west coast offense passing concepts

BOB means big on big/back on backer. That means offensive linemen block the nearest defensive lineman, and any backs in the formation block linebackers (or linebacker-types) to that side. 0000004677 00000 n In 1983 BYU's Cougars led all NCAA Division I teams with 584 yards offense per game. Bill Walsh, who was the offensive coordinator at the time, had to step back and completely redesign the teams offense. We can drop the ball off to a back late and still make 4 to 5 yards. The players Hey there! Consequently, higher completion percentages are expected and, with that, fewer turnovers. The West Coast Offense Walsh used primarily relies on numbers to call pass protections. 284/285: Slide to the weak-side (284 means slide is left, backs right). The Flood concept does this by having three receiver running pass routes towards the same of the field. This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. When there are two backs in the backfield, they essentially cross each other off the snap. The original West Coast Offense of Sid Gillman uses some of the same principles (pass to establish the run, quarterback throws to timed spots), but offensive formations are generally less complicated with more wideouts and motion. Almost every football fan has heard the phrase, establish the run. If the ILB blitzes, they sneak a peak at the outside linebacker (OLB) to their side. Originally, the term referred to the Air Coryell system popularized by Don Coryell. The inner most receiver runs a flat route. The West Coast Offense is a passing ball control offense. The WCO can be installed at a lower level of football with 10-15 core pass plays and 5-6 core running plays. Listed below are player roles and the qualities they need to have to be successful. And When to Call Them, What Is a Tight End in Football? This real football play passing concept features a high-low read between a receiver, who runs a post , and a running back, who runs an angle route. TE free releases by default. The Verticals passing concept sends 3 or 4 receivers on vertical passing routes. Offensive Install 2021. The inside receiver, runs a wheel route down the sideline. This phrase is a football standard and is the mindset of using the run to set up big plays downfield. Recently with Patrick Mahomes, arguably the best quarterback in the league, he has moved into more shotgun formations allowing Mahomes more freedom with his decision-making. This is important to help you frame your offense. It has one receiver running a shallow crossing route from one direction, while another receiver runs a dig route from the opposite direction. Pocket/Cup Protection: Your center and guards protect the center-three defenders of the defense. Low-inside, high-outside. Pocket/Cup Protection, and 2. These series also require a 2nd TE to be in the game to the weak-side (so theres a TE on both sides, or the TE is actually to the weak side, or away from the call side). Even with countless formations, the West Coast offense will have several consistent elements: NFL offenses have taken these elements to create their own unique variation of the West Coast system. When the backs release, the faking back who is more inside will break to the inside, and the back protecting outside will release outside. The weak back and guard double read ILB to OLB to the weak side, and the back check-releases vs. no blitz. The first was using the timing of the quarterback dropbacks to set the pace for the play. With all of this success, Reid has passed his knowledge to his assistants who have gone on to be successful NFL coaches in their own right. Swap: When there are two backs in the backfield, they essentially cross each other off the snap. Copyright 2023 vIQtory Sports, all rights reserved. we call plays in the following series: a) teens: all runs. 0000002590 00000 n Your center and guards protect the center-three defenders of the defense. Both backs free release to the backside, and the O-line scat protects to the weak-side (guard/uncovered lineman double reads ILB to OLB). Its a 6-man version of this play action protection where you fake to the tailback/halfback, and the 2nd back and TE are free releasing. The Levels concept has the receiver furthest inside running a dig route. The original Air Raid was basically taking the West Coast passing game, simplifying it to a purely conceptual level, and then making every formational and personnel decision around maximizing those passing concepts. 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. Weak back free releases. 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). 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. The back typically does not come across the formation, or at least behind the QB. The quarterback looks to take advantage of precise route running by the receivers to complete short, horizontal passes, allowing receivers to make plays after the catch for extra yardage. The Divide is a passing route that that has a receiver running towards the middle of the field. If the cornerback (flat defender) sits on the receiver running the low read, then the receiver running the high read will be open. As with any offensive system, specific player qualities are needed for each position. 17 Bellstone Drive, Bellingham, MA, 02019. 26/27: The back to the strong-side scats and the strong guard/uncovered lineman scat protects. It emphasized the short passing game, although the system has always . the diagram below. Odd numbers mean the TE is to the left. Spot The Spot passing concept is design to attack zone coverage. This is necessary, because both backs are going strong-side, giving the O-line no potential help to the weak-side. understanding the concepts behind our basic run and pass schemes is essential. They release, because that defender theyre assigned to is not a threat to sack the quarterback, so rather than wasting a blocker, they want those players to get involved as receivers incase the primary receivers on a play are not open. If youre a fan of the NFL, youve probably heard the term West Coast Offense. You have also probably seen or heard NFL content where a coach or player says an incredibly long play-name that sounds like a language only C-3PO could translate. Who Should Not Use the West Coast Offense? Can I buy on ebay or otherwise a United or Lufthansa lounge pass for Frankfurt intl airport ? The most basic formation is to have a quarterback in the backfield with a running back and full back split to either side of him. The weak-back coming to the strong-side double-reads the ILB to strong OLB (Mike to Sam). 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. (Image courtesy of Bruce Eien; check out more notes on their version here .) In the Spread, the fullback is replaced by another receiver; the running back is also used to block more. He then break outside towards the sideline at a 45 degree angle. This route combo is generally effective against most zone coverages. This makes it a quick pass, where the line and backs will block aggressively and hold the defense at the line of scrimmage. In addition to wide receivers running routes, the running back and tight end typically will also run routes to overwhelm the defense. Both backs flow weak, and check release. It can be ran from three, two, or one-back formations. 90s: Runs to a back at 6-7 yards behind the QB (so a tailback). The back to the weak-side (away from the TE) scats (free releases) to their side into a route. 200: The QB takes a 5-step drop, and the protection becomes slide protection (in other version of the WCO, you see 200/300 as both slide protection, and a 3-step drop). A Guide to How They Work, What Are Audibles in Football? If both blitz, they block the inside defender. What exactly is the West Coast offense in football? If the call is 314 the slide is going to the left, and 315 means the slide is going to the right. One of the most popular styles has become the West Coast offense, a system that many NFL teams use today to various degrees. Heres a little bonus. 24/25: The back to the weak-side (away from the TE) scats (free releases) to their side into a route. On 300, the slide goes away from the call. Defenses have found the best way to do so is by attacking the element that makes this offense elite the timing. A Complete Overview, What Is a Blitz in Football? Unfortunately, marrying a west coast scheme with the spread offense didn't go over so well at Nebraska, which is why Watson started the 2011 season as quarterbacks coach at Louisville. Against zone coverage this creates a 2 on 1 situation. The terminology you will see in this article are being borrowed from this 356 page, 1985 49ers Playbook that can be found on Google. Part of the reason this works so well is due to the offenses willingness to throw on any down or distance. Double read: An offensive player is assigned two defenders to block. 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. Since timing is so important, there are times when the ball is thrown before the receiver is open. However, the Walsh offense wanted to use quick, short passes as a partial substitute for a traditional running game. Walshs offense consists of 3, and 5-step drops by the QB with routes that rely on the Tight Ends Running Backs, and Receivers. 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 two outside receivers next him both run short in routes. One of the biggest drawbacks in the West Coast and Air Coryell offenses are their elongated play calls. 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. Updated on 02/21/19. The back on the side called check releases on the inside linebacker to that side. West Coast Offense - One of the concepts of the West Coast offense is to get five skill players involved in the passing game. Strong back only has ILB (or Mike) to their side, and check releases off them. These types of pass routes are very effective in man coverage is called. There will be two wide receivers on the line of scrimmage on either side of the field. The Switch concept is a popular Run-&-Shoot passing concept that has outside receiver running a post route with an inside receiver. With the defense spread out at the line of scrimmage it becomes easier for the quarterback to find holes in the defense as well as for the running back when running the ball. They pay Tony Romo about 17 million dollars a year to tell you this on Sunday, and Thursday Nights. west coast offense orientation & terminology start from scratch when learning it. In your summary, you say that an odd number means that the TE is on the left! Doug Pederson, another West Coast. We'll be talking about all of those beginnings in this episode. The route involves a MOFO or MOFC read by the quarterback. 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. 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. The Smash concept has a two route combination, which are a corner (high) and the other runs a hitch (low). The pass route the receiver runs during the play is based on the type of pass coverage called. It's a great concept: the shallow pulls the linebackers while the square-in -- aptly known in Airraid . I don't have status on either airline and have a 5 hour layover in Fra for a Fra-Dulles flight. Have the ability to run many plays from multiple formations, meaning the defense shouldnt be able to predict what the offense will run. Unlike the west coast offense which has landmarks of exactly, to the inch, where a receiver should end their route- the Air Raid lives on spontaneity and adjusting based on space. We will feature a 'fully dimensional passing attack' With a passing attack based on short throws, there is a smaller chance of homerun-type plays. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. don't try to compare it to any other offense. Throughout this article, well cover the origin of the system, positional roles, different variations of the West Coast offense and much more so stick around! The concept exploits the aggressiveness of the defense, as the passing plays are based on faking the most successful running plays. 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 Shanahan offense is derived from the West Coast offense made famous by Bill Walsh. The West Coast roots come from an under-center, quick, methodical passing game. Trap and toss plays from an offset back at 4-5 yards. YT. 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. If he is unable to complete the correct number of steps for his drop back or is moved out of the pocket, he will have a tough time finding an open receiver. The West Coast offenses also use a lot of play-action plays. Hi-Lo Credit: NFL Game Rewind - Anytime you see receivers in a stack look. Kaepernick has been running a West Coast offense for the entirety of his NFL career. 2 means fake action to the right, and 3 means fake action to the left. Walsh ignored the critics and at the end of his career Walshs system started a new era in the NFL with the passing attack being the focus of offenses. 56/57: Rip/Liz to the strong-side only. The offense splits the outside wide receivers in "plus splits", which means outside the numbers. Conversely if the cornerback sinks back on the receiver running the high read, then the low read receiver will be open. Using a numbering system and relying on mostly pocket and slide (half-slide) protections, Bill Walsh and his coaching staffs compiled a system that would allow them to flood the field with receivers from all sorts of different angles and personnel groupings, while also giving them multiple ways to protect the QB from the wide range of defensive schemes and blitzes. 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! 100: Any play with a 1 in front of it (making it a triple digit play starting with 100) means the QB takes a 3-step drop. memorization is the key. And he's been running the same core passing concepts that serve as the foundation of Gruden's scheme. 1-3 of 3 replies Sorted by. 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. Although the system has evolved and integrated with various offensive systems over the previous three decades, the traditional West Coast offense looks to set up the run by passing first,. The quarterback looks to throw to the receiver once he makes his break towards the side line. Please log in again. Lastly, this means that The Catch came from this philosophy as well. If the safety does not bite on the dig route, then quarterback would look to throw to that receiver underneath. I think it's basically a West Coast offense, but instead of using the short passing game as the primary focus to move the ball (Traditional West Coast), the power north/south running game is the primary focus while maintaining West Coast passing concepts when needed. Timing passes with alerts and checkdowns if the post snap read is bad or different. This default/watered down play action system is a slide protection (so half-slide in modern terms, just like 2/3 Jet). 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). The final aspect of the West Coast offense is the use of pre-snap motions to create mismatches on the defensive side of the ball. 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. Level Contributor . In the 1970's, Darrel "Mouse" Davis began having tremendous success with the offense at Portland . 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. In slide protection, you call a side to set the protection to (left/right, strong-side/weak-side, whatever). This makes it a quick pass, where the line and backs will block aggressively and hold the defense at the line of scrimmage. On all play actions, if the faking back sees their primary blocking assignment blitz, they come off the fake immediately to make the block. In order to fully grasp such an intricate philosophy, one must be able to appreciate how a play-caller schemes his receivers into space. Backs split-flow using Rip/Liz rules (back closer to the right Rips, back closer to the left Lizs. Still confused about the play numbers. Even numbers mean the TE (strong-side) is to the right. Frankfurt, Germany. If no one comes, the lineman assists to their side, or picks up any garbage they happen to see coming through. When the running game becomes effective it causes the defense to set up to stop the run and potentially overcommit. The West Coast Offense, as developed by former San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh, is a finesse offense that utilizes a short passing game designed to control the ball. Outstanding breakdown. 88/89: Requires a TE on each side. The Passing Game II: Slants and Flats. Most protections have two numbers. Omaha is a quick pass that features a receiver running a quick out route. The Smash concept creates a high-low read that attacks Cover 2s biggest weakness, the deep outside halves of the field near both sidelines. Coach Bill Walsh is credited with inventing this system as a Quarterbacks Coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. 55 is TE left, so we Rip). For quarterbacks, these backs and tight-ends often serve check-down roles, meaning if the primary receivers in the progression arent open, the QB finds these players for an easy release valve rather than holding onto the ball and risking a sack. They release if the ILB does not blitz. Run-game terminology is much more simple. 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 not easy to define. This pass route is highly effective against man coverage providing the receiver has move speed than the defender covering him. Walshs terminology talks in terms of halfbacks and fullbacks, but I am using weak and strong back so its more fluid across systems and more modern formations. 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. 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 . 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). For each play, there is a certain number of steps for the quarterbacks drop back. This concept is effective against Cover 2 zone coverage, as well as Cover 3 and Cover 4 coverages. Has the outside receiver running a deep in route over the top of the inside receiver running short hitch. Any play with a 1 in front of it (making it a triple digit play starting with 100) means the QB takes a 3-step drop. Some teams may refer to it as the triangle. 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. The Y Cross has the tight end (Y) running an intermediate crossing route. Walsh ended up winning three Super Bowls utilizing the West Coast offense and was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 1981 and the NFC Coach of the Year in 1984. The Dagger is a two receiver route combo that has the outside receiver running a dig route, while the inside receiver next to him runs a streak down the seam. Explained With Pictures, Instantly improve your current positional group, Exclusive access to our staff to help answer your questions, Grow your football knowledge & outsmart your friends and colleagues, Complete breakdown of rules, offensive and defensive concepts, Best course for beginners to learn football, Intro courses that provide you the skillset to talk football like a pro, Engage with your spouse during and after the game. Rip/Liz only applies to the weak-side (so 54 is TE to the right, meaning weak side is left, so Liz is ran. This concept is effective against Cover 2 zone coverage, as well as Cover 3 and Cover 4 coverages. This formation allows the offense to potentially have five pass catchers on the field and hopefully create a mismatch for the offense. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Therefore that back attacks A-gap, and the second back attacks B-gap. One of the most important elements in this system is the quarterback dropback. The TE free releases by default, because now both backs are coming to their side. Gap protection: The O-line steps to the back-side/away from the call and protects the gap. The spacing concept can always be found in bunch formations. Let the quarterback see and read the defense by utilizing his three or five step drop. Hopefully this will give you better idea of common pass routes and route combos found in real football and football video games. 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. 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. The Ultimate Guide, What Is a Touchback in Football? Finally, a tight end will line up at the line of scrimmage next to the offensive linemen. The West Coast offense does the exact opposite. The West Coast Offense essentially provides a blue print for the modern game we know today. Empty protection (no backs or TEs in protection; just the five linemen) could be done with either pocket or slide protection. Two digits. The West Coast Offense provided a blue-print for the modern offensive game in the NFL, primary with its flexibility of various pass protections. The QB takes a 5-step drop, and the protection becomes slide protection (in other version of the WCO, you see 200/300 as both slide protection, and a 3-step drop). If the defender does not blitz, they release into a route to receive a pass. This is to get the defense to bite, or jump forward, leaving space open behind them for receivers to run. Here, the Redskins run their Hank concept, which is fundamental for the west coast offense. If the defender does not blitz, they release into a route to receive a pass. They release, because that defender theyre assigned to is not a threat to sack the quarterback, so rather than wasting a blocker, they want those players to get involved as receivers incase the primary receivers on a play are not open. This includes swing passes to the Running Backs and hitches to the Tight End with a regular route tree for receivers. Bill Walsh was the leader in creating the system, which is still used todays game. The concept is good versus both man coverage and zone coverage. An offensive player is assigned two defenders to block. This system looks to control the game through the air and sets receivers up to make plays after the catch. 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. 1995 BYU OFF.pdf. 0000001747 00000 n The weak-side back has OLB, and the strong-side back has ILB/extra/garbage. If that defender does not blitz (no dog), they then look to block the outside defender. For those that dont know MOFO simply means "middle of the field open," or no deep middle safety. The terminology you will see in this article are being borrowed from this. 55 is TE left, so we Rip). it gets too hard. Stay means a back or tight-end does not release (they block for the whole play). . Scat protection strong-side with both backs free releasing. The three-step drop is designed to be the ball control section of the passing game. So 416 means theyre faking a 16 run play and using 400 protection. 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. . If the defender covers the hitch, the deep in route will be open. 400: Slide protection away from the call with a cross-action/misdirection backfield or run fake. Diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas and challenging perspectives that's nothing but good news for an Eagles offense that smashed its skull against the same West Coast spacing concepts. The West Coast offense was one of the most revolutionary offenses when it first hit the scene. But, two statements do help explain what it is all about. 50/51, 52/53: Backs split-flow using Rip/Liz rules (back closer to the right Rips, back closer to the left Lizs. This system looks to control the game through the air and sets receivers up to make plays after the catch. His very popular version of the offense averaged scoring a touchdown every ten plays and once scored 98 points in a single game. These indeed are the most common route combinations and concepts. On either side of the field are two wide receivers along with a tight end lined up next to the offensive line. First, our offense uses "precision-timed passing, variable formations, and the exploitation of each player's skills" (quote by Bill Walsh) to attack the opposition. The Airraid guys tend to have the two guys cross and head in opposite directions. A Complete Overview. Let's . Gruden had spent his 10 years out of coaching . link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? In the playbook this article is based off of, Walsh uses three digits. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! 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. If man coverage is called, the tight end will generally matched up against slower linebacker or a smaller defensive back. In slide protection, you call a side to set the protection to (left/right, strong-side/weak-side, whatever). Knowledge is power. The Stick is a passing concept that features the inside receiver running a stick route, often he has option to run a quick out route as well depending on the type of pass coverage. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. 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. Passing Game Clinics 2021. 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). This typically involves getting a linebacker in coverage on a running back, wide receiver, or tight end. The back typically does not come across the formation, or at least behind the QB. 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. In the E-P system, there are no requirements, except for a competent quarterback.

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