Short pass plays. Take what the defense gives. Slants, quick
outs and the utmost precision.
Those are the traditional trademarks that make up the West Coast
offense.
When Karl Dorrell, previously the wide receivers coach of the
Denver Broncos, took over as UCLA’s head football coach, this
was his plan.
He was going to follow the genius of former San Francisco 49ers
coach Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense and prove to everyone
that he could make the West Coast offense work in college
football.
The only problem was it didn’t work.
The Bruins only averaged 19.1 points and 294.9 yards per game in
his first season, and though there were doubts in the beginning,
Dorrell was confident that the system would eventually be
successful.
“It was a system in progress,” Dorrell said.
“I knew the system would work, it was just a matter of time
before everyone got on the same page.”
There were many instances during the 2003 season in which fans
could see quarterbacks Matt Moore, and Drew Olson get frustrated,
and end up abandoning the system in favor of throwing the deep
ball.
Last season, with Olson solely at the helm, the Bruins showed
improvement, averaging over 30 points and 410 yards per game. But
the complexity of the scheme still took a toll on the Bruins, who
finished with a combined 12-13 record over the previous two
seasons.
“In the beginning, it was a learning curve for all of
us,” Olson said. “But we all stuck true to the system,
and you can see what dividends it has paid off this season.”
And paid off it has.
With Tom Cable as the offensive coordinator, the Bruins’
offense has flourished this season, putting up points at will.
Cable, who has ran the West Coast offense as head coach at Idaho,
says there is a large reason why the Bruins are 3-0 and averaging
just under 50 points per game.
“I’ve only been here for a year-and-a-half and I see
it running the way it’s supposed to be run,” Cable
said. “I think there is a lot of verbiage, a lot of
terminology in the system, but we try to do a good job and realize
what we’re capable of.”
UCLA currently possesses the 23rd best offense in the nation,
recording 441.3 total yards per game and quarterback Drew Olson is
seventh in the nation in pass efficiency with a quarterback rating
of 179.2.
Utilizing the Bruins’ wide receivers, and arguably the
nation’s top tight end, Marcedes Lewis, has been a big reason
for the Bruins’ success. Adjusting to the system often times
is the key.
“I think the kids are starting to embrace the
concept,” Cable said. “They realize the system is the
system, and you take what they give you and when they
can.”
Wide receiver Marcus Everett, for one, has been a large
recipient of the offense this year, recording career-highs of six
catches and 66 yards in the Bruins’ victory over
Oklahoma.
“Brandon (Breazell) and I got acclimated to the West Coast
offense and this year we’re just going through it and we know
everything,” sophomore receiver Marcus Everett said.
“It’s way easier. It’s clicking right
now.”
Senior quarterback Drew Olson, who is completing 71.8 percent of
his passes each game, has flourished under the offensive style
since he garnered the starting role in the middle of his sophomore
season.
“The three-step drops for the QB ““ you saw it
against (Oklahoma),” said Olson. “Short and
intermediate. Passing efficiency that’s what it’s all
about. When you have it going, you have it going.”
Olson is now fourth all-time among the Bruins’ leaders in
career offense, and second in career passing with 478
completions.
So far this season, UCLA’s basic offense has worked best
when it has been able to include its receivers, and its explosive
set of running backs, junior Maurice Drew and sophomore Chris
Markey.
Markey summarized the success of the offense this season the
best.
“If you execute it, it’s going to work,”
Markey said.
With reports from Sagar Parikh, Bruin Sports senior
staff.