Inside The (Not At All) West Coast Offense: Nebraska Cornhuskers

by PB @ BON on Oct 18, 2006 9:09 AM CDT in Football Comment 11 comments

You'll hear lots of stories about Bill Callahan and his West Coast offense this week, but after combing the Nebraska drive charts, I'm convinced that it's a misnomer. Nebraska's not running anything resembling an offense like the ones that typically earn that moniker.

The West Coast offense is a general philosophy popularized by Bill Walsh, who thought that the traditional offensive game plan (rush first to open up the pass) was backwards. He sought to keep the rush defense honest by completing short- and mid-range passes early in the down count and in games in order to open up the running game.

As such, the term West Coast offense isn't used to describe a particular offensive set, per se, but rather an offensive philosophy.

Which Bill Callahan's 2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers most assuredly aren't built around.

To illustrate this, let's take a look at Nebraska's play calling in their two games versus teams with good defenses - USC and Kansas State.

Let's start with USC. Texas fans would have crucified Greg Davis for a game plan this conservative. Each of the lines below a drive represent a series of plays prior to achieving a first down or change of possession.

Nebraska Offensive Possessions vs USC, 1st Half

Drive 1
Rush / Rush / Incomplete / Punt

Drive 2
Rush / Rush / Short Pass / Fake Punt
Rush / Pass / Incomplete / Punt

Drive 3
Rush / Incomplete / Incomplete / FG

Drive 4
Rush / Rush / Pass for 1st Down
Rush / Pass 1st Down
Rush / Rush / Rush 1st Down
Rush / Sack / Incomplete / Punt

Drive 5
Rush / Rush / Rush 1st
Rush / Halftime (14-3 USC)

So, let's recap the first half. Five drives, five rushes on first down. Ten first down plays, 10 rushes. Seven second down plays, five rushes. On five of Nebraska's ten first half, first down possessions, they ran the ball on both first and second down. That, my friends, is not a West Coast offense.

Nebraska Offensive Possessions vs USC, 2nd Half

Drive 1
Sack (fumble, turnover)

Drive 2 (now down 21-3)
Rush / Rush / Pass for 1st down
Rush / Rush for 1st
Rush / Rush / Rush / Incomplete (turnover on downs)

Drive 3
Rush / Rush / Rush / Punt

Drive 4
Scramble / Incomplete / Pass for 1st
Pass for 1st
Pass for 1st
Rush / Rush / Rush TD (21-10)

Drive 5 (Down 28-10)
Rush / Incomplete / Incomplete / Punt

And you thought Greg Davis was conservative? My goodness! The second half wasn't any more of a West Coast attack than the first half was. And Nebraska was playing from behind.

The Kansas State game wasn't much different. In the first half, they rushed the ball 9 times out of 13 first downs. They ran on first and second down on 6 of 13 opportunities. The second half was even more extreme, with 10 of 12 first down plays being rushing plays.

For the season, 62% of Nebraska's plays have been rushing plays.

Why, then, is this offense described as a West Coast offense? It shouldn't be. Whatever Bill Callahan's philosophy in the NFL, or his first seasons at Nebraska, this season is a rush first, pass second attack. The Huskers play a ball control, smash-mouth football, aiming for low-risk, clock-management victories. They do run many of the short- and mid-range, quick-strike pass plays when they do pass, but the philosophy is most certainly to pass off the established run, and not vice versa.

What should Texas expect on Saturday? Husker fans had better hope for a more aggressive game plan than the one employed against Southern Cal. Texas is stout as can be against the run, but there's been room to throw the football at times. Will Callahan adjust his gameplan to account for this? The evidence points the opposite way, really. Callahan has faced two solid defenses this season, and in both cases, he pounded the run over and over on first down.

Whatever Callahan does Saturday - what he's done so far is a traditional, and not a West Coast, offense.

--PB--

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Comments

So-called West Coast Offense

Bill Calahan's 2006 version of the West Coast offensive philosophy has been "offensive" to pure West Coast theorists. As PB very well points out, this is much more a "smash-mouth" offensive philosophy that lulls you into being susceptible to the short and medium range passes. However, as he also points out, Callahan puts the reins on Zach Taylor in big games against strong defenses. I look for nothing different this weekend in Lubbock. One of the main reasons that Baylor put up over 300 passing yards was the absense of Terell Brown and Marcus Griffin, both of whom should play this weekend. I think the Horns will stuff the run as they have all season with their front seven, allowing the Griffin brothers to patrol the middle of the defensive secondary, limiting the potential for the big play. The only real concern I have is Michael Griffin's tendency this season to get burned on play-action! Nebraska is a very good play action team, and I hope Michael Griffin has learned from his mistakes. I think he has, but if he has not, it could be a long game. Go Horns! Texas 30- Corn U 17.

by skolodn on Oct 18, 2006 9:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Re:

"I look for nothing different this weekend in Lubbock."

I don't know what's happening in Lubbock. Maybe you should switch over and watch the game in Lincoln.

by aorist9 on Oct 18, 2006 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Otherwise

very good breakdown

by aorist9 on Oct 18, 2006 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brain Infarct

I have no idea what I was thinking saying Lubbock. Thanks for pointing that out. Obviously, I ment Lincoln. I don't really give a you know that about what is happening in Lubbock this weekend.

by skolodn on Oct 18, 2006 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who does?

Hook 'em. 'Nuff said.

by GoHorns on Oct 18, 2006 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice breakdown

While watching the SC - Husker game, I kept wondering why the Huskers kept calling so many run plays. SC only allowed 68 yards on 36 carries (including sacks), while giving up 143 yards on 17 pass attemps. If they pull that against Texas they'll be lucky to score 7 points. Your run D is more stout and your secondary more talented than SC right now.

I anticipate UT scoring more points than SC did and holding Nebraska to around the same point total. I wouldn't be surprised to see UT have over 200 rushing yards and 250 passing yards Saturday. In fact, I'd really like to see JC break out this game.

Final score: UT wins 38-7

by blackdog81 on Oct 18, 2006 11:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

thats a

little ambitious to think Texas will score 38 and only hold Nebraska to 7 points in Lincoln. I am not saying Texas can't score 38, they sure have the weapons to do it, but gimme a break. Colt McCoy hasn't played in a hostile environment like the one he'll be in on Saturday. Everyone wants to see JC break out, I am still waiting for his 2006 coming out party, maybe this weekend? However, Nebraska is tough at home and I would be shocked to see them roll easily, much less 38-7. Callahan should have the troops ready to play, Marlon Lucky is a damn good back, and the Nebraska defensive line is vey underrated. I also wouldn't say that Texas secondary is much more better than USC's because Tarrel Brown and Griffin are banged up and might not even play. However, USC has the nation's best linebacking corps and that was key in stopping the Nebraska rushing attack. It'll be interesting to see who bends first, the Texas O-line or Nebraska D-line.

West coast offense or not, Nebraska is talented enough to compete with the Texas, but the question is for how long. I'll go with Texas 27-24

by joey on Oct 18, 2006 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

just can't see Nebraska scoring 24...

NM.

by DC Trojan on Oct 18, 2006 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TX OU

When Colt was on the OU side of the stadium in the first half that is about as hostile as it gets.

I have not heard much about USC's LB core, but they must be pretty good since the D has been winning games for them in the last couple of weeks. I would not sleep on UT's run stopping ability though, as Ohio St was not able to run on them.

by Wells on Oct 18, 2006 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

SC LBs

The one area of the defense where they have some depth, to the extent that they are trying a different formation to get more linebackers on the field... I am not attuned to the details enough to be able to argue that the new formation is part of the reason that they aren't getting as many sacks, but ignorance breeds suspicion.

by DC Trojan on Oct 19, 2006 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NU's identity

Most Husker fans that I talk to are asking similar questions about our offensive identity. Maybe that's because we were so used to being known as the option-attack for so many years?

Callahan was much more in the mindset of pass-the-ball-at-all-costs the last couple years. But, we just didn't have the talent to execute a full blown WCO, having inherited a team recruited for a run-based offense.

So, I think you're seeing him adjust his game plan this year to fit the strengths of the players we have. As he gets a few more top-10 recruiting classes under his belt, I think you'll see us shift to more of a traditional WCO (if there is such a thing :).

None the less, I think Callahan has saved a few new twists for this game. But, that's pure speculation on my part.

bigrednetwork.com

by siffring on Oct 18, 2006 4:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs