West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

[Oviedo]

Something to think about and our less than mediocre secondary. Will LeBeau adjust or just "trust his system." Obviously Harbaugh is thinking about it.

[url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors"]http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors[/url]

With the dual hirings of Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden this offseason, there could be two new practitioners of the fabled West Coast offense in the AFC North in 2011. But according to what Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has said, it won't bring about massive changes to how his team plays defense.

"I had a chance to see it close hand in Philadelphia (under Andy Reid) for a number of years," Harbaugh said, per the Baltimore Sun, indicating that it's nothing he hasn't seen before. "Everybody around the league's doing it. It's a great offense. It's a ball-control offense. It expands on the running game with a controlled passing attack."

Though he added that facing these offenses "will be a big challenge for us," it's nothing the team hasn't seen before from other teams in seasons past. There is a caveat: when run well, the system can excel against the style of D that's found elsewhere in the division:- Tim Kavanagh

And James Walker's quote hammers home the point

James Walker
Take the last game played as evidence

"The Green Bay Packers had success in the Super Bowl against Pittsburgh, so there is proof it can work."

[Notleadpoisoned]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

You gotta have the right personnel to run the WC offense effectively and at this time the Bengals and Browns simply do not.

[SteelBucks]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

There is no reason to adjust the "system", but we can all agree that we need an upgrade at CB for it to work.

[ikestops85]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

Didn't DL design the zone blitz to combat the WCO? That's what I always heard.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

you need a qb to run that offensive system. those two teams have crap for QB's.

[Oviedo]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

you need a qb to run that offensive system. those two teams have crap for QB's.

I disagree about Cleveland. I think Colt McCoy will prove to be the second best QB out of the 2010 draft. He is perfect for the West Coast. He is mobile and very, very accurate. I think he will be a thorn in our sides for years to come.

[Flasteel]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

Didn't DL design the zone blitz to combat the WCO? That's what I always heard.

He did, but that was against Bill Walsh's WCO. His offense was almost always 2 WRs, TE, FB, & RB and relied on quick precision and timing. The zone blitz was designed to confuse and disrupt that timing by dropping guys underneath that you didn't expect to be there and blitzing guys you didn't anticipate picking up.

Green Bay (and other teams that have torched us) put 3 and 4 WR sets on the field to spread us out and put our nickle and dime defenses on the field. Instead of timing, there's a lot more shotgun and looking for the single coverage match-up you want. QBs who are accurate and can read defenses quickly - especially those who have the receivers - are like kryptonite.

Getting a corner who can press and play man opposite Taylor is absolutely critical, if we are going to get past the teams that can spread us out.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

Didn't DL design the zone blitz to combat the WCO? That's what I always heard.

He did, but that was against Bill Walsh's WCO. His offense was almost always 2 WRs, TE, FB, & RB and relied on quick precision and timing. The zone blitz was designed to confuse and disrupt that timing by dropping guys underneath that you didn't expect to be there and blitzing guys you didn't anticipate picking up.

Green Bay (and other teams that have torched us) put 3 and 4 WR sets on the field to spread us out and put our nickle and dime defenses on the field. Instead of timing, there's a lot more shotgun and looking for the single coverage match-up you want. QBs who are accurate and can read defenses quickly - especially those who have the receivers - are like kryptonite.

Getting a corner who can press and play man opposite Taylor is absolutely critical, if we are going to get past the teams that can spread us out.

You are assuming that Taylor will be with the Steelers. I'm not. He is a free agent now, I expect he will be in demand, and will likely go where he can get more money. If that happens, we will need to get TWO corners who can press and play man. That's not apt to happen in one off-season.

[Flasteel]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

Didn't DL design the zone blitz to combat the WCO? That's what I always heard.

He did, but that was against Bill Walsh's WCO. His offense was almost always 2 WRs, TE, FB, & RB and relied on quick precision and timing. The zone blitz was designed to confuse and disrupt that timing by dropping guys underneath that you didn't expect to be there and blitzing guys you didn't anticipate picking up.

Green Bay (and other teams that have torched us) put 3 and 4 WR sets on the field to spread us out and put our nickle and dime defenses on the field. Instead of timing, there's a lot more shotgun and looking for the single coverage match-up you want. QBs who are accurate and can read defenses quickly - especially those who have the receivers - are like kryptonite.

Getting a corner who can press and play man opposite Taylor is absolutely critical, if we are going to get past the teams that can spread us out.

You are assuming that Taylor will be with the Steelers. I'm not. He is a free agent now, I expect he will be in demand, and will likely go where he can get more money. If that happens, we will need to get TWO corners who can press and play man. That's not apt to happen in one off-season.

Which is why I am comfortable in assuming. Ike will be back...it's not like he's going to open it up to the highest bidder or hold us hostage due to our current CB situation.

I am sure this will be a situation where the player really wants to stay, the team really wants to keep him, and something fair to both sides will be worked out in the end.

At least I'm hoping this is how it will be.

[Oviedo]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

Didn't DL design the zone blitz to combat the WCO? That's what I always heard.

He did, but that was against Bill Walsh's WCO. His offense was almost always 2 WRs, TE, FB, & RB and relied on quick precision and timing. The zone blitz was designed to confuse and disrupt that timing by dropping guys underneath that you didn't expect to be there and blitzing guys you didn't anticipate picking up.

Green Bay (and other teams that have torched us) put 3 and 4 WR sets on the field to spread us out and put our nickle and dime defenses on the field. Instead of timing, there's a lot more shotgun and looking for the single coverage match-up you want. QBs who are accurate and can read defenses quickly - especially those who have the receivers - are like kryptonite.

Getting a corner who can press and play man opposite Taylor is absolutely critical, if we are going to get past the teams that can spread us out.

You are assuming that Taylor will be with the Steelers. I'm not. He is a free agent now, I expect he will be in demand, and will likely go where he can get more money. If that happens, we will need to get TWO corners who can press and play man. That's not apt to happen in one off-season.

Lose Taylor and we are toast. None of the other CBs on our roster are close to him talent wise and if we can't afford to pay him we aren't getting another good one via free agency. Drafting won't help either because we know they won't play while they "learn the system."

Taylor is as close to a must sign as any player I can remember in recent history. Our defensive coaches have developed NOTHING in our secondary that would be able to step in.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

you need a qb to run that offensive system. those two teams have crap for QB's.

I disagree about Cleveland. I think Colt McCoy will prove to be the second best QB out of the 2010 draft. He is perfect for the West Coast. He is mobile and very, very accurate. I think he will be a thorn in our sides for years to come.

I'll tell you what, I agree. Totally forgot about Colt McCoy.

[feltdizz]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

There is no reason to adjust the "system", but we can all agree that we need an upgrade at CB for it to work.

I think it needs to be simplified. I know it works well once the players understand it but it shouldn't take 4 years to grasp it.

Tyrone Carter is proof. He was a prime example of a DB without NFL talent keeping a roster spot because he knew the system. Guys are coming to our team with 5 times his talent and can't see the field because the can't grasp the playbook.

Imagine how good our DB play would be if we had young legs on the field.

[Crash]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

The "system being too hard" is coach-speak for LeBeau to rely on vets instead of having to play young players.

I mean how hard can it be? You're a DB, you line up with a WR, and you cover him.

The Packers didn't seem to have that problem in 2010 and they run the same system.

[feltdizz]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

Didn't DL design the zone blitz to combat the WCO? That's what I always heard.

He did, but that was against Bill Walsh's WCO. His offense was almost always 2 WRs, TE, FB, & RB and relied on quick precision and timing. The zone blitz was designed to confuse and disrupt that timing by dropping guys underneath that you didn't expect to be there and blitzing guys you didn't anticipate picking up.

Green Bay (and other teams that have torched us) put 3 and 4 WR sets on the field to spread us out and put our nickle and dime defenses on the field. Instead of timing, there's a lot more shotgun and looking for the single coverage match-up you want. QBs who are accurate and can read defenses quickly - especially those who have the receivers - are like kryptonite.

Getting a corner who can press and play man opposite Taylor is absolutely critical, if we are going to get past the teams that can spread us out.

You are assuming that Taylor will be with the Steelers. I'm not. He is a free agent now, I expect he will be in demand, and will likely go where he can get more money. If that happens, we will need to get TWO corners who can press and play man. That's not apt to happen in one off-season.

I don't think the demand for Taylor will be anywhere near what Steeler fans think it will be.

[feltdizz]

Re: West Coast Offense coming to the AFC North

The "system being too hard" is coach-speak for LeBeau to rely on vets instead of having to play young players.

I mean how hard can it be? You're a DB, you line up with a WR, and you cover him.

The Packers didn't seem to have that problem in 2010 and they run the same system.

We aren't the Packers...