Football's West Coast Offense [Paperback]

Frank Henderson (Author), Mel Olson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 1997

Since the 1980s, football teams have used the West Coast Offense to win championships. From Bill Walsh's San Francisco 49ers juggernaut, to Brigham Young University's record-smashing Cougars, to the 1997 Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, this passing attack is a proven winner. Now you can learn the secrets of this system, no matter what level you coach.

This how-to book comes packed with 244 Xs and Os diagrams and explains the pro-style attack in simple and clear language. The authors, both former coaches on the BYU staff, explain how to tailor the system to suit your personnel, whether it's for ball control or big-play needs. They also include a mini-playbook that shows you how to attack various defensive coverages.

Football's West Coast Offense provides position-specific skill instruction that addresses:

- fundamentals of each offensive position,
- passing concepts,
- protection,
- plays, and
- reading or attacking coverages.

The book explains each pass pattern and shows how to use each pattern against various coverages. And if you're on the other side of ball, the book shows what to expect and how to defend this high-octane attack.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a complete and detailed explanation of a pro-style passing game: it covers not only philosophy, but also individual techniques for all levels of play."
Jim Fassel
Head Coach
New York Giants

"Coach Henderson and Coach Olson have done a marvelous job organizing and detailing the West Coast Offense. They really have taken a very complex passing attack and broken it down into a simple form. What a practical, useful book. Their efforts are to be commended."
Andy Reid
Quarterback Coach
Green Bay Packers

From the Publisher

"This book is a complete and detailed explanation of a pro-style passing game; it covers not only philosophy, but individual techniques for all levels of play."

Jim Fassel Head Coach New York Giants

"An outstanding book relating the details and sophistication of the ‘pro’ attack."

Ted Tollner Head Football Coach San Diego State University

"Coach Henderson and Coach Olson have done a marvelous job organizing and detailing the West Coast Offense. They really have taken a very complex passing attack and broken it down into a simple form. What a practical, useful book!"

Andy Reid Quarterback Coach Green Bay Packers

"Running the West Coast Offense is a quarterback’s dream, but it requires excellent teaching and practice. Coaches Henderson and Olson provide you with the nuts and bolts information to put this high-production offense into your game plan and win big with it."

Ty Detmer San Francisco 49ers 1990 Heisman Trophy winner

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics (July 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880116625
• ISBN-13: 978-0880116626
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #888,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It could've been better, May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Football's West Coast Offense (Paperback)

The book concentrated alot on patterns and what the quarterback's supposed to do. It didn't cover much on the most important part of the offense, the offensive line. It didn't touch on how to be a good blocker and on the importance of the O-line. I was disappointed to see that it didn't include running plays. The most dangerous teams that use the West Coast all have an effective running game. It didn't go into much depth at anything other than on the quarterback's techniques. It's a good book for QB's and receivers. It's not bad for runningbacks that only want to play catch. But it isn't good for linemen. The book just needed more substance.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice primer but serious coaches will want more...., August 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Football's West Coast Offense (Paperback)

Maybe I was spoiled by the thoroughness of Coverdale and Robinson's "The Bunch Attack", or maybe I felt I was rereading Edwards and Chow's "Winning Football with...." but I was a little disappointed with what could have been a fantastic treatise on perhaps the most talked about football philosophy of the last 10 years. There are some nice parts of the book, but if your looking for a revelation of the West Coast offense you'll be disappointed. There is nothing on the West Coast Run Game, too little on pass protection, and only basic smatterings of specifics on technique. Think of it as a nice book for beginers

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good info., April 30, 2001

By 

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This review is from: Football's West Coast Offense (Paperback)

In terms of best book, this is not. But it is a must read. The small chapter on how his protection works is different from Ron Jenkins The multiple West Coast Offense.(Which is a better book). But this book will increase your knowledge about the west coast offense, you can implement the offense with this book, so it's not a bad book.