Just random thoughts on schemes...
When the game of football first begin to take roots in America...it was a large (several dozen people), essentially in a scrum, trying to advance an object. Pop Warner came along and gave the game rules. Shortly after the turn of the century the passing game gave the game breath. But the biggest influence on the game was the weather.
Professional football early was largely based out of the north eastern United States. With the colder climate the NFL was known for it's power offenses and defenses...even today we still have trends. The AFL was situated in a different climate with teams from Texas and California. Based on this premise...you see the birth of many of the different schemes used today in the NFL.
Sid Gilman is credited with creating the West Coast offense...his assistants were Chuck Noll, Al Davis, Dick Vermiel, Don Coryell. These men defined an era...and ushered in many of the innovations we still in use today. These early AFL teams can be credited with bringing the vertical passing attack to the NFL.
The West Coast system as known today came about as a bit of an accident. Bill Walsh took over as offensive coordinator for the expansion Cincinnati Bengals. Bill Walsh had a QB that couldn't execute the offenses used by other Coryell teams...that's when the birth of the modern day West Coast offense happened.
In it's plainest terms...a coach trying to figure out how to run an efficient passing game with a limited arm struck gold. Walsh spread the field...used more receivers in routes...got the ball out early so the QB didn't have to rely on strength. The QB didn't have to be talented in order to be efficient.
The original West Coast schemes from Gilman resemble what San Diego (Don Coryell/Norv Turner), Oakland (Al Davis), Steelers (Chuck Noll) were vertical passing schemes that depended on the QB and WR's attacking vertically. Al Davis was heavy handed in this approach...but all have been defined by power running and vertical passing.
The Coryell and the Eahardt-Perkins appear to be the same...both emphasize the run, Coryell is far more aggressive in it's passing principles. Earhardt-Perkins in a nutshell is smash mouth football...and relies on individual match-ups over scheme. The offense was run by the Giants of the 80's, the Patriot's under Bill Belichik early, and recently with the Chiefs.
The object is to run and have a QB that can score the ball and complete 3rd downs. The game plan in general is conservative and doesn't require the QB to make a lot of throws. QB's have thrived in this system (Tom Brady), but by and large the system isn't conducive for QB's to put up volume stats. Situational football, ability to make right adjustment at line, and ability to take care of ball is paramount. A lot of systems depend on OC to make calls, when this works...the QB makes most of calls. Find the mismatch at the line of scrimmage.
The issues that this offense poses for a passer...the offense needs run personnel. Teams carry fullbacks and tight ends which restricts the field and the options for the QB when they have to pass. It's a talent driven offense that depends on 1 on 1's rather than the scheme to get them open. The issue the Chiefs have is their inability to win 1 on 1's.
When the game of football first begin to take roots in America...it was a large (several dozen people), essentially in a scrum, trying to advance an object. Pop Warner came along and gave the game rules. Shortly after the turn of the century the passing game gave the game breath. But the biggest influence on the game was the weather.
Professional football early was largely based out of the north eastern United States. With the colder climate the NFL was known for it's power offenses and defenses...even today we still have trends. The AFL was situated in a different climate with teams from Texas and California. Based on this premise...you see the birth of many of the different schemes used today in the NFL.
Sid Gilman is credited with creating the West Coast offense...his assistants were Chuck Noll, Al Davis, Dick Vermiel, Don Coryell. These men defined an era...and ushered in many of the innovations we still in use today. These early AFL teams can be credited with bringing the vertical passing attack to the NFL.
The West Coast system as known today came about as a bit of an accident. Bill Walsh took over as offensive coordinator for the expansion Cincinnati Bengals. Bill Walsh had a QB that couldn't execute the offenses used by other Coryell teams...that's when the birth of the modern day West Coast offense happened.
In it's plainest terms...a coach trying to figure out how to run an efficient passing game with a limited arm struck gold. Walsh spread the field...used more receivers in routes...got the ball out early so the QB didn't have to rely on strength. The QB didn't have to be talented in order to be efficient.
The original West Coast schemes from Gilman resemble what San Diego (Don Coryell/Norv Turner), Oakland (Al Davis), Steelers (Chuck Noll) were vertical passing schemes that depended on the QB and WR's attacking vertically. Al Davis was heavy handed in this approach...but all have been defined by power running and vertical passing.
The Coryell and the Eahardt-Perkins appear to be the same...both emphasize the run, Coryell is far more aggressive in it's passing principles. Earhardt-Perkins in a nutshell is smash mouth football...and relies on individual match-ups over scheme. The offense was run by the Giants of the 80's, the Patriot's under Bill Belichik early, and recently with the Chiefs.
The object is to run and have a QB that can score the ball and complete 3rd downs. The game plan in general is conservative and doesn't require the QB to make a lot of throws. QB's have thrived in this system (Tom Brady), but by and large the system isn't conducive for QB's to put up volume stats. Situational football, ability to make right adjustment at line, and ability to take care of ball is paramount. A lot of systems depend on OC to make calls, when this works...the QB makes most of calls. Find the mismatch at the line of scrimmage.
The issues that this offense poses for a passer...the offense needs run personnel. Teams carry fullbacks and tight ends which restricts the field and the options for the QB when they have to pass. It's a talent driven offense that depends on 1 on 1's rather than the scheme to get them open. The issue the Chiefs have is their inability to win 1 on 1's.
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