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What do you need to run a West Coast offense?

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
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Since we're discussing different systems and coaches lately, I thought it'd be useful to look at the sorts of things you need to effectively run a West Coast type attack.

 

Let's look at it by position...

 

QUARTERBACK: The QB in a WCO needs to be an accurate short passer, but ability to throw deep - while not absolutely necessary - does make the offense more effective.  He also needs to make good decisions, and make them quickly. He should have good 'touch' on his passes, and it's definitely best that he be mobile because the system doesn't usually keep runningbacks in to block, preferring to send them out in pass patterns.

 

RUNNINGBACK: West Coast RBs definitely have to be versatile.  They should be just as big a threat catching passes out of the backfield as they are rushing.  On run plays, you want a decisive 'hit the hole' type and a back who can 'be his own blocker' helps as well.  The best WCO systems also tend to have at least one big back on the roster to get the 'tough yards', someone you can use by spreading the field out and running him up the middle or off tackle.

 

RECEIVER: Good (preferably great) route runners.  Great hands (as few drops as possible since in this system the short pass often subs for the run, essentially becoming a 'long handoff').  And a big key here, speed and elusiveness.  You want the super shifty type of guy who can take a three yard pass and turn it into a ten yard (or more) gain.  Also a great idea to have at least one big receiver who's a red zone threat and will fight for the ball when covered.

 

TIGHT END: The tight end in the WCO is generally a security blanket and a chain mover.  As your primary 'possession guy, you absolutely need someone with ultra-reliable hands and preferably one who's good at finding open spots in coverage.  If he's also a 'stretch the field' type, that's good too but reliability is what's paramount.  Also extremely helpful if he's good in the red zone.

 

OFFENSIVE LINE: Since the WCO commonly uses zone blocking schemes, athletic linemen tend to work best.  That's not to say you can't have big bruisers (Baltimore does) but they need to be able to move well and - arguably even more important - they need to be very smart.  Each guy needs to understand what the guy next to him is doing and be able to diagnose what's coming at him and react quickly.

 

So looking at this list now, if we wanted to run this kind of scheme, what would you say we have already and where would we need to retool?

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panfanman Experienced

panfanman

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Well, our QB is mobile for sure. But has no finesse on his passes and really does not make quick enough decisions on passes.

Our currently line I'm not sure works in any system. Lol

Olsen would be a good WCO TE.

I think the receivers on the roster wood be adequate as would the RBs.

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PandaPancake Newbie

PandaPancake

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Well, our QB is mobile for sure. But has no finesse on his passes and really does not make quick enough decisions on passes.

Our currently line I'm not sure works in any system. Lol

Olsen would be a good WCO TE.

I think the receivers on the roster wood be adequate as would the RBs.

Oak or monogamy?
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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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One other element that came up in a separate thread...

 

The Shanahan way involved the kind of low 'cut blocking' that Broncos linemen became infamous for in his tenure.  When former Shanahan assistant Alex Gibbs became the OL coach in Atlanta, we saw a lot of it against us, and generally screamed about it as dirty.

 

Would you be comfortable with our line doing that kind of blocking?

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panfanman Experienced

panfanman

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Friend of mine (full disclosure: non-Panther fan but watches the games because he lives here) who likes the WCO thinks that Philly Brown is actually better suited to be a number one receiver in that kind of system than Kelvin Benjamin.

Does he have a point?

I actually thought the same thing.

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t96 Grand Master

t96

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Philly's skill set is better for WCO offense than KB's skill set, but I don't think at this point he'd actually be a more effective or better player. KB is miles ahead of Philly in a lot of areas. Philly should be starting opposite KB though, and should've been every single game that he was healthy.

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bandu Experienced

bandu

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the two main issues are LT and WR for us operating an effective WCO.draft well or acquire quality free agents to address these two areas of concern and we should be fine.btw,here are two collegiate players that fit the mold, Stanfords,Andrus Peat and Ty Montgomery.

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