Zorn Makes Great Progress with New Offense Geared To Campbells Talents

[SmootSmack]

At its core our offense will still be a WCO, I think. But it never hurts to go deep every now and then to keep the defense honest.

It will be interesting to see, in year two of Zorn, if he starts to adjust his philosophy more to his players. I look at Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs (even Brian Billick) as classic examples of premiere head coaches who did that. And succeeded.

I don't care if we run the Run and Shoot, I just want us to get in the endzone

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

At its core our offense will still be a WCO, I think. But it never hurts to go deep every now and then to keep the defense honest.

It will be interesting to see, in year two of Zorn, if he starts to adjust his philosophy more to his players. I look at Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs (even Brian Billick) as classic examples of premiere head coaches who did that. And succeeded.

I don't care if we run the Run and Shoot, I just want us to get in the endzone

Exactly. Gibbs went 8-8 his first yr although on the positive side of 8-8. He turned his losing season around to finish and looked good. His next yr the team got better. Zorn went 8-8 on the negative side of 8-8. but Zorn only had 50 plays to work with. Now he has like 130 plus plays to work with and seems to have adjusted to his talent. If the team does well (which I hope) then we will have a great HC in the making and I can see nothing but SB's in our future.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by T.O.Killa

I am so glad that Zorn has tailored the offense to Campbell's talents. I thought that Joe Gibbs made a huge mistake hiring Saunders, because Campbell's talents were best suited to Joe Gibbs vertical style of offense. He is a deep ball passer like Mark Rypien.

I'm glad too, especially the I-Form and Singleback play-action passing game.
(BTW-Saunders and Gibbs stem from the same Coryell family)

The west coast offense was never suited to his talents. I think that if they go with this down field vertical passing game there is hope for Campbell staying in Washington and taking us to the promise land. With the emergence of Mitchell, Kelly and Thomas, along with Moss, we should be a big play powerhouse.

I think the WCO suits JC just fine, but what we saw last year and especially in the second half of the season was only a portion of the WCO.
The WCO has 3,5 and 7 step drop passing as well as play-action passing.
But, the pass-pro really couldn't hold up and limited us to the occasional 5 step but mostly 3 step drop passing game.
I think Zorn began realizing last season that JC big arm can help gain chunks of yardage from I-Form playaction:

[30gut]

Originally Posted by 30gut

I think Zorn began realizing last season that JC big arm can help gain chunks of yardage from I-Form playaction:

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[NYCskinfan82]

We went to CP last yr because we had no other weapons they double teamed Moss & Cooley last yr the rookies didn't and some couldn't step up. This year as long as we get some participation we should be good and i think we will. HTTR.

[schndr_tdd]

Last year (first year head coach)Zorn,used Portis as a safety net.Trying to learn as you go,he made mistakes,just as anyone else trying something new.Proceed with caution,back of instead of taking risks,etc.You all know what i mean.Expect a more attacking style offense this year,anyone that watched Zorn play,knows his intensity.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by T.O.Killa

I am so glad that Zorn has tailored the offense to Campbell's talents. I thought that Joe Gibbs made a huge mistake hiring Saunders, because Campbell's talents were best suited to Joe Gibbs vertical style of offense. He is a deep ball passer like Mark Rypien. The west coast offense was never suited to his talents. I think that if they go with this down field vertical passing game there is hope for Campbell staying in Washington and taking us to the promise land. With the emergence of Mitchell, Kelly and Thomas, along with Moss, we should be a big play powerhouse.

Al Saunders' offense was a deep, vertical passing style offense. But Gibbs was extra conservative the second time around and had veto power over Saunders' play calling.

The 'West Coast' system is what we have now with Jim Zorn. Saunders was never a West Coast guy. He's from the Air Coryell system along with Norv Turner, Ernie Zampese, Dan Henning, and Mike Martz.

[dmek25]

im not getting why some people think its going to be bombs away this year. that goes against the principles of the west coast. its all about timing, hitting guys in stride. and Y.A.C

[MTK]

Originally Posted by dmek25

im not getting why some people think its going to be bombs away this year. that goes against the principles of the west coast. its all about timing, hitting guys in stride. and Y.A.C

What Zorn runs isn't necessarily a pure and true WCO though. Hell what the WCO is in the NFL now really isn't what it used to be. Everyone has added their own spin to it.

[Beemnseven]

Randy Cross, who played for Bill Walsh once said that nobody is really playing the true West Coast offense anymore.

I think the closest thing to the original was Mike Holmgren's offense. Even then though, Montana and Favre both threw bombs downfield.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Randy Cross, who played for Bill Walsh once said that nobody is really playing the true West Coast offense anymore.

I think the closest thing to the original was Mike Holmgren's offense. Even then though, Montana and Favre both threw bombs downfield.

Thank you!

Somehow the WCO has gotten the false reputation for being short pass only. Some people think that the WCO and a vertical passing game are opposites. The fact is, although the WCO stresses short passes, there always has been a vertical component. The vertical game is there for its own sake and also to open up space for shorter routes. Anyone who remembers Jerry Rice and John Taylor racing past defenders on go routes knows this.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Thank you!

Somehow the WCO has gotten the false reputation for being short pass only. Some people think that the WCO and a vertical passing game are opposites. The fact is, although the WCO stresses short passes, there always has been a vertical component. The vertical game is there for its own sake and also to open up space for shorter routes. Anyone who remembers Jerry Rice and John Taylor racing past defenders on go routes knows this.

Zorn also relies on the vertical routes more than most coaches to open up the underneath. Other WCO versions sometimes like to use the backs on swing passes to open up the middle of the field for the receivers, but Zorn prefers to run 'em off.

[NYCskinfan82]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Thank you!

Somehow the WCO has gotten the false reputation for being short pass only. Some people think that the WCO and a vertical passing game are opposites. The fact is, although the WCO stresses short passes, there always has been a vertical component. The vertical game is there for its own sake and also to open up space for shorter routes. Anyone who remembers Jerry Rice and John Taylor racing past defenders on go routes knows this.

That's right tell them my brother.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Thank you!

Somehow the WCO has gotten the false reputation for being short pass only. Some people think that the WCO and a vertical passing game are opposites. The fact is, although the WCO stresses short passes, there always has been a vertical component. The vertical game is there for its own sake and also to open up space for shorter routes. Anyone who remembers Jerry Rice and John Taylor racing past defenders on go routes knows this.

Exactly. We just weren't prepared for that part of the offense yet. O-line injuries, rookie receivers who weren't ready, trying to get the limited plays we did have run well etc. Now we are.

[SirClintonPortis]

Bill Walsh himself recognized the value of play action and 7-step drop plays and their usefulness in nabbing TDs.

Also, he WCO was born out of necessity to accomodate to his QBs' strengths way back when injury took out his original starter and he was left with noodle-armed Virgil Carter, so Zorn accomodating the offense to his QB's, JC strengths(big arm, better on longer passes than shorter ones) etc is NOT something that is 'forbbiden' in the WCO coaching tree.

Of course, going deep requires talented deep threats, of which we only had one in Santana Moss, and good pass pro. ARE(slot receiver) and James Thrash(special teamer) simply did not scare defenses enough to pull defenders away from Moss and Cooley is obviously more of a possession guy.