A look into Bill Lazor offense

[fisi]

For two years now the Miami Dolphins have run a version of the West Coast offense, ran by then offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. That will continue this year with now offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. Although there are some differences in how they will run the West Coast offense, they all use some of the same general principals. Here are some of them and how they relate to the Dolphins and their offensive weapons.

1. The West Coast offense is designed to stretch the defense, both vertically and horizontally

2. The West Coast offense is designed to keep the ball for an extended period of time through a short passing attack that acts as an extension of the running game.

3. The West Coast offense is designed to create mismatches based on size, speed, personnel groupings or even unpredictability in the play calling.


What this means for the Miami Dolphins.

• The Dolphins don’t have the needed personnel to be able to run this offensive scheme right now.
  
• Running backs is a position that the Dolphins need more production from. Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas only produced 41 catches out of the backfield last year, and contributed to a rushing attack that was ranked only 25th in the NFL.
  
• Wide receivers are essential to the West Coast offense and the Dolphins don’t have the right guys to run the offense correctly. Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline, the Dolphins two starting receivers, do not fit the scheme very well at all. Wallace a vertical threat that does not do very well with going over the middle and making the tough catches. Hartline has virtually no run-after-the-catch ability, which is key if this offense is going to successful.
• The offensive line needs to be completely rebuilt. Aside from Mike Pouncey, the offensive line does not fit the mold of a West Coast offense, not to mention they were terrible regardless of offensive scheme. The Dolphins have the potential have four completely new starters come 2014 NFL season. This is very troublesome for them.
  

Now that you have a general idea of what the West Coast offense does and what it should like, you can obviously see that the Dolphins have plenty of work to do to accomplish what they want to do offensively in the future. And when the Dolphins start to make free agent signings and draft picks, you can start to have an idea if they will be able to fit into the scheme that the Dolphins want to run. They had a major problem of not using their personnel right last year and it was because they had players that did not fit into the scheme that they wanted to run. If the Dolphins are going to be successful this year, they will need to either adapt the West Coast system to better fit the talent they already have or acquire talent that better fits what they want to do.












http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/a...blisher_cover32_dolphins_module_head_15887648

 

[finfan41]

I mean no disrespect and all, but how is this a look into Bill Lazor offense, just a article on how a west coast offense runs, last year he was running Chip Kellys offense so we really don't know what his offense will really look like

 

[uk_dolfan]

Hartline doesnt fit a west coast system my ass

 

[crashfan]

Hartline doesnt fit a west coast system my ass

Wallace does more than run vertical routes. Pass protection and run blocking are the lead domino in an offense. Face it, our o-line sucked last year and we have a proven commodity in an o-line coach now who can evaluate and attract free agents. And he should have a say in who gets drafted. I'm looking at the glass as half full. Our o-line was in shambles last year and we were a win away from making the playoffs. Let's give Lazor and Hickey a shot.

 

[dolpns13]

Another bad Fisi thread. When will it end???

Thanks for giving all of us illiterate footballers a "general idea of the WC offense". Pffft... :rolleyes2:

 

[LANGER72]

Yawn...

 

[Phinatic8u]

This is partially true.

Lazor actually makes a offense around the talent he has, not trying to force stuff that can't/wont' work..Actually study him and you will learn young fisi

 

[ladeback]

What a disappointing thread. I actually expected some real insight.

 

[Dthrill_08]

It's two different offenses. Plus Mike Sherman never and rarely used our RB in open space or on screen passes. Come on we had Bush and he is one of the better RB for a WCO

 

[DKphin]

Brian Hartline does not fit the west coast offense? I think you better read up a little more on what kind of WR fits that scheme.

 

[thefranchisedef]

They will run Philbins offense. Mike sherman ran.. Philbins offense.

 

[Digital]

I think those general principles are fine, but not exactly how this may play out.

1. We did stretch the defense last year, but our predictability made it tough. With no pass protection, those long throws were all rushed, so the defenses could play tight coverage really challenging Tannehill to thread the needle. We definitely stretched more vertically with Wallace, but the lack of Jake Long made it difficult to really capitalize on when we did.

2. Lack of a running game and losing our starting TE and Y receiver made it much harder on Tannehill to generate that steady underneath game. He spent the pre-season generating chemistry with Keller and it worked ... then he went down with a season ending injury derailing that part of this offense's bread and butter. Then he developed chemistry with Gibson who was adjusting to the underneath role ... and he went down with a season ending injury. Assuming healthy players, we should be improved in this area even without the additions. Also, I have a LOT of faith in Benton, so I am confident that his OL will be better than Turner's OL despite being patched together this offseason.

3. Last year we absolutely did not take advantage of or even create mismatches based on any of those things. Sherman didn't really do that. In fact, he tipped the snap count and run vs. pass. Lazor, on the other hand, does a great job of creating mismatches and taking advantage if the defense gives you one. That's why he was so successful with mediocre talent at UVa and part of the reason why he generated so many chunk yardage plays in Philadelphia. We have speed guys in Wallace and Miller, and I expect Lazor to use them more creatively than Sherman. Sherman didn't even have our WR's switch sides really. This is the area where Lazor should make a huge difference.

Also, Lazor will generate much more from the run game as well as more passes to the RB's and TE's. Last year we had Hartline hit 1k yardage and Wallace right there as well. This year we will spread it around more. I expect more points, more sustained drives, a far better run game, more screens, and fewer nail-biters. We're going to blow a few people out next year, instead of every game being so close.

We will not be able to lean on our defense as much this year IMHO, so we'll need to improve as an offense. Fortunately, the additions of Lazor and Benton look exceptional to me. This may be a breakout year for our offense ... if Hickey can build an OL.