Scripting the first 15

[SBbound49ers]

Are you a fan of scripting the first 15 plays?

Personally, I dont think its a bad thing but I prefer to let the game play out and call the plays depending on the situation rather than anticipating how they will work.

Thoughts?

[Ace Matherton]

Absolutely, it tells you how the D is playing you and gives you and opportunety to make adjustments without tipping your hand.

[Blong4Ever]

It's a script and there is always improv off it, rarely do they get to call those first 15 in a row. They basically say we want to see how they defend us on these 15 formations/plays. They use that to find the weakness/how they plan to defends certain guys. Then call the plays to exploit it later in the game. Where it backfires though is if your offense starts going 3 and out.

[NinerRider]

Are you a fan of scripting the first 15 plays?

Personally, I dont think its a bad thing but I prefer to let the game play out and call the plays depending on the situation rather than anticipating how they will work.

Thoughts?


Bill Walsh started this, so it has to be good. And if it wasn't a good idea, there wouldn't be so many coaches out there doing the same thing, even in the college ranks. I believe Urban Meier does it.

[SBbound49ers]

Bill Walsh started this, so it has to be good. And if it wasn't a good idea, there wouldn't be so many coaches out there doing the same thing, even in the college ranks. I believe Urban Meier does it.

Didnt know Walsh originated that. Rep.

[fabie]

Are you a fan of scripting the first 15 plays?

Personally, I dont think its a bad thing but I prefer to let the game play out and call the plays depending on the situation rather than anticipating how they will work.

Thoughts?It was 20 in the beginning when Bill Walsh first instituted it. What else can I say that it is more than just good. It is a way to "check" your opponents on their tendencies on specific plays, position and motions.

The main keys here are ADJUSTMENTS off that script and learning from it until the wee seconds of the late 4th quarter with the "2 minute drive"....

[TheWiz]

Not entirely true. Teams make adjustments throughout the game and especially at half-time so what they do in the first 15 plays will almost never help you out in the remaining minutes.

The point of the script is that the plays are chosen for a purpose. Perhaps one shows how they will line up the FS to a formation, which personnel package they put on the field, whether they adjust to a strongside running alignment, etc. Each play is chosen to give us some info about the defense.

This information helps the team start offensively, not finish offensively. Because once we see how they match up and play a formation or shift to a man in motion we have the upper hand. Then we can immediately attack it again. Scripted or not, every offense does this. Any OC chooses his early plays to see a defenses reaction. Scripting them just works out the keys ahead of time. When a defense reacts one way, the OC knows which play to call next time. If they react another way, he chooses a different play. But the overall goal is to hit them hard and early while they're still feeling us out defensively and before they know what to adjust to.

[fabie]

Not entirely true. Teams make adjustments throughout the game and especially at half-time so what they do in the first 15 plays will almost never help you out in the remaining minutes.

The point of the script is that the plays are chosen for a purpose. Perhaps one shows how they will line up the FS to a formation, which personnel package they put on the field, whether they adjust to a strongside running alignment, etc. Each play is chosen to give us some info about the defense.

This information helps the team start offensively, not finish offensively. Because once we see how they match up and play a formation or shift to a man in motion we have the upper hand. Then we can immediately attack it again. Scripted or not, every offense does this. Any OC chooses his early plays to see a defenses reaction. Scripting them just works out the keys ahead of time. When a defense reacts one way, the OC knows which play to call next time. If they react another way, he chooses a different play. But the overall goal is to hit them hard and early while they're still feeling us out defensively and before they know what to adjust to.exactly what I said but more elaborated...hehehe.

[Blong4Ever]

I don't know if Walsh can take credit entirely for the script but it sure seemed to work a lot better in the old days. I can't tell you how many times I seen Montana or Young take it down and score in the first 15 plays.

[fabie]

I don't know if Walsh can take credit entirely for the script but it sure seemed to work a lot better in the old days. I can't tell you how many times I seen Montana or Young take it down and score in the first 15 plays.Walsh was influenced by a lot of coaches...from Paul Brown to Don "air" Coryell...but he tweaked it and made it more efficient....

One factor you have to remember was that in the 80s, the WCO, was a revolutionary thing and that defenses still hasn't grasped the whole thing about the WCO and therefore the SURPRISE ELEMENT is a big factor....much like the 46 Defense of the BEARS.

Now, Defenses can somehow deter the WCO and learned how to play it better.

[Blong4Ever]

Now, Defenses can somehow deter the WCO and learned how to play it better.

Or is it offenses stopped being as effecient? Today's game doesn't have the preciseness of the 80s/90s. It was Rice and Taylor running perfect routes with an accurate pass. Now it's about big wide receivers breaking tackles and deep bombs. I don't have the stats but I'm guessing there are a lot more 3 & outs then there used to be. I do agree the WCO is much more common and a focal point for defenses but teams had years to learn it, it didn't slow down Steve Young.

[fabie]

Or is it offenses stopped being as effecient? Today's game doesn't have the preciseness of the 80s/90s. It was Rice and Taylor running perfect routes with an accurate pass. Now it's about big wide receivers breaking tackles and deep bombs. I don't have the stats but I'm guessing there are a lot more 3 & outs then there used to be. I do agree the WCO is much more common and a focal point for defenses but teams had years to learn it, it didn't slow down Steve Young.I think it goes both ways....but we cannot deny the existence of more awareness of the WCO in general but I also believe in what you have said....

WCO is evolving while the defenses are also evolving....

[Nevyn]

I don't know if Walsh can take credit entirely for the script but it sure seemed to work a lot better in the old days. I can't tell you how many times I seen Montana or Young take it down and score in the first 15 plays.

The niners actually scored on quite a few first drives this year. Much better numbers than we put up for the rest of first halves anyway.

[Giedi]

Or is it offenses stopped being as effecient? Today's game doesn't have the preciseness of the 80s/90s. It was Rice and Taylor running perfect routes with an accurate pass. Now it's about big wide receivers breaking tackles and deep bombs. I don't have the stats but I'm guessing there are a lot more 3 & outs then there used to be. I do agree the WCO is much more common and a focal point for defenses but teams had years to learn it, it didn't slow down Steve Young.

What kills the WCO, in my opinion, is Seiferts Zone Blitzing scheme. Zone Blitzing really defeats the *flood one side of the field with recievers* concept of the WCO. It really screws around with the WCO progressive reads. A lot of teams using the WCO have very strong running games in order to offset the Zone Blitz - no longer can any team simply rely on the WCO pass first philosophy with so many teams employing the 3-4 zone blitz.

Giedi