Coaching The West Coast Quarterback, By Al Borges
'Intelligence is important, but a great work ethic can overcome much of what some players lack in natural "smarts."''He [the QB] should know exactly how his coach thinks and be able to regurgitate it verbally at the drop of hat.'
"Keep in mind that the quarterback does not look over 6' 4" and 6' 5" linemen. He is seeing and throwing through windows in the pass rush."
January 26th, 2012 at 11:21 PM ^
I'm pretty sure Borges ran bubble screens at SDSU, but to be honest, they are one of the most dangerous plays to run if you have press on the outside. That tunnel screen thing that we did was similar except Gallon would start the route showing a Go route, causing the DB to back off, but then would come back for the ball.
Honestly, I think both the offense and defense will improve vastly next year. The offense will improve because the receivers will finally, maybe, you know, understand the concept of a route tree. Denard will finally be able to call audibles that won't have as many go-nowhere plays like this year. Don't forget Touissant. The defense also seemed a little like a one-trick pony until the Ohio game, in which we tried something new and it didn't work. Perhaps with our vastly improved linebacking crew, we can do more baiting and technique variation. Very rarely did I see pre-snap motion for the corners this year, but that should change next year. Also, I expect to see more linebacker blitzes from the base set. If Campbell and Pipkins can control the line and take up blockers (2 each maybe? We've seen the destruction Campbell can make with only 1 blocker against him) the linebackers will be free to wreak havoc.
January 28th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
were good against pressure.
I'm betting Denard is the reason we don't bubble. He's 50/50 with his accuracy on screen throws.
It also appears that Borges prefers to get behind a loaded box as opposed to around it. Actually I think he is ahead of the curve on that thinking. A philosphy that may pay huge dividends when we get a taller, pocket-passer type like Morris.
January 29th, 2012 at 2:41 AM ^
seems like solid reasoning as to why we didn't throw bubble screens this past season... until you think about how many he threw and threw well in 2010.
Denard is NOT why Al didn't call bubble screens this past year.
January 26th, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
Nice job on the review. I'd like to read it myself, though I'm guessing it is not available for my Kindle...
I've read a couple books about more of the Bill Walsh style west coast offenses, and one thing I've noticed is how they always seem to emphasize things like option routes, QBs who can hit the receivers in stride to generate YAC, snaps from under center (so that the QB never has to take his eyes off the defense), and stretching the field horizontally. So I find it very interesting to see a WCO guy like Borges running an offense with a shotgun QB who lacks pinpoint accuracy, no option routes, and looking to stretch the field vertically with a deep-threat. I think that displays a pretty impressive ability to adapt to the talent available.
January 27th, 2012 at 1:11 AM ^
yup! i sure hope Denard improves. im tired of holding my breath everytime he drops back to throw. and be happy the ball hit the ground rather than in the other teams hands. i do thinkbour defense will be fine. we'll miss martin and van bergan. but mattison will find ways to put pressure on opposing qbs. okus everybody will have a year under the new coach and schemes. i think we could go 9-3 or 10-2 again. with losses to Alabama and to ohio.
January 27th, 2012 at 9:19 AM ^
I wonder if Heiko can get back in Borges's good graces by mentioning the book. I think it'd be interesting to see if Al had ideas he'd add now, a revision 2, with how much footbal has changed in the last 10 years.
Or I guess, more correctly, I'd like to know what book Al would like to write now, since he already wrote a WCO book.
Thanks for the review
January 27th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
I didn't even know this existed. This is Diarist of the Week material, which is becoming old hat to you, even when the word "Korean" doesn't appear in a post.
- Somehow Brian has to get his hands on those videos. The Calvin video from before was always interesting, and now that he's the new OC, I imagine this would be too.
- Quote 1- while it IS true of all QB coaches, I think it really shows how reads and precision are really important in this offense. And why guys improve greatly in it when they've had time and know exactly what the coach wants, without even being told. It gives high hopes for Denard next year, because he'll have it all down. And I would imagine any new guy, of any style, should be given some time because they'll struggle.
- Quote 2- Part of the passing between thing is that a QB doesn't have to be an immobile giant...but part of it is the developement of linemen from just really big guys to extremely tall really big guys. Other than the rare giant like the Virginia Tech QB, even your tall QBs aren't going to be seeing over linemen anymore. It's amazed me to see linemen become basketball players with weight.
- 2, pt 2- But it also does show that the idea that we want trees passing the ball isn't how Borges has even done it. He wants mobile guys. But pass first guys, not run first guys.
- West Coast Offenses live and die with RBs catching the ball. For all the MANBALL, I'm more expect to see us try and get a Roger Craig type.
- Love the 4 minute offense stuff.
- The footwork vs. arm motion explains why we kept hearing Denard talk about footwork footwork footwork...and how when he gets that down, he could be pretty deadly with his arm as well as his legs.
January 27th, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^
The concept and practice of the 4-minute offense made me sit up and read more carefully.
I've long been a fan of ball-control time-of-possession ... but now that I see that stuff about the 4-minute Offense it makes me think maybe my love for ToP was really centered on the ability to move the chains when absolutely a must. And when you're up by 2 with the ball and 3:48 left on the clock the ability to get a couple first downs is critical.
* * *
The tall-QB thing made me think of Arizona State's departing QB Brock Osweiler, who is -- what? -- 6'10" I think? Osweiler was pretty good ... but I don't think his height per se was the key. I saw him in a few games and the guy could move well enough to keep a play going, or get the first down when nobody was open. Sometimes enough is all that's needed.
January 27th, 2012 at 4:07 PM ^
Kudos to the OP for tracking down the book and posting all this.
Related to this -- does anyone have any more details on the presentation Borges gave at the recent Michigan coaches clinic? (The one where Dantonio had his little hissy fit.) According to this write-up, Borges talked about "how to blend a conventional and spread offensive attack." I'd be curious to hear more about how Borges tried to blend concepts from both approaches in the offense this year -- what lessons he learned, etc.
January 28th, 2012 at 12:10 AM ^
"One of the concepts that Borges mentions here is that half the passing yards should come through the air and half the passing yards should come via yards after catch."
That is textbook WC Offense....from Jerry Rice to Wes Welker... guys catching short passes, slants, out and goes, curl unders etc. and making major YAC because of the combination of the route + 1 foot in front of the numbers accurate throw in perfect timing + combo route schemes clearing out space..
Which is why accuracy is so important in this offense... if Denard can improve more in this area next season...look out cause that will really open the offense to YAC (think Gallon vs ND on that long pass in the final drive...hit in stride and major YAC)
I became a big Alan Borges fan this season...IMO he is the best OC Michigan has had since Moeller...and before that Fritz Crisler... guy is a Schemologist.
Thanks for posting this review C.
January 28th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
I too came to admire Borges as this season progressed and we got an opportunity to see him in action. His pressers on MGoVideo were just great.
I have to confess I reacted rather negatively to the Sugar Bowl because it appeared to me at the time that Borges had reverted back in that game. Other posts here on MGoBlog have helped me better understand some of what actually took place that game.
National signing day coming up ... spring ball around the corner ... can't wait for the fall.
January 29th, 2012 at 2:53 AM ^
and watched the West Coast Offense my whole life, the phylosophy of RAC yards is exactly why I never understood why people said RR's spread and the WCO are entirely different in their passing schemes, and receivers have a hard time adjusting from one to the other. The WCO uses the short passing game to supplement the running game, and they use a ton of 3 and 5 step drops. RR's spread also uses shorter routes and 3 step drops. And having played receiver, I know there are only so many routes you can run when your QB is supposed to have the ball out of his hand 2-3 seconds after the snap.
In fact, the bubble screen being a staple of RR's spread and Al flat out refusing to run it (even though it's very much a part of some WCO's) gave me the feeling, however unreasonable, that he did it on purpose out of spite.
January 28th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^
to seeing what he can do with another year of teaching Denard. His instincts and reads were somewhat better this year, but still sometimes very, very off. Second year under Borges could result in a significant uptick in both categories. If so, this will be a very dangerous offense.
January 29th, 2012 at 2:54 AM ^
in his second year of RR's offense, I have high hopes for him this coming season.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:47 AM ^
I do however remember hearing about the Philadelphia Eagles using a 4-minute offense a few years back; in fact, the announcers were talking about how many different types of situations they prepared for w.r.t. such a thing. The point was that when you are down with X minutes on the clock, and need a long drive to win, it's better to figure out your pace and make sure the other team doesn't get the ball back with a lot of time on the clock.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^
Tampa?
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