Run or Pass?
The NFL started to change in the 1980s.
Remember the rule changes of 1978 designed to help offenses? The league wanted more high-scoring games, and these new rules encouraged teams to pass the football more than in years past. A dispute between football teams and their strategies arose as the decade began. Besides these pass-friendly rules, a little known assistant coach introduced an offense that revolutionized the game. The West Coast Offense
In 1969, Bill Walsh entered his second season as an assistant coach with theCincinnati Bengals.
When starting quarterback Greg Cook injured his shoulder and backup quarterback Virgil Carter stepped in, Walsh and head coach Paul Brown created an offense for Carter since he was not as gifted as Cook. The system involved many short, rhythmic passes and quick-timing routes that led to receivers gaining numerous yards after the catch. With these short passes, it represented a consistent running game. The passing game used to be only for huge plays downfield (or the vertical game), but now it could be used to control a game. Walsh used this unique system to start a dynasty. Team of the '80s
Walsh became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1979.
He brought his special system with him, and with quarterback Joe Montana, he would create one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. The 49ers won four Super Bowls in the decade (1981, 1984, 1988 and 1989) and had some of the best players ever. They included Montana, running back Roger Craig, wide receiver Jerry Rice, wide receiver John Taylor, quarterback Steve Young and safety and cornerback Ronnie Lott. It wasn't a typo, the 49ers had TWO Hall of Fame quarterbacks during their golden years! The West Coast offense and the 49ers dynasty exemplified the 1980s NFL, a change from traditional game plans to more innovative and creative schemes. Well, this blog is done. Feel free to check out a 1980s NFL timeline at the bottom of the page and a video of my top 5 quarterbacks of the 1980s!
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