West Coast Offense

The Multiple West Coast Offense Part 1

Overview

Introduction

Philosophy of the system

Play-calling Philosophy

How the run game is set up

How the passing game is set up

Basic drop back pass protection

Incorporating two separate sets of progressions

The formations system

The motions

The Shifts

How the play-calls are made

Practice / Installation Philosophy

How the call sheet is set up and used

Introduction

This is a complete offensive system that is very logical and simple!

Once the language of the system is learned and installed, the possible play-calls and formations are virtually endless

Easy to understand and easy for players and coaches to learn

Simple to install in a short period of time

Allows a team to make adjustments at anytime during a game

Extremely flexible

Philosophy of the System

Create a precision-timed passing game with explosive capabilities, i.e. vertically push the ball downfield

Be able to physically run the ball effectively by double-teaming at the point of attack

Have the capability to make immediate adjustments during a game

Create an offense that is hard to prepare for because it is so multifaceted

Use multiple formations and a multitude of plays

Take what the defense gives us most all of the time

Spend quality time teaching individual technique every practice

Play Calling Philosophy

Make sure the players are fundamentally sound

Spread the ball around to many players

Call plays that get the players in a position to succeed – if they make big plays, it’s a plus

Put the ball where the defense is vulnerable

Only audible when absolutely necessary

Do everything we can to put the defense on their heels

Keep the ball from the defense if necessary (a ball-control offense)

Push the ball downfield and score points (if you decide you have to get into a shootout)

How the Run System Is Set Up

Basic line splits

The hole numbering

HOLE NUMBERING 2' 3' 3' 2 4 6 8 3 5 7 9 10 THE RUNNING GAME 2' 2' 2' BASIC LINE SPLITS QB QB

The master calls

The line calls

Run System Calls

Blocking Scheme Master Calls

“ Base” 34/35

“ Lead” 20/21

“ Slam” 24/25

“ Power” 26/27

“ Toss” 28/29 & 8/9

“ Trap” 30/31

“ Option” 6/7

Line Calls

“ Den”

Center and Guard Combination

“ Cub”

Guard and Tackle Combination

“ Bear”

Tackle and Tight-end Combination

The backs numbering

Single-back numbering (30 series)

The back lines up at 5 yards behind the LOS

SINGLE BACK @ 5 YARDS = 30 SERIES Example: 33 Base QB RB T N T B B B B QB C C FS SS

The backs numbering

Ace-back numbering (single digit series)

The back lines up at 7½ yards behind the LOS

SINGLE BACK @ 7.5 YARDS = SINGLE DIGIT SERIES Example: 7 Speed Option QB RB T T E E W M S QB C C FS SS

Two-back numbering (with lead blocker)

Split, I, Near/Far, Strong/Weak.

= 20 SERIES I BACKS & OFF I BACKS = 20 & 30 SERIES = 30 SERIES Example: 24 Slam DEN CALL T N T B B B B QB C C FS SS QB F H

= 30 SERIES 40 SERIES = WEAK, STRONG AND SPLIT BACKS = 30 & 40 SERIES Example: 43 Gut QB F H T N T B B B B QB C C FS SS

Z back run plays

= 80 SERIES FROM THE Z POSITION Example: 89 Z Reverse T N T B B B B QB C C FS SS QB Z

Quarterback movement

QB = (10) TEEN SERIES = (10) TEEN SERIES FROM THE QB POSITION QB

How the Passing System Is Set Up

Receiver routes are called single-side receiver across

PASS PLAY CALLING SYSTEM SPLIT RIGHT 628 BACKS FLAT

SPLIT RIGHT SLOT 628 BACKS FLAT

The wide receiver route tree

TE/inside receiver routes

Te/inside receiver route tree

9 5 0 7 1 6 4 8 2 3 STICK SHAKE STAB DRIVE TIGHT-END / INSIDE RECEIVER PASS ROUTES QB

The back routes are called

Back’s route tree

Back’s route tree

Special Situation

Throwing from a balanced four or five-wide receiver set.

Special Situation: Throwing From a Balanced Four or Five-receiver Set

When we get into a balanced, four or five-receiver set such as Dallas, Houston, or Maui, and we are running “mirrored routes”, we will call the routes as if they are a strong-side route combination call (the inside receiver’s route will be called first, followed by the outside receiver’s route).

An example of this type of play-call would be “Dallas Right, 39 F Stab King”. The protection call (King) will alert the linemen that the play called is a pass play, and not a thirty-series run play.

“ Dallas Right, 39 F Stab King”

Special Situation: Throwing From a Balanced Four or Five-receiver Set (Cont.)

Another example would be “Maui Right, Rub - Dart, F Juke Gone”. The protection call “Gone” tells the line to block away from the call side “Right”.

“ Maui Right, Rub - Dart, F Juke Gone”

Back’s route tree

Special Situation

Throwing from a balanced four or five-wide receiver set.

Basic pass protection

“ King” and “Queen” calls – if we want to get both backs out.

0 1 1 2 3 2 3 4?? E T E W T M S QB C C SS FS

King

A “King” call free releases the Back on the Strong-side.

The other back will check release to the “Quick-side.”

The Center, Strong-side Guard, and Tackle will block to the strong-side.

The Quick-side Guard and Tackle will block to the Quick-side, and the back will check release to the Quick-side.

Queen

A “Queen” call free releases the Back on the Quick-side.

The other back will check release to the “Strong-side.”

The Center, Quick-side Guard, and Tackle will block to the Quick-side.

The Strong-side Guard and Tackle will block to the Strong-side, and the back will check release to the Strong-side.

Back’s route tree

Basic pass protection

“ King” and “Queen” calls – if we want to get both backs out.

The use of single-syllable words as much as possible

The use of built-in hot routes

Routes that should open up on the quarterback’s third step in his drop.

5 BIG HITCH HOT HOT OUTLET SPLIT RIGHT 414 SWING / "V" QUEEN

7 QUICK HITCH HOT HOT QUADS RIGHT ACE 628 F FLAT

Incorporating Two Separate Sets of Progressions

Similar to having two separate pass plays in one play-call

The QB comes to the line and decides which two - three progression read to go with

Examples:

Split Right 414 Swing / “V” Queen

Trey Right 680 Corner / Cut King

The Formation System

When counting both right and left formations, we have over 80 distinct formations that we can run plays from.

But because we are telling each player (X, Y, Z, H, and F) specifically what to do, we can move players to any of 5 different positions, giving us the illusion of over 400 different formations .

This gives us the ability to take advantage of specific match-ups.

EXAMPLE:

We can move our X receiver to the F position, and have one of our best receivers coming out of the backfield matched up with a linebacker.

We can move our F back to the X position, giving us a good blocker on the perimeter matched up against a cornerback.

Two backs

Split, I, near/far, strong/weak

SPLIT LEFT Y Z Z Y X H F F H X SPLIT RIGHT QB QB

I RIGHT I LEFT X Y Z F H F H Z Y X QB QB

X Y Z F H Z Y X F H NEAR RIGHT NEAR LEFT QB QB

X Y Z F H Z Y X F H FAR RIGHT FAR LEFT QB QB

STRONG RIGHT STRONG LEFT Z H F Y Z H F X Y X QB QB

WEAK RIGHT WEAK LEFT X Z Y F H Y Z X F H QB QB

Two backs

Single backs

Regular (Trips & Trey), ace, near/far

TRIPS RIGHT TRIPS LEFT X H F Y Z Z Y F H X QB QB

Y Z H F X TREY RIGHT Y H F X TREY LEFT Z QB QB

F H Y Z X F H X Y Z TREY LEFT FAR QB QB TREY RIGHT FAR

F H Y Z X F H Y Z TREY RIGHT NEAR TREY LEFT NEAR X QB QB

Two backs

Single backs

Regular, ace, near/far, strong/weak

Special formations

Close, flex, open (trick) and under

Y Z H F X SPLIT RIGHT QB Y Z H F X QB SPLIT RIGHT CLOSE

Z H F X Y TREY RIGHT FLEX QB Z H F X Y TREY RIGHT QB

Z H F X Y TREY RIGHT OPEN (TRICK RIGHT) QB Z H F X Y TREY RIGHT UNDER QB

Shifting

Shifting is a tactic used to either confuse the opposition, or force them to run a “base” defense, by showing a particular offensive set, and then radically changing that set before the snap of the ball.

Shifting (Cont.) 2

We will call a predetermined shift by calling the formation that we want to shift from first, followed by the formation we will be shifting to, second. An example would be “Tank, Trey Right”. In this case, the term “Tank” would tell the players to line up in a “Tank Left” formation, and then shift to a “Trey Right” formation when the QB yells “Go”.

Tank, Trey Right

Shifting (Cont.) 3

Another example would be in the play-call “Dance – Maui Right”. In this case, the eligible receivers will line up in a “Dance Left” formation, and then sprint to a “Maui Right” formation when the QB yells “Go”.

Dance, Maui Right

How to Call Motions

Every eligible receiver has a specific “tag”call.

The “tag” occurs at the beginning of the play call to alert the specific player.

We motion to the called formation.

Z Receiver Motion

ZOOM: “Z” goes in motion across the formation.

ZIP: “Z” goes in short motion into the formation.

Zoom, Split Right Close Zip, Split Right Close

X Receiver Motion

EXIT: “X” goes in motion across the formation.

EASY: “X” goes in short motion into the formation.

Exit, Bunch Right Easy, Bunch Right

(Y) Tight-end Motion

JET: “Y” goes in motion across the formation.

JAM: “Y” goes in short motion into the formation.

Jet, Spread Right Jam, Spread Right

H Back Motion

HOP: “H” goes in motion across the formation.

HIP: “H” goes in short motion into the formation.

Hop, Quads Right Hip, Quads Right

F Back Motion

FLY: “F” goes in motion across the formation.

FLEW: “F” goes in short motion into the formation.

Fly, Near Right Flew, Near Right

How the Play Is Called

Shift (possible)

Motion (possible)

Formation

Play-call

Blocking (master call in run game)

Pass pattern (in passing game)

Protection (in passing game)

Snap count

Red (on one), white (on two), blue (on three)

What the Call Would Sound Like If It Were a Run Play

Fly – near right – 24 slam – on white, on white – ready break.

“ Fly” would be the motion.

“ Near right” would be the formation we want to end up in.

“ 24 slam” tells the HB (2) to go through the 4 hole and the blocking scheme is slam.

Vs a 50 front, the probable line call would be “Den”.

“ On white” tells everyone the snap count is on two.

If a player forgot the snap count at the line of scrimmage, he would say “check – check” and he would be told “white”.

FLY NEAR RIGHT 24 SLAM X Y QB F H Z

What the Call Would Sound Like If It Were a Pass Play

Zoom – split left – 414 swing / v - queen, on blue, on blue – ready break.

Zoom tells the Z receiver to go in motion across the formation.

Split left means we want to end up in a split left formation.

414 tells the single receiver (X) to run a curl route, the inside receiver on the two-receiver side (Y) to run a flat route, and the outside receiver on the two-receiver side to run a curl route.

What the Call Would Sound Like If It Were a Pass Play

“ Swing / v” tells the h back to run a swing route and the f back to run a v route.

Queen tells the line to zone the quick-side and man the strong-side. This will release the back on the quick-side into the pattern right away. The remaining back on the strong side will check release into the pattern.

“ On blue” tells everyone the snap count is on three.

If we wanted to audible to a different play, blue is the live color since we called the count on blue.

5 BIG HITCH 1 2 ZOOM SPLIT LEFT 414 SWING / "V" QUEEN X Y QB F H Z

Teach incrementally rather than solely using a holistic approach.

Teach each player individual mechanics and techniques.

QB – Drops, WR – Routes, RB – Paths and Routes, Line – Run block / Pass protections .

Once each player knows exactly what to do, bring groups together – then the entire offense together.

This saves a great deal of time down the road and leads to better execution of the offense.

Start with 40 minutes of individual teaching time, which can be reduced to 15 minutes as the season progresses.

This is the foundation of this offense.

Once each player knows exactly where to be and what to do based on what he is told in the play-call, the play will be executed as it was intended every time.

Using only the holistic approach (just running plays and coaching “on the run”) will lead to individual player breakdowns, and the offense will never be precise.