West Coast offense

[Bomber]

Hello

Reading through an NFL pre-season magazine (published before Williams retired and Warner joined the Giants :? ) I found several references to the 'West Coast offense'. I'm guessing that refers to having the bare number of running backs and as many receivers as possible, but I'm hoping that a more qualifed expert in this forum may be able to point out the difference to me

Thanks
Bomber

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah from my understanding it's a pass heavy offence.

 

[Paullyboy]

Thats a good question, I wouldnt mind knowing the exact meaning of it as well

 

[legend]

The west coast offense was originally emlpoyed by Bill Walsh of the 49er's in the early eighties. It's a scheme designed for maximum effect, whereby the QB doesn't have to be the biggest player with the best arm. The QB can often throw under the coverage and use a speedy WR to chew up the YAC (yards after catch).

Joe Montana and Jerry Rice were the original exponents of the west coast offense and if you have ever seen their drive against the Bengals in the 1988 or 89 super bowl, you will see the west coast offense used to perfection. Joe Montana was the biggest qb with the best arm, but he was the smartest.

The west coast offense is about short passes that are turned into long gains and it keeps the chains moving and eats up a lot of the clock. Denver uses the west coast offense and have done so sine Mike Shanahan came to town.

Teams like the Vikings use a style more suited to the dynamics of Randy Moss, where he can make a spectacular catch deep down field against the best corners in the NFL.

 

[legend]

Here's a useful link guys which backs up some of what I said about the historical elements of the west coast offense.

http://www.westcoastoffense.com/

 

[from1st2last]

The team I play for uses some West Coast Offence plays. It also utilizes the Fullback and Tailback in the passing game more so than some other offensive schemes.

 

[Paullyboy]

Thanks for that Legend, cleared it up nicely

 

[CanadianSteve]

Excellent summary, Legend, the only thing you didn't mention was coach Bill Walsh as the originator.

I think back to the early 80s Chargers with their pass-happy offense, nicknamed Air Coryell after coach Don Coryell. They had Dan Fouts throwing to great wideouts John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, and tight end Kellen Winslow. I don't know the exact differences between that offense and the West Coast, but Coryell's scheme came a little before Walsh's, I think. In the late 70s the NFL outlawed the bump n run pass defense, and teams began to pass more, and use shorter passes as a ball control strategy.

 

[legend]

The west coast offense was originally emlpoyed by Bill Walsh of the 49er's in the early eighties. It's a scheme designed for maximum effect, whereby the QB doesn't have to be the biggest player with the best arm. The QB can often throw under the coverage and use a speedy WR to chew up the YAC (yards after catch).

Ahem Steve. ;-)

 

[CanadianSteve]

I guess I have to read more carefully.