Panthers Offense Explained

by David Hamrick There is a common misconception among casual football fans about what a ‘West Coast’ offense truly is, and what exactly it means for play-calling and personnel. In reality, there are two modern-day variations of ‘West Coast’ offenses—One originating in San Diego and the other in San Francisco. The San Diego variation is known as the ‘Air Coryell’ offense, and the other is the Walsh ‘West Coast’ offense that is often heard about today. Here is a quick overview of the two offenses, with a brief look at how the Air Coryell could work with the Panthers this year. The West Coast Offense (WCO) was developed by Bill Walsh while he was an assistant with the Bengals, and fully put into effect when he was hired as the head coach of the 49ers. Walsh’s WCO stresses short and mid-range passes that will open up the defense for the running game; many routes are run within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage. These quick, short passes will ideally set the stage for long rushing gains...