Between our own 10-yard line and the opponent's 25, we operate our field offense. This is important to help you frame your offense. Strong back and guard double read the ILB (Mike) and the back check-releases. 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. These types of pass routes are very effective in man coverage is called. Scat means a back free releases (meaning they run a route right off the snap, and have no blocking responsibility. There are two similar but distinct offensive strategic systems that are commonly referred to as "West Coast offenses". The first number indicates the type of backfield action/movement the backs will take, and the basic type of protection. Feel free to use this page as quick reference if you are confused about these type pass combos, pass concept, and pass routes are designed for. In the play-option pass, all these schools are seeing the marriage of pass and run in a way that's changing the game. So 416 means theyre faking a 16 run play and using 400 protection. 78/79: Both backs flow weak, and check release. A Complete Overview. the diagram below. However, this is an efficient offense that has proven to be more than capable of winning championships. F2/F3: 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. 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). The next receiver to him, runs a flat or a quick out. During these years, BYU regularly led the nation in passing offense. This style focuses on short-to-intermediate, precise routes run by receivers. 1985 BYU Passing Offense.pdf. The Shallow Cross passing concept that teams that like to run the Air Raid offense. Some teams may refer to it as the triangle. One of the most popular styles has become the West Coast offense, a system that many NFL teams use today to various degrees. Runs to a back behind the QB at a depth of 4-5 yards. Copyright 2023 vIQtory Sports, all rights reserved. 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. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. A fundamentally sound play that strives to contradict the basic principles of a defense, the play-pass gets the defensive team to commit to a fake run and then throwing a pass behind the defenders off the fake.. 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 Ultimate Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? When there are two backs in the backfield, default rules have both backs going to the same side. 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 Portland passing concept is similar to the Mills concept as the design is to provide an opportunity for the quarterback to look throw deep down the field to a receiver running a deep post if the safety comes up defend the dig route that is being run from the opposite side. On 300, the slide goes away from the call. If the call is 314 the slide is going to the left, and 315 means the slide is going to the right. 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. If both blitz, they block the inside defender. 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). His very popular version of the offense averaged scoring a touchdown every ten plays and once scored 98 points in a single game. In addition to the innovation of avid dedication to precisely timed short routes, the West Coast Offense was one of the first systems to implement a complex strategy for protecting the QB, while also allowing the offense to use its tight-ends and running-backs in the passing game with almost an equal amount participation in the passing game as the wide receivers. 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 three-step drop is designed to be the ball control section of the passing game. The play is basic, with two curl-flat combinations either side of the formation and a receiver spotting . 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 . When executed successfully, the defense would start playing more conservatively, trying to close and prevent those short passes, which would open up both the deep passing game for those gut-punch plays (tanks using speed to overwhelm defenses and get behind enemy lines), then the running game (infantry). The West Coast Offense: Timing-Based Passing By rufio May 27, 2011, 3:00pm EDT Share One common misunderstanding about West Coast offenses is that they only throw short or that they utilize. The West Coast offenses also use a lot of play-action plays. The back typically does not come across the formation, or at least behind the QB. 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). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! On 300, the slide goes away from the call. The terminology you will see in this article are being borrowed from this. The Spot passing concept is design to attack zone coverage. BYU Offense.doc. 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. Usually, they work inside-out, blocking the inner-most defender first. 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. One receiver runs a shorter dig, while other receiver runs a deeper dig. . A look at common quick pass routes, passing concepts, and route combos. Paperback - July 29, 1997. The back to the strong-side scats and the strong guard/uncovered lineman scat protects. Runs to a back at 6-7 yards behind the QB (so a tailback). wings95, JDG42, Guru03 and 1 others like this. Rip/Liz only applies to the weak-side (so 54 is TE to the right, meaning weak side is left, so Liz is ran. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? In the 1970's, Darrel "Mouse" Davis began having tremendous success with the offense at Portland . Visit our Shop to see our latest tools to help you work faster! Walsh took this offensive system and perfected it during his years with San Francisco. If man coverage is called, the tight end will generally matched up against slower linebacker or a smaller defensive back. When there are two backs in the backfield, they essentially cross each other off the snap. 84/85: Scat protection weak (TE to that side free releases). When the offense feels this is happening, they often take chances by throwing the ball deep down the field. Its so popular that every offense and defense knows it to a point where offenses will just call it what it is, because it cant really take defenses by surprise anymore. He so firmly believed in this, every play was created with a predetermined number of steps for the quarterbacks drop back. Walsh used a traditional hole-numbering system: Evens right, odds left. 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. Another route is used to compliment the Divide pass route is a receiver on the outside running a go or streak route. Slide protection to the weak-side (away from TE). 0000001450 00000 n 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. Weak back free releases. While its similar, the Spread doesnt rely on timing as heavily as the West Coast system, but rather on creating holes across the defense to be taken advantage of. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! H2/H3: H stands for halfback (so think your primary running-back. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to write more articles in the near future. Slide to the weak-side (284 means slide is left, backs right). The two outside receivers next him both run short in routes. In slide protection, you call a side to set the protection to (left/right, strong-side/weak-side, whatever). To the left side (or weak-side/back-side), the offensive line will slide. Therefore that back attacks A-gap, and the second back attacks B-gap. They're short and timing based to get the ball out of the quarterback's hands and give a high completion percentage. Once gains separation or leverage he is will be open. Coach Bill Walsh is credited with inventing this system as a Quarterbacks Coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. Watch for defenders dropping back in buzz zones as they do a good job at defending corner routes. The Double Dig has two receivers running dig routes to the same side of the field. In the Spread, the fullback is replaced by another receiver; the running back is also used to block more. 0000004677 00000 n Oct 15, 2020. 284/285: Slide to the weak-side (284 means slide is left, backs right). 0000000571 00000 n The back away from the call side is coming over to that side to get the blitzing ILB. All of these adaptations were focused on one thing, disrupting the timing of the quarterback. 1-3 of 3 replies Sorted by. 280 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 282 /H [ 712 738 ] /L 680989 /E 4908 /N 67 /T 675270 >> endobj xref 280 11 0000000016 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. 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. From this alignment, the West Coast Offense can run the majority of their route combinations, which include slants and curls, to attack the underneath half. The West Coast Offense essentially provides a blue print for the modern game we know today. If a run is called with pass tagged onto it, like 16 power pass, or 19 BOB pass, the offense executes the running play, but blockers do not go downfield so that a pass can be thrown. 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. With all of these advantages, it may come as a surprise that this system was created out of necessity rather than want. 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. Bill Walsh helped changed the offensive playing field with his West Coast offensive system. Some team's may refer to it as the triangle. 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. Basic split-flow rules as described above. 29. by Mike Tanier. NEW System Evolutions. 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. Answer 1 of 17: Hi all, thanks to previous posts I have been able to understand quite a bit about the trains and connections in Frankfurt- but I would like advice on the following: I will be in Frankfurt from Aug 31-Sept 5 and would like to do a few day trips. The schemes are often based in West Coast or Air Coryell concepts, but incorporate a lot more options in the run game, quarterback reads are minimized, and routes are simplified. 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). We all know Andy Reid brought the West Coast offense to the Chiefs this season, but let's take a closer look at one of the main passing concepts within his particular West Coast offense. Both can be a hot receiver. 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. The Curl Flat route combo has the outside receiver running a curl, while inside receiver runs a flat route. 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. Updated on 02/21/19. Some of the most notable are the following: With all of the advantages of the West Coast system, it can be hard to imagine a way to stop this type of offense. 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. One of the big differences is the removal of the fullback in the Spread system. The West Coast Offense is a philosophy that remains relevant at every level of competition. For West Coast teams that love to use quick-hitting pass plays to move the chains, the POP play is a God-send for how it integrates what that team has to spend practice time on. Bill Walsh, who was the offensive coordinator at the time, had to step back and completely redesign the teams offense. Compared to other offensive systems, this style has been said to nickel and dime the defense, due to its short passing attempts, and has led to amazing success by countless teams throughout the years and is a staple in the NFL. Additionally, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark, and Tom Rathman were among many Pro-Bowl caliber players on offense during this era. Walsh had two elements he found to be crucial to the success of the offense. 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. The pass route the receiver runs during the play is based on the type of pass coverage called. Weak back free releases. Backs split-flow using Rip/Liz rules (back closer to the right Rips, back closer to the left Lizs. The TE to the weak-side check-releases. During Olson's tenure, BYU produced. If the OLB blitzes, the back then becomes the hot receiver, and replaces the OLBs position to get open. This leads to the question. Slow means a back or tight-end releases only if their assigned linebacker (or linebackers) does not blitz. Tackles identify and block the defensive ends. In 1969, the Bengals had a rising superstar in rookie quarterback Greg Cook, but in week 3 Cook tore his rotator cuff. Backs protect inside-out, meaning they block an inside rush threat first, then work outside if there is no inside threat. 69 H Option-Lavelle Edwards.pdf. On either side of the field are two wide receivers along with a tight end lined up next to the offensive line. The Curl-Flat passing concept is one of the oldest and most popular passing concepts in football. The Ultimate Guide, What Is a Touchback in Football? 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). 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. In American football, the West Coast offense is an offense that places a greater emphasis on passing than on running. The Airraid guys tend to have the two guys cross and head in opposite directions. TE check-releases off the OLB to their side. 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. The quarterback looks to throw to the receiver once he makes his break towards the side line. Get an advantageous matchup. 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. West Coast passing concepts are designed for efficiency, stretching defenses horizontally. The middle receiver, runs a spot route, while the outer most receivers runs some type of hook route. For those that dont know MOFO simply means "middle of the field open," or no deep middle safety. Strong back only has ILB (or Mike) to their side, and check releases off them. Football's West Coast Offense. They release if the ILB does not blitz. If the number called is even, it means the TE is to the right. Kaepernick has been running a West Coast offense for the entirety of his NFL career. If the safety does not bite on the dig route, then quarterback would look to throw to that receiver underneath. Backs free release and both TEs block the OLB/OLB-area to their side. NORM CHOW POST SNAP READS.doc. When the running game becomes effective it causes the defense to set up to stop the run and potentially overcommit. Andy Reid is known as one of the most brilliant offensive minds in football and has created highly successful offenses with several different teams. 0/1: Off the centers left/right butt-cheek. Watching their highlights from with the 49ers almost certainly means you are watching the WCO. 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 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. 17 Bellstone Drive, Bellingham, MA, 02019. The Flood concept does this by having three receiver running pass routes towards the same of the field. The weak back and guard double read ILB to OLB to the weak side, and the back check-releases vs. no blitz. We'll be talking about all of those beginnings in this episode. Frankfurt, Germany. 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. The first digit indicates the type of play action protection, and the 2nd and 3rd numbers indicate the run action. What we like about it is its a simple high/low read for the quarterback to make. 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). When you run pocket protection, the uncovered lineman to each side double-reads ILB to OLB to that side. If no one comes, the lineman assists to their side, or picks up any garbage they happen to see coming through. Below is an image of the drop-back pocket-protection summary from the playbook: Popularly known today as half-slide protection all 2/3-Jet plays are slide protection with one back (always a 6-man protection). In terms of protection, scat indicates that the side a back free releases to calls for the offensive guard, or uncovered lineman to that side to double-read the the linebackers to that side. July 14, 2006, 12:04 pm ET. means a back or tight-end does not release (they block for the whole play). This includes swing passes to the Running Backs and hitches to the Tight End with a regular route tree for receivers. Below are some more features of the system: Finally, if you have more questions about the West Coast Offense, let us know below! Almost every football fan has heard the phrase, establish the run. 1995 BYU OFF.pdf. We will feature a 'fully dimensional passing attack' Hitch is a quick that has a receiver running short curl that allows the quarterback to throw a safe pass for an easy complete. If the ILB blitzes, they sneak a peak at the outside linebacker (OLB) to their side. The weak-side back has OLB, and the strong-side back has ILB/extra/garbage. This formation allows the offense to potentially have five pass catchers on the field and hopefully create a mismatch for the offense. The guard or uncovered lineman to the weak-side must now scat protect to that side, meaning they double read the ILB to OLB on the weak-side. Defenses then developed the zone defense, where defensive players would cover a certain part of the field rather than a certain player. Offensive Install 2021. Play action is where the offense fakes a run in an attempt to make the defense react to the run, then uses the quarterback to roll out and pass to a receiver running down the field. The second element was having pass catchers who could run precise routes and who possessed good hands to catch the ball over the middle of the field. The West Coast offense was one of the most revolutionary offenses when it first hit the scene. How the POP play streamlines the pro-style approach. 1. Before the West Coast Offense and other pass-first systems, the forward pass was used as a compliment to the running game. Doug Pederson, another West Coast. The second and more common passing concept is the five-step drop back. 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. This system looks to control the game through the air and sets receivers up to make plays after the catch. These horizontal routes make it difficult to play man coverage and get defenders chasing. Still confused about the play numbers. West Coast 1983 San Diego Chargers OFF.pdf . 400: Slide protection away from the call with a cross-action/misdirection backfield or run fake. Against man coverage, the receiver running the pivot route will generally be open once he breaks towards the sideline. Scat protection strong-side with both backs free releasing. The West Coast offense does the exact opposite. 55 is TE left, so we Rip). If the defender covers the deep in route, the hitch route underneath will be open. In this playbook, there are two primary types of protection. 9,884 posts . Your backs and TEs protect the OLBs. 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 terms of protection, scat indicates that the side a back free releases to calls for the offensive guard, or uncovered lineman to that side to double-read the the linebackers to that side.