In any football play, each of the team's eleven players on offense has a specific, scripted task.
[citation needed] Here are some plays from one specific West Coast playbook, and what the names mean:[3] The West Coast system has its roots in the system devised by Paul Brown as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.
It became known as the West Coast system when Brown's protege Bill Walsh used a similar scheme as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers during their success of the 1980s and 1990s.
[2] In such a modified system, the quarterback might call, "896 H-Shallow F-Curl", assigning numbered routes to the three receivers (the split end, the tight end, and the flanker), while "H-Shallow" and "F-Curl" refer to routes run by the halfback and fullback.
In contrast, the Erhardt–Perkins system is based on loose "concepts" that adapt to a variety of personnel packages and formations.
Given a set of eleven players on offense and their initial formation, the quarterback gives the code name for a play concept that is to be run.
(For example, a strong and large tight end can be lined up against a smaller cornerback, or a speedy wide receiver matched with a slower linebacker.)
The team can use the remaining time on the play clock not to assign instructions but to study the defense and adapt its plan.
[5] In 2015, 14-year NFL veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne asked to be released from the New England Patriots after only 2 pre-season games.
[6] The Erhardt–Perkins system was developed by Ron Erhardt and Ray Perkins, two assistant coaches who worked under Chuck Fairbanks for the Patriots during the 1970s.
The system was later implemented by the New York Giants in 1982 when Perkins was hired as their head coach, and Erhardt as his offensive coordinator.