Running Game Scheme Question under Coach Zorn

[70Chip]

I think the only thing Zorn has comitted to, is keeping the terminology of the running and blocking game the same. He didn't say he would call the same plays in the same order or in the same proportion. I think he will end up doing what he likes to do. Although, I suspect Bugel can be fairly persuasive.

As for Denver, their passing game was all west coast as that is Shanahan's background. Sprint Option Right, the Montana to Clarke pass,was their pet goalline play. Their running game was a departure from what Walsh had done in S.F as it emphasized zone rather than man blocking, most famously the stretch play. But, the reality is that all offenses emphasize different things and borrow from various systems. Al Saunders had West Coast elements in his system. Even within the West Coast there is a wide variation. If you were to watch just Andy Reid, you would think the West Coast was largely based on the screen pass. If you were to watch just Green Bay you would think it was based largely on the slant. And, if you were to watch Denver you would think it was a run-first system. The biggest change will be the terminology. That and the fact that he will bring the "fast break" approach that Seattle employed. I've been saying for a while that the Redskins could greatly help themselves by "playing faster" and Zorn is all about that. But in terms of the actual plays, I think a lot of it will be appear very similar. Santana will still go deep. Cooley will still attack the post, etc.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I think the only thing Zorn has comitted to, is keeping the terminology of the running and blocking game the same. He didn't say he would call the same plays in the same order or in the same proportion. I think he will end up doing what he likes to do. Although, I suspect Bugel can be fairly persuasive.

As for Denver, their passing game was all west coast as that is Shanahan's background. Sprint Option Right, the Montana to Clarke pass,was their pet goalline play. Their running game was a departure from what Walsh had done in S.F as it emphasized zone rather than man blocking, most famously the stretch play. But, the reality is that all offenses emphasize different things and borrow from various systems. Al Saunders had West Coast elements in his system. Even within the West Coast there is a wide variation. If you were to watch just Andy Reid, you would think the West Coast was largely based on the screen pass. If you were to watch just Green Bay you would think it was based largely on the slant. And, if you were to watch Denver you would think it was a run-first system. The biggest change will be the terminology. That and the fact that he will bring the "fast break" approach that Seattle employed. I've been saying for a while that the Redskins could greatly help themselves by "playing faster" and Zorn is all about that. But in terms of the actual plays, I think a lot of it will be appear very similar. Santana will still go deep. Cooley will still attack the post, etc.

Good post. Every "modern" offense runs a lot of elements of the west coast. Being a "west coast" offense simply refers to the fact that you want to call yourself that. The offense that Atlanta ran during the Mora tenure was "west coast" even though it had about as much similarity to the Walsh-WCO as Martyball does.

It's a tweak in philosopy, but a good one. Basically, it means we aren't going to get Portis pounded into submission when it clearly isn't working.