My recent post in the thread about Joey's 1st Miami PC got me thinking about the idea listed above. The true WCO as run by Bill Walsh in SF had 2 RB's in split formation, 2 WR's & 1 TE. Alot of draws and traps were run. The Passing staples were crossing routes and others that relied on timing. By those criteria, this style has been "dead" for years. Many teams run a diluted version of it (Philly, Pack, Denver, & Seattle to name a few). I recall reading the Billick runs a hybrid of the Joe Gibbs style w/ the WCO and a style similar to Linehan. I wonder how many teams run both the WCO & Tampa cover 2? After all, the NFL is a copycat league.
Actually Mike Holmgrem and Seattle still run what is kinda considered a true WC offense. Outside of the Seahawks nobody runs it. They all run different variations of it though. McCarthy is running an easy version of it to go along with Denver's zone blocking scheme. I actually like that match.
Dead is relative, I guess. I agree that few teams run a true WCO, a true 3-4, or a true cover 2....at least how they were originally designed. It is a copycat league, but you have to put new spins on them if you want to succeed in the future. The best quote I have heard about the WCO is from Walsh himself. I don't remember the exact quote, but he was brushing off the genius tag. Basically, he was saying that he didn't design any new offense, he was just trying to pick the plays that didn't get them killed at the time. I love it.
Several years ago, the 3-4 was "dead"...only the Steelers used it and every other team was running a base 4-3....obviously, thats no longer the case....the league is a copycat league, but its also cyclical....ideas come and go, but they usually come back eventually....for this reason, I believe the 46 will come back at some point, the run and shoot could come back and someone may be running the K-gun at some point....mostly today, coaches take what they like from everything previously done and make it thier own....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>believe the 46 will come back at some point</div> Tennessee's been using the 46 for the past few years, haven't they?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>believe the 46 will come back at some point</div> Tennessee's been using the 46 for the past few years, haven't they?</div> no....you will know if a team is using the 46 because ESPN will never shut up about it....some teams shift into a 46 type alignment on obvious running downs but no one runs it base and no one uses it a signifigant ammount of the time....you would need tremendous personel to run it today because teams throw so much....you would need fantastic pass rushers, super-mobile LBs, and a FS that could play centerfield and play it well....im not sure anyone has the talent to even try at the moment....
The Ravens are switching back to a 4-3. They may line up in a 46 some of the time or so I read. I'd like to see one of these 3-4 teams line up in this D. If so, Steelers, Chargers, or Dallas might be the most successful.
