west coast offense passing concepts

Empty protection (no backs or TEs in protection; just the five linemen) could be done with either pocket or slide protection. The inner most receiver runs a flat route. Updated on 02/21/19. Generally one of them gets open once they cross each other. This means you're only going to throw 5-step passes about FIVE times a game (50% of your plays = 25, 20% of this = 5). Trap and toss plays from an offset back at 4-5 yards. This formation allows the offense to potentially have five pass catchers on the field and hopefully create a mismatch for the offense. To the left side (or weak-side/back-side), the offensive line will slide. Snagis a great passing concept that is used at all levels. Post Corner High-Low Isolation Vs Cover 2 Zone Coverage, Gun Trips Left Hb Strong S Motion Z Post. The route involves a MOFO or MOFC read by the quarterback. 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. 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. Bill Walsh was the leader in creating the system, which is still used todays game. 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. This is to get the defense to bite, or jump forward, leaving space open behind them for receivers to run. 54/55: Rip/Liz only applies to the weak-side (so 54 is TE to the right, meaning weak side is left, so Liz is ran. Many of these pass protections are the gold-standard for pass protections in the NFL today. In American football, the West Coast offense is an offense that places a greater emphasis on passing than on running. When there are two backs in the backfield, default rules have both backs going to the same side. When McCarthy called plays as Green Bay HC, he used the West Coast offense a system dependent upon short passing. 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. The spacing concept can always be found in bunch formations. 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). All of these adaptations were focused on one thing, disrupting the timing of the quarterback. Please log in again. However, since both backs are going away from the TE off the snap (weak flow), the TE is now check-releasing by default on all 70s plays, primarily to block the OLB to their side. One of the most important elements in this system is the quarterback dropback. The concept exploits the aggressiveness of the defense, as the passing plays are based on faking the most successful running plays. A good pass route to get the quarterback in rhythm. Between our own 10-yard line and the opponent's 25, we operate our field offense. 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. When first introducing the system, Walsh was criticized as trying to finesse the defense or playing too conservatively. Frankfurt, Germany. 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. The West Coast offenses core elements are rhythm, timing, and ball protection. And When to Call Them, What Is a Tight End in Football? The play is basic, with two curl-flat combinations either side of the formation and a receiver spotting . Conversely if the cornerback sinks back on the receiver running the high read, then the low read receiver will be open. Unless a specific protection says otherwise, players not mentioned use the rules described above. By BJ . Strong back and guard double read the ILB (Mike) and the back check-releases. If youre still confused about the orientation of the numbering system, remember this: They are oriented based on the location of the TE. The weak-side back has OLB, and the strong-side back has ILB/extra/garbage. What exactly is the West Coast offense in football? Its the same slide protection described earlier, and as I said before, Ill be doing a more in-depth article on this protection in the future, because its so popular and favored today. 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. 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. don't try to compare it to any other offense. Hitch is a quick that has a receiver running short curl that allows the quarterback to throw a safe pass for an easy complete. Up to this point the teams running backs and tight ends were used in power runs to set up the vertical pass. Report inappropriate content . There will be two wide receivers on the line of scrimmage on either side of the field. However, this is an efficient offense that has proven to be more than capable of winning championships. Bill Walsh is quoted as saying, This type of pass is designed specifically to develop and take advantage of a defensive conflict. 0000001608 00000 n 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. If you look at the playbook link, the best description of the pass protections begins on page 251. One receiver runs a shorter dig, while other receiver runs a deeper dig. 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. His offensive coordinator was Darrell Bevel, a West Coast Offense guy. 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). When a back or tight-end is assigned a hot responsibility, it means if their assigned defender blitzes, they bypass them and look for a quick pass from the QB. Defenses then developed the zone defense, where defensive players would cover a certain part of the field rather than a certain player. I don't have status on either airline and have a 5 hour layover in Fra for a Fra-Dulles flight. Remember pocket and slide protection that was mentioned above. The Flood concept does this by having three receiver running pass routes towards the same of the field. In the last three seasons under Moore, the Cowboys offense ranked 14th in 2020 when Prescott missed 11 games with a fractured ankle, first in 2021 when Prescott set franchise record for passing . __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"eb2ec":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"eb2ec":{"val":"var(--tcb-skin-color-4)","hsl":{"h":206,"s":0.2727,"l":0.01,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"eb2ec":{"val":"rgb(57, 163, 209)","hsl":{"h":198,"s":0.62,"l":0.52,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"f3080":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"f2bba":{"name":"Main Light 10","parent":"f3080"},"trewq":{"name":"Main Light 30","parent":"f3080"},"poiuy":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"f83d7":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"},"frty6":{"name":"Main Light 45","parent":"f3080"},"flktr":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"f3080"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)"},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"l":0.09,"s":0.02}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"f3080":{"val":"rgb(23, 23, 22)","hsl":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.5)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.5}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.7)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.7}},"poiuy":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.35)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.35}},"f83d7":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.4)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.4}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.2)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.2}},"flktr":{"val":"rgba(23, 23, 22, 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":60,"s":0.02,"l":0.09,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, Bill, Coach, Dwight Clark, football, Joe Montana, Offense, Philosophy, Strategy, The catch, Walsh, WCO, West Coast Offense, What Is The West Coast Offense? Typically, there will be two backs in the backfield split to either side of the quarterback. TE check-releases off the OLB to their side. 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). Another route is used to compliment the Divide pass route is a receiver on the outside running a go or streak route. ThisAir Coryelloffense was originally called the West Coast Offense, but when one player mistakenly called Coach Walshs system The West Coast Offense, the name stuck. 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. The Airraid guys tend to have the two guys cross and head in opposite directions. 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. Weak back free releases. If you call the protection to the right, that means the offensive linemen on that side will BOB protect. 69 H Option-Lavelle Edwards.pdf. This default/watered down play action system is a slide protection (so half-slide in modern terms, just like 2/3 Jet). A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? 1. West Coast passing concepts are designed for efficiency, stretching defenses horizontally. Strong flow is the opposite of weak flow (another two-back pocket-style protection). Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. 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. 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. 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. It has one receiver running a shallow crossing route from one direction, while another receiver runs a dig route from the opposite direction. Spot The Spot passing concept is design to attack zone coverage. 0000002771 00000 n Who Should Not Use the West Coast Offense? For this section, Im going outside the playbook a little bit, and drawing from some more modern nomenclature. As they continue to learn the What Is a Secondary in Football? Okay but I think Romo may have a bit more knowledge than a few route concepts. Triangle-O Football Clients Homepage. TE free releases by default. 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. 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). Therefore that back attacks A-gap, and the second back attacks B-gap. The Passing Game II: Slants and Flats. The second and more common passing concept is the five-step drop back. The quarterback is looking to see what the defense gives him and looks to take advantage of it. 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. One of the big differences is the removal of the fullback in the Spread system. Hot: When a back or tight-end is assigned a hot responsibility, it means if their assigned defender blitzes, they bypass them and look for a quick pass from the QB. Backs protect inside-out, meaning they block an inside rush threat first, then work outside if there is no inside threat. The players Hey there! Outstanding breakdown. In most conventional offenses, the idea is to run the ball to draw the safeties and linebackers in closer to the line of scrimmage, thus opening up . 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. 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. Once gains separation or leverage he is will be open. 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. Personnel Preferences: Kingsbury runs modified/evolving Air Raid passing concepts with Andy Reid run game concepts. Weak back free releases. This is similar to the idea of "concepts" in the West Coast Offense, except the West Coast terminology sometimes names plays after the primary receiver's route, like "Y Spot". 0000000571 00000 n 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. 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. The first number also sets the default rules for all numbers in that series. True to form of the 'west coast offense' these concepts are excellent ball control, short passing plays which rely on accuracy and timing between the QB & WRs to take advantage of different defensive structures and coverages. west coast offense orientation & terminology start from scratch when learning it. Receivers, tight ends, and running backs will go in motion to try and draw a slower linebacker in coverage to create a mismatch. wings95, JDG42, Guru03 and 1 others like this. Due to innovations in offenses, the WCO has also been implemented for shotgun-based offenses. 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. Kaepernick has been running a West Coast offense for the entirety of his NFL career. The West Coast offenses also use a lot of play-action plays. The Shake has a receiver making a quick fake before running a shallow crossing route. 50/51, 52/53: Backs split-flow using Rip/Liz rules (back closer to the right Rips, back closer to the left Lizs. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! The back typically does not come across the formation, or at least behind the QB. Most protections have two numbers. A Complete Overview, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? YT. Offensive Packages. 24/25: The back to the weak-side (away from the TE) scats (free releases) to their side into a route. Linemen in the slide protect the gaps to their back-side/weak-side (the left side in this example), and are also responsible for the Will linebacker. These types of pass routes are very effective in man coverage is called. So 416 means theyre faking a 16 run play and using 400 protection. Invented by Bill Walsh, it was born in Cincinnati but popularized in San Francisco, earning its "West. A Complete Overview, What Is a Blitz in Football? The two pass routes are designed create a two-on-one isolation on a defender dropping back in a hook zone. Both can be a hot receiver. Pocket/Cup Protection, and 2. 284/285: Slide to the weak-side (284 means slide is left, backs right). The TE to the weak-side check-releases. If both blitz, they block the inside defender. 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). If the call is 314 the slide is going to the left, and 315 means the slide is going to the right. we call plays in the following series: a) teens: all runs. 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. 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. Weak flow is another pocket protection series normally ran from two-back sets. If the number called is odd, it means the TE is to the left. 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). Slide to the weak-side (284 means slide is left, backs right). If you have an I-formation, the strong back is the closest back to the TE, so its the fullback. 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. trailer << /Size 291 /Info 271 0 R /Root 281 0 R /Prev 675259 /ID[] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 281 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 273 0 R /Outlines 266 0 R /OpenAction [ 282 0 R /XYZ null null null ] /PageMode /UseNone >> endobj 289 0 obj << /S 918 /O 996 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 290 0 R >> stream 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. Odd numbers mean the TE is to the left. 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. 1-3 of 3 replies Sorted by. The deep back/tailback is the weak back. In any 2-back formation, the back closest to the TE is the strong back. 78/79: Both backs flow weak, and check release. Play action means the offense will fake a run, then throw a pass. A popular way offenses like to attack zone coverage is flood one side of the field with mutiple receivers. This was effective as defenses could keep offenses guessing by blitzing linebackers, safeties, or cornerbacks from any part of the field. Bill Walsh helped changed the offensive playing field with his West Coast offensive system. Run-game terminology is much more simple. The quarterback looks to throw to the receiver once he makes his break towards the side line. This leads to the question. We break the sections down with quick pass, medium pass, and deep pass. The back faking with the QB attacks the inside A-gap (between center and guard) and check releases reading Mike to Sam linebacker, and the non-faking back attacks the B-gap and check-releases reading Sam to the next outside threat. 29. by Mike Tanier. 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. By them switching, it creates an opportunity for a big play deep down the field. 0000004677 00000 n Against zone coverage, look for the tight end to be open as he crossing the field, especially if another receiver is running pass route underneath or over the top of him. The back away from the call side is coming over to that side to get the blitzing ILB. 55 is TE left, so we Rip). 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. They release if the ILB does not blitz. 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. 26/27: The back to the strong-side scats and the strong guard/uncovered lineman scat protects. The inside receiver, runs a wheel route down the sideline. BYU Passing Game - Lavell Edwards.doc . Some other terms you need to know before going into the numbered series: Scat: Scat means a back free releases (meaning they run a route right off the snap, and have no blocking responsibility. Double read: An offensive player is assigned two defenders to block. A look at common quick pass routes, passing concepts, and route combos. Use players in motion before the snap to make the defense show their scheme. The Spacing is quick passing concept that has three receivers running a three route combo. 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. The West Coast Offense is a passing ball control offense. 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 . The goal of this offense is to use the quarterbacks dropbacks to establish the timing for plays, while receivers run horizontal routes across the field. The next receiver to him, runs a flat or a quick out. 228/229: Slide protection to the weak-side (away from TE). Instead, Walsh turned them into pass catchers and gave them horizontal routes designed to get them in space. If the OLB blitzes, the back then becomes the hot receiver, and replaces the OLBs position to get open. While the run plays use the standard two digit. Those combined, with the wide zone running offense, make for a deadly play-action passing game that stresses linebackers to their extreme. 109. 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 By having the inside receiver running the crossing route he will open room for the dig route coming behind him. In the play-option pass, all these schools are seeing the marriage of pass and run in a way that's changing the game. The back to the strong-side scats and the strong guard/uncovered lineman scat protects. The three-step drop is designed to be the ball control section of the passing game. We can drop the ball off to a back late and still make 4 to 5 yards. Backs free release and both TEs block the OLB/OLB-area to their side. Listed below are player roles and the qualities they need to have to be successful. Triangle - Kick Game. The Run and Shoot Offense was first developed in the 1960's by Glenn "Tiger" Ellison from Middletown, Ohio. The weak back and guard double read ILB to OLB to the weak side, and the back check-releases vs. no blitz. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. 56/57: Rip/Liz to the strong-side only. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. The second way to stop the West Coast offense is for cornerbacks, or those guarding the receivers, to try and jump the route to intercept the ball. Along the way, Ill also answer general sports related questions. Basic split-flow rules as described above. 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). means a back or tight-end releases only if their assigned linebacker (or linebackers) does not blitz. Against man coverage, the receiver running the pivot route will generally be open once he breaks towards the sideline. First digit indicates whos carrying the ball, and the second number is the hole, or point of attack the ball carrier takes it to.