes pocket protection (so if slide was called, max turns it into pocket protection). If the safety does not bite on the dig route, then quarterback would look to throw to that receiver underneath. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. NORM CHOW POST SNAP READS.doc. In your summary, you say that an odd number means that the TE is on the left! These are great for setting up boot passes to get the defense going one way, so the QB has room to run the other way. We can drop the ball off to a back late and still make 4 to 5 yards. What the West Coast offense does is exploit the natural holes and weaknesses of a defensive formation or structure with short, fast, precisely timed passes before the defense can flow to the ball, or drop to their coverage areas (these are the planes that initially attack strong-points to soften defenses for the tanks). AKA Fox 2/Fox 3 if you want to sound cool, is the same as H2/H3, but now the fullback or other back is faking and taking the A-gap, while the halfback/tailback goes B-gap. In many cases, you will find the Stick concept run from some type of bunch, cluster, or tight formation. The West Coast offense is a fast-paced system that relies on short and quick throws to sure-handed receivers who run precise horizontal routes. The quarterback looks to throw to the receiver once he makes his break towards the side line. The Divide is a passing route that that has a receiver running towards the middle of the field. Football's West Coast Offense. If the defender covers the hitch, the deep in route will be open. A good pass route to get the quarterback in rhythm. Rip/Liz to the strong-side only. To the left side (or weak-side/back-side), the offensive line will slide. New York went from a vertical concept with elements of the old run-and-shoot implemented by Kevin Gilbride to more of a West Coast offense, in which the emphasis was put more on short to . After logging in you can close it and return to this page. The Switch concept is a popular Run-&-Shoot passing concept that has outside receiver running a post route with an inside receiver. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. If you were to compare this to warfare, think of the running game as your infantry, and the forward pass as planes, tanks and armor support. The back away from the call side is coming over to that side to get the blitzing ILB. 0000001428 00000 n Copyright 2023 vIQtory Sports, all rights reserved. Heres a little bonus. Runs to a back behind the QB at a depth of 4-5 yards. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. In 1969, the Bengals had a rising superstar in rookie quarterback Greg Cook, but in week 3 Cook tore his rotator cuff. The Curl-Flat passing concept is one of the oldest and most popular passing concepts in football. These plays are designed to get the ball thrown before the defense has time to respond; there are a few different variations within the five steps to further confuse the defense. If man coverage is called, the quarterback looks to see if the slot receiver is able to get seperation from the defender in coverage, especially if no safety is playing the deep middle of the field. Additionally, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark, and Tom Rathman were among many Pro-Bowl caliber players on offense during this era. Below is an example of the type of formation and play Coach Walsh would run: It is important to note that Coach Walsh won three Super Bowls with this offense. The quarterbacks dropback is critical to the timing of the offense, so defenses have targeted this element in an attempt to disrupt the offensive scheme. Hb```f``:&23 ?s4 9L*. This is important to help you frame your offense. The Flood concept does this by having three receiver running pass routes towards the same of the field. Walsh used a traditional hole-numbering system: Evens right, odds left. Joe Montana, Steve Young, andJerry Riceare all now in the Hall of Fame. Walsh then added more layers by sending players in motion to create mismatches and used the passing game to set the tempo of the game. Scat protection weak (TE to that side free releases). Strong back and guard double read the ILB (Mike) and the back check-releases. Split flow protection is a pocket protection, where both backs move opposite of each other off the snap (if you have a back to the left and right of the QB, the left back moves left, and the right back moves right). The types of passes coming out of this concept are quite numerous, but typically pass-catchers will have short to intermediate routes sending them horizontally across the field. If the number called is odd, it means the TE is to the left. 0000000571 00000 n While there may be some deep throws made downfield, the focus is on quick and short passes that have a high chance of completion. %PDF-1.2 % The West Coast Offense is an innovative horizontal passing offense based on timing and route running.