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What is the West Coast Offense?
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
The West Coast Offense is frequently thought to refer to the phenomenal football performance of the 49ers and their three Super Bowl wins in 1981, 1984, and 1988. Actually the term, coined by Bernie Kosar, a former quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, applied to the offense strategy used by the Chargers and the Raiders.
West Coast Offense, as used by Kosar, referred specifically to a type of offensive strategy that was first employed by the San Diego Chargers in the 1960s. Bill Walsh, the coach of the Niners during their halcyon days of victory, perfected a version of this strategy while working with the Cincinnati Bengals. Walsh brought the strategy to the Niners in 1979, but his version was adapted from the original strategy. However, most now think of the West Coast Offense as synonymous with Walsh’s version.
The principal feature of the strategy as defined by Walsh focuses on throwing short passes in the early portion of the game. The goal is to advance the ball 3 to 4 yards at a time to make first downs, slowly and by doing so, exhaust the opposing team’s defense. In general, the running game is not utilized until late in the game.
Often, long passes were not used unless there was a clear opening. Long possession of the ball was the goal to keep the defense of the other team playing as long as possible. As well, the West Coast Offense aimed to put up points early in the game, making it more difficult for the opposing team to catch up.
The West Coast Offense tended to utilize offensive backs as receivers, and therefore, a high number of receivers ran to designated spots with the hope that one receiver would be open. This sent the defense scrambling in all directions to block receivers without being fouled for pass interference. The original plan used the same strategy, but short passing was less common. Receivers tended to go further downfield. The key to Walsh’s version was “short,” with several downs prior to achieving a first down.
Walsh was also known for scripting the first 15 plays of a game. This was helpful since it allowed the coaches to observe weaknesses in the opposing team’s defense, which could be used later in the game. However, it could also be perceived as a weakness when the plays were clearly not working against an opposing team’s defense.
In all, the West Coast Offense was greatly effective especially during the 1980s for the Niners. However, it can also be said that the high quality of the players influenced the effectiveness of the strategy. Quarterbacks like Joe Montana and Steve Young are renowned for their athletic abilities. As well, receivers like Jerry Rice, Dwight Clark, and John Taylor were very successful at catching the short pass. It can be said, therefore, the West Coast Offense combined extreme athleticism and agility with thoughtful strategy.
Tricia Christensen
Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent Sports&Hobbies contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.
Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent Sports&Hobbies contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.
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![The West Coast Offense utilizes short passes to gradually wear away an opponent's defense while making steady gains.]()
By: Melinda NagyThe West Coast Offense utilizes short passes to gradually wear away an opponent's defense while making steady gains. -
![Short passes early in the game is a key to the West Coast Offense.]()
By: Richard KaneShort passes early in the game is a key to the West Coast Offense. -
![Joe Montana ran the West Coast Offense while playing for the San Francisco 49ers.]()
By: drcliffordchoiJoe Montana ran the West Coast Offense while playing for the San Francisco 49ers. -
![The West Coast Offense often uses short passes instead of running plays.]()
By: Sirena DesignsThe West Coast Offense often uses short passes instead of running plays. -
![The West Coast Offense tended to utilize offensive backs as receivers.]()
By: RobThe West Coast Offense tended to utilize offensive backs as receivers.
Discussion Comments
@fiorite- The key to the west coast offense, whether using a wing T or an empty backfield, is an accurate, athletic quarterback and receivers with good hands who are not afraid to take a hit. Quarterbacks in the west coast need to be able to look off the defenders and put balls into tight quarters. Running backs need to be able to pick up yards, be active in pass play, and have good pass protection abilities. Receivers are usually smaller, route running specialists that have good after the catch ability. An example of a great quarterback that could run a west coast offense would be Brett Favre.
Teams that still use the West Coast offense are the Eagles, Seahawks, Cardinals, and the Broncos, although their version is different from the rest. Other teams like the Raiders, Patriots, Texans, Ravens, and Chiefs use the West Coast offense often. Many of these teams are still very good, or have good offenses, proving that the west coast offense can be effective.
@Fiorite- I do not know if there is necessarily a best defensive formation against the west coast offense because it is actually an offensive theory rather than a set of offensive formations. The basic west coast offense theory is a run first theory to spread the defense and open up the long passing game. In the Bill Walsh West Coast Offense, the short passing game is established to set up the long pass and mid to deep run plays.
A defensive coordinator might use a zone defense or a cover two to defend against the west coast offense, but the best defense will be smart players that have good field awareness. A zone defense can be vulnerable to the deep pass play because it is often requiring a corner or safety to blitz, leaving a slower player to pick up the receiver. Hiding the defensive play and players that work together will be the best defense.
What is the best defense against a west coast offense playbook? Would a predominately nickel formation be good, or would it be something like a 3-4 or 46? The Forty-Niners were definitely a great team that utilized the west coast offense to their advantage, but it does not seem like that many teams successfully use the west coast offense any more. Why is that? Is it because of the combination of talents, or the introduction of different defensive formations?
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