West Coast Offense - Good, Bad or Ugly?

[Ade Jimoh Fan Club]

I know we have some smart football folks on this site - I was wondering what you thought about the switch to the West Coast Offense, specifically:

1) Is it just me or is this a terrible move for Campbell? He throws a sweet, sweet long ball, but his short dinks and dumps are horid. They are almost always off target - he just doesn't have that touch in his arsenal. Since this pretty much IS the West Coast Offense, do you think Campbell can change this part of his game, or is the beginning of the end for him...?

2) We definitely have the perfect receivers for this offense; fast, speedy, RAC WR's. Plus Portis has shown himself to be a great (and in my opinion, underutilzed) receiver. Do you think we are good in this area?

3) What does this mean for the O-Line? I know we had a lot of injuries last year, but they group should be starting next year intact and we all know they are a pretty good group of linemen. Does the West Coast Offense call for a different set of O-Lineman? (i.e. smaller and more agile?)

4) We all know that the priorities for the draft are D-Linemen and DB's. Is the move to West Coast Offense going to re-prioritize any of our draft picks?

Thanks for your input!

THE ADE

[MTK]

JC needs work on his all around accuracy. I wasn't impressed with his deep ball ability at all. I mean the potential is there, but how many times did he over shoot wide open WRs last year?? Too many times if you ask me.

He's getting there, his completion % went from 53.1 in his first year to 60.0 in his 2nd, he just needs to keep building on that progress.

In a WCO he really needs to get that % up closer to 65%.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

JC needs work on his all around accuracy. I wasn't impressed with his deep ball ability at all. I mean the potential is there, but how many times did he over shoot wide open WRs last year?? Too many times if you ask me.

He's getting there, his completion % went from 53.1 in his first year to 60.0 in his 2nd, he just needs to keep building on that progress.

In a WCO he really needs to get that % up closer to 65%.

Amen!!! Campbell's deep ball misses killed us at times. He needs to learn to put more air under the ball - his miss to Lloyd at GB should have been a game winner. I believe that Campbell is most effective throwing darts in the 15-20 yard range, but I'm confident that he will adapt to the short rhythm passing of the WCO given time. That said, I hope that he learns to put more touch on the deep ball. Given the whole package, the sky's the limit for Campbell, but we need to be patient with the offensive change.

[Ade Jimoh Fan Club]

Great responses so far - thanks for the input. Actually, the feedback has created three more questions in my mind:

1) Will the West Coast Offense require Campbell to scramble more? I've always thought he should take off and run with it more - he's definitely got the speed to pick up 1st downs. As far as throwing on the run (i.e. rolling out of the pocket) - this doesn't seem like Campbell strong suit - am I wrong? He seems like more of a pocket passer.

2) Why does everyone think that hiring a great Q-Back coach like Zorn is going to greatly impact Campbell? He is the HEAD COACH. He'll be spending very, very little one-on-one mentoring time with Campbell. As we've already discussed, this is one of the huge downsides of the decision to hire him as Head Coach.

3) Playoff games usually occur in bad weather. How smart is it to have our offense built around a pass-first mentality? Or does it not really matter because of the number of domes and the fact that these guys are pros and are unaffected unless it's a whirling blizzard?

Thanks,
THE ADE

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by Ade Jimoh Fan Club

2) Why does everyone think that hiring a great Q-Back coach like Zorn is going to greatly impact Campbell? He is the HEAD COACH. He'll be spending very, very little one-on-one mentoring time with Campbell. As we've already discussed, this is one of the huge downsides of the decision to hire him as Head Coach.
THE ADE

I think he actually will have a great deal of one on one time with Jason. Right now we're unclear as to how much time that actually will be, but I think we'll see a head coach that has never been so involved in the development of a QB thus far in the NFL.

[Ade Jimoh Fan Club]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

I think he actually will have a great deal of one on one time with Jason. Right now we're unclear as to how much time that actually will be, but I think we'll see a head coach that has never been so involved in the development of a QB thus far in the NFL.

I don't see how that's a good thing. I don't think a head coach should be spending a high-percentage of his time with just one player. He has a million other things that need to be done, and if he truly is spending a lot of time working with Campbell, then he's blowing off something else. More succinctly - that's not his role.

[gibbsisgod]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

I think he actually will have a great deal of one on one time with Jason. Right now we're unclear as to how much time that actually will be, but I think we'll see a head coach that has never been so involved in the development of a QB thus far in the NFL.

Bill Walsh was pretty hands on with the QB and that worked out pretty well. I am not comparring JZ with BW but it has been done before.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Ade Jimoh Fan Club

Great responses so far - thanks for the input. Actually, the feedback has created three more questions in my mind:

1) Will the West Coast Offense require Campbell to scramble more? I've always thought he should take off and run with it more - he's definitely got the speed to pick up 1st downs. As far as throwing on the run (i.e. rolling out of the pocket) - this doesn't seem like Campbell strong suit - am I wrong? He seems like more of a pocket passer.

2) Why does everyone think that hiring a great Q-Back coach like Zorn is going to greatly impact Campbell? He is the HEAD COACH. He'll be spending very, very little one-on-one mentoring time with Campbell. As we've already discussed, this is one of the huge downsides of the decision to hire him as Head Coach.

3) Playoff games usually occur in bad weather. How smart is it to have our offense built around a pass-first mentality? Or does it not really matter because of the number of domes and the fact that these guys are pros and are unaffected unless it's a whirling blizzard?

Thanks,
THE ADE

He's already said he's going to leave the defensive side alone, and that he's going to spend a lot of time with JC. So based on that I guess that's why people are saying he will impact JC.

Regarding #3 a WCO does not necessarily mean a pass first offense.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by Ade Jimoh Fan Club

Great responses so far - thanks for the input. Actually, the feedback has created three more questions in my mind:

1) Will the West Coast Offense require Campbell to scramble more? I've always thought he should take off and run with it more - he's definitely got the speed to pick up 1st downs. As far as throwing on the run (i.e. rolling out of the pocket) - this doesn't seem like Campbell strong suit - am I wrong? He seems like more of a pocket passer.

2) Why does everyone think that hiring a great Q-Back coach like Zorn is going to greatly impact Campbell? He is the HEAD COACH. He'll be spending very, very little one-on-one mentoring time with Campbell. As we've already discussed, this is one of the huge downsides of the decision to hire him as Head Coach.

3) Playoff games usually occur in bad weather. How smart is it to have our offense built around a pass-first mentality? Or does it not really matter because of the number of domes and the fact that these guys are pros and are unaffected unless it's a whirling blizzard?

Thanks,
THE ADE

Tried to touch on some of the points you raise in my post above. The offense wont require him to scramble as much as it will to be elusive in the pocket, often being able to make the first potential tackler miss. The ability to roll out, both left and right is one of the principal ingredients neccessary to make the offense effective. Jason is nimble enough, and his feet are quick enough to be effective at what he's going to need to do.

You must remember, Zorn was origionally hired to be the OC, and that hire was designed to further the development of JC. Now that HC has also been attached to his title it's not likely he'll be able to spend as much individual time with JC, however, there are a few things he's going to work on with Jason in hopes of further developing the skills he's going to need to make him effective in this offense.

Bad weather was one of my origional knocks on the WCO. [see Seattle vs Green Bay-in GB] In December & January when it's imperative you have balance, the running game is every teams best friend. I'm hoping our offense will resemble a more modified version of the WC that includes some power running, and not just limited to draw plays & screens simular to what the Phila. Eagles utilize. It's going to have to be more diversified to succeed in inclimate regions when the games are most important.

[wilsowilso]

I think people around here are going to be very surprised just how accurate JC can be when he is running the West Coast Offense. He had a ridiculously high completion percentage(One of the best ever in the history of the SEC) his senior year at Auburn when they went undefeated. That year the Tigers ran a version of the WCO.

Campbell's completion percentage his senior year at Auburn was 69.6%

[Bishop Hammer]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

I think people around here are going to be very surprised just how accurate JC can be when he is running the West Coast Offense. He had a ridiculously high completion percentage(One of the best ever in the history of the SEC) his senior year at Auburn when they went undefeated. That year the Tigers ran a version of the WCO.

Campbell's completion percentage his senior year at Auburn was 69.6%

I read somewhere that the WCO Jason Campbell ran at Auburn was grossly simplified so he could operate it more effectivly. In addition to it be simplified it was also a run first style of the WCO, which many believed is why Campbell was so accurate in the passing game that year. Bear in mind, there were also two top 5 running backs (Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown) on the team, when Auburn went undeafeted, as well.

Keep in mind I am just reporting what I have read from many different people. I do not watch college football, so I cannot say if that is the case or not? If someone knows other wise I would like to hear it.

[Skinny Tee]

It seems as if he will throw more picks though since it deals with rhythm passing and not throwing to the open man.

I envision the Zorn bringing in another QB (vet or rookie) to stabilize the QB spot. Brunell and Collins are sure to hit the road due to the new offensive staff.

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

It seems as if he will throw more picks though since it deals with rhythm passing and not throwing to the open man.

Campbell is a rhythm passer or at least he thinks he is. Rhythm is just about his favorite word. He probably used the word rhythm several times in almost every post game press conference last year.

[killromo]

All very good points Ade. I too am on edge about JC and his overthrows/inaccuracy. This is my major concern.. O-line and receivers will be solid I believe. If Jc overthrows some of the WCO routes they will be pick 6's, daggers to the heart. At least he will be used to learning a new system at this point. This in my opinion will be the make or break year for JC. His work ethic and determintaion should help him out in preparartion. Hopefully he can make some end of game drives with no int's. I'm pulling for you big time JC.

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by killromo

If Jc overthrows some of the WCO routes they will be pick 6's, daggers to the heart. At least he will be used to learning a new system at this point.

The WCO is not a new system to JC.