SID GILLMAN: "FATHER OF THE MODERN PRO PASSING GAME"

FOR YOUNGER COACHES WHO DON'T REMEMBER SID GILLMAN.

The real West Coast offense

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Posted: Friday October 29, 1999 07:19 PM



When you get old, you get cranky, and lots of things bug you -- things that might seem insignificant to others. I get nasty when I read (or hear), "Everyone must do their own..." Singular antecedent. EveryONE must do his or her...

I go absolutely wild when I hear some TV yutz remarking (and they all say it), "There's lots of ways." Huh? There is ways? Are English teachers listening to this?

But that's kid stuff compared to the way I feel about the term "West Coast Offense." I've belabored the subject many times before. But here it comes again, this time keyed by a very interesting conversation I had the other day with the current darling of the offensive coordinator set, St. Louis' Mike Martz, who has put together the NFL's most dynamic attack. We talked about the Real West Coast Offense, the one he coaches.

There are three practitioners of the Real West Coast Offense, three men whose roots go right back to the beginning -- to Sid Gillman of the San Diego Chargers in the 1960s, and before him, Francis (Shut-the-Gates-of-Mercy) Schmidt at Ohio State.

The current trio is composed of Martz, whose offense ranks second in the NFL; Washington's head coach and offensive coordinator Norv Turner , whose attack ranks first, six total yards ahead of Martz's offense; and Ernie Zampese, whose Patriots attack ranks No. 5 in the NFL in yardage. There is a very strong connection here, and it goes back to Gillman.

"I was a San Diego high school kid in those days," Martz says. "I used to love to sit in old Balboa Stadium and watch Gillman's offense at work. I mean, it was just so great to look at -- Lance Alworth and Gary Garrison, and John Hadl throwing the ball all over the place. Paul Lowe and Keith Lincoln running. It was an awesome experience."

It was a beautiful offense that had everything going for it. At times it reached unheard-of levels, such as the 610 yards the Chargers put up when they murdered Boston in the 1963 AFL Championship. Push the ball downfield, work the seams, hit the receiver on the break. Everything timed to the max, every step carefully charted, receivers and QB all working together. And a punishing ground game to back it up.

No one could coach offensive football like Gillman did in the '60s. He said the seeds of his offense were sown when he was a graduate assistant on the 1934 Ohio State staff, working under Shut-the-Gates-of-Mercy Schmidt (so named because he took delight in running up big scores).

But San Diego had another hotshot coach in those days, Don Coryell, working across town at San Diego State, building a succession of fancy records with prospects who'd either slipped through the cracks at USC and UCLA or had been rejected by them. Coryell and his staff were frequent visitors at Gillman's pre-season camp. They loved his offense. They absorbed a lot of it, although Coryell added wrinkles of his own. Two bright young assistants on Coryell's San Diego State staff were Joe Gibbs and Zampese.

Gibbs took the offense with him to the Redskins, adding innovations such as the Bunch -- three wideouts bunched together, darting off into confusing patterns -- and the two- and three-tight end alignments, when he wanted to go to maximum protection. Zampese took it with him to the L.A. Rams, where he eventually became offensive coach. Turner worked under Zampese in L.A., absorbed the Zampese-Coryell-Gillman offense and then took it with him to Dallas, where he became offensive coordinator on Jimmy Johnson's Super Bowl teams. His Cowboys attack looked a lot like Gillman's did, especially the emphasis on absolutely perfect timing between Troy Aikman and his receivers.

Once, in 1993, I talked to a backup Miami quarterback named Hugh Millen, who'd been in the Dallas camp earlier that season.

"I can't believe the things the receivers get away with here," he said, "the sloppy way they run their routes. They'd never get away with it under Norv. If he told them to run their break at seven yards, that was it, not a foot more or less, because that's where the ball was going to be. And if they wouldn't, he'd get somebody who would."

Turner took the offense with him to Washington. For two years his quarterback coach was Martz, who had worked under him -- and Zampese -- on the Rams. And that's the link that binds these three offensive coaches whose systems are having such success right now. This is the bloodline of the Real West Coast Offense.

How did the term get its name? From Bernie Kosar, when he was a backup quarterback with Dallas in '93. I was doing a piece on the Cowboys. I asked him what the offense was like.

"Oh, you know, the West Coast Offense," he said. "Turner and Zampese and Don Coryell and Sid Gillman. That thing." (Bernie obviously had a good knowledge of NFL history).

I used the quote. It was picked up by a West Coast wire reporter, except that he got it screwed up and he attached it to the San Francisco attack that Bill Walsh had used in San Francisco's Super Bowl run of the '80s. What the hell -- San Diego, L.A., San Francisco -- it's all West Coast, isn't it? And that's where it stuck.

At first Walsh was quite upset by the misnomer. "Call it the Walsh Offense, or the Cincinnati Offense," he said, "but not the West Coast Offense. That's something completely different."

Walsh's concept came about in 1970, when he was offensive coach with the Bengals. The year before he had had one of the great rookie quarterbacks in NFL history, Greg Cook, a big, strongarmed kid who could also throw with touch. In 1969 Cook averaged 18 yards per completion, a mark that never has been approached since. The attack was long-ball, obviously. Even the tight ends got downfield. Bob Trumpy, Cook's No. 1 target, averaged 22.6 yards a catch, an unheard-of number for tight ends. Trumpy's backup, Chip Myers --Walsh often used two tight ends at once -- averaged 20.6. Even rookie Bruce Coslet, the third man in the rotation, got into the act, recording 39 yards on his one catch.

Then Cook went down with a shoulder injury. His career was finished. In came Virgil Carter in 1970 -- smaller, agile, quick-thinking. Carter was able to go through his progressions quickly and throw on the go; not blessed with a big arm, but accurate. So Walsh crafted an offense to suit him, a horizontal offense with a lot of motion and underneath routes and breakoff patterns, an attack that now goes by the misnomer "West Coast Offense."

Once I asked Walsh what his system would have been like if he'd had Cook for 10 or 12 years. "Completely different," he said. "It would have been down the field."

So he was annoyed at first when his offense was misnamed, but after a while, as it kept gaining more and more notoriety, he just shrugged. What the hell?

Which brings us back to Mike Martz and the Real West Coast Offense, as practiced with much success in St.Louis and Washington and New England.

"I couldn't have had two better mentors than Ernie and Norv," Martz said the other day. "We talk all the time. Ernie's the guy who really expanded the system, who put a twist on it. He kept finding different ways to get guys the ball, off different formations. But certain basic principles still apply.

"It's such a timing-oriented system. You want to get the ball downfield, yes, but you want to get it out quickly, and the timing portion is critical. There are no shades of gray. You've got to run in and out of your breaks -- boom, like that -- and you've got to be exactly where you're supposed to be."

I congratulated him on the trade that brought in running back Marshall Faulk, who, in the last two weeks, has supplied a nice change of pace to an offense that was beginning to look one-dimensional in favor of the pass.

"That's another thing that's critical to the system," Martz says. "Power running. You've got to be able to run the ball when you go to a three-wide receiver set, and you've got to run with power. By that I mean behind zone blocking, which is a big departure from the San Francisco system. Theirs was man-blocking, with a lot of cut-blocks and misdirection. Ours is straight power. Not many people realize this, but if we hadn't have gotten Marshall we were prepared to go with another excellent zone-blocking runner, Robert Holcombe. It takes a certain type, a guy who can run with power, who's good at picking his way through. Stephen Davis is doing that in Washington now, and that's a big reason why their offense is so good. Terry Allen 's starting to come around in New England.

"The good thing about zone-block running is that you can keep pounding away. You don't have the negative yardage plays."

I asked him whether he'd ever, in his younger days, talked offensive football with Gillman or Coryell or Zampese, before he joined his staff.

"Gillman?" he said. "Oh no, I was just a kid then and he was a God. I met Coryell a few times but I was too shy to talk football with him. When I was an assistant at Arizona State (1983-91) I used to go over and watch Ernie's system with the Rams, but it was too complicated for me to grasp. I admired it, but I didn't understand it. Believe me, I was very thankful when I got a chance to work with him."

And so are the high-flying Rams, St. Louis variety.

Great post Coach Mountjoy. Thanks for all your help!!!
-Troy
PS-When we going back to the skins?? I'm gonna bring the playbook back on Tues.

I have Gillman playbooks from the 60's, 70's, & 80's (a total of 4-5) in storage (EACH = roughly 400 pages). I retired from on the field coaching in 2001 (am now a consultant to 2 very good High School programs in the Richmond, Va area). Upon retirement, my files were placed in 35 knee high boxes (taped up) in a very hot attic that you have to CLIMB into (no stairs). At my age (going on 67) & with two severely arthritic knees - I can't get to the playbooks. Should you ever be in the Richmond, Va area - you are more than welcome to come & look thru them (once we locate them).

The materials I posted recently re: Sid Gillman (which constitute MOST of his theory) are from stuff Sid gave me that I kept (& used) in my personal notebook. Suggest you contact Bruce Eien at EIEN@aol.com He had the Eagles playbook from the late 70's or early 80's - which was the last playbook Sid wrote (as "OC" under Vermeil). Ask Bruce to sell or trade a copy to you.

Otherwise - I will attempt to answer any questions you might have via email. You can contact me at butzadams@hotmail.com

PS: In 1964 (the year I installed Sid's passing game - the SAME year Florida State installed it) - these were his 5 favorite intermediate range 5 step dropback passes (WR's = 12-14 yd breaking point):

EXAMPLE: ONE BACK SET WITH 2 TE's/2 WR's:

1. ALL CURL (VS COVER 3 OR 1))
WR's = CURL
TE on CALLSIDE = CURL
TE on AWAYSIDE = CHECK OUT TO FLAT
RB = CHECK OUT TO FLAT ON CALLSIDE

2. POST (VS COVER 0)
WR'S = POST (AWAYSIDE RUNS HASH/POST LEAVING M.O.F. TO CALLSIDE WR)
TE on CALLSIDE = 10 YD OUT
TE on AWAYSIDE = FLAT
RB = CHECK OUT TO SWING ON CALLSIDE

3. SIDELINE (VS COVER 3 OR 1)
WR's = OUT (SIDELINE)
TE on CALLSIDE = CORNER
TE =on AWAYSIDE = CHECK OUT ON CORNER
RB = CHECK OUT CALLSIDE ON CIRCLE OVER BALL AT 5

4. CURL/FLAT (VS ALL COVERAGES)
WR's = CURL
TE on CALLSIDE = FLAT
TE on AWAYSIDE = FLAT
RB = CHECK OUT CALLSIDE ON CIRCLE OVER BALL

5. CATCH ALL ("TAG" X & Z TO BEAT VARIOUS COVERS)
WR's = IN (VS COVER 2/MAN UNDER or COVER 3) or POST/CORNER (VS COVER 2/ZONE UNDER or COVER 0 or COVER 1)
TE ON CALLSIDE = POST
TE on AWAYSIDE = FLAT
RB = CHECK OUT ON FLAT TO CALLSIDE

THESE REMAINED THE BASIS OF OUR 5 step drop passing game (we NEVER take 7 step drops).
1. In 1975 - Tallahassee Leon (FL) HS - under Coach Gene Cox - threw 40 TD passes & for 4,098 in this exact system. Their Coach was Gene Cox (now retired).
2. In 1993 - my QB threw 34 TD passes & for over 3,300 yds in this exact sysyem.
3. Florida St OBLITERATED Oaklahoma (1964 Bowl game) with these exact same passes. Many of these are STILL in the FSU system. I see these routes STILL being run in the NFL EVERY Sunday - & they began with Sid Gillman!

Check previous posts where I discussed Sid's "reads", etc.

PS: I forgot to mention that there are books which show this system which would help you.

1. "BUILDING FROM THE START" by BILL PETERSON (Fla. St. Coach in the 1960's & a DISCIPLE OF GILLMAN; shows the entitre pass offense). Out of print but you can find copies on ABEBOOKS.COM under used books.

2. "THE MULTIPLE OFFENSE" by GENE COX (MOST SUCCESSFUL COACH IN FLORIDA PREP HISTORY). GENE PLAYED AT FSU WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS PUT IN PLACE & USED IT IN HS. - HE DISCUSSES IN IN BOOK). Gene ALSO has a video out. I BELIEVE his stuff is still in print. Check it on the internet (OR "SYSKOS" SPORTS BOOKS & VIDEOS, ETC.). You can probably contact Gene via phone - he still lives (retired) in the Tallahassee area.

The book by Peterson is the BEST Football book I ever read! Hope these suggestions will proive fruitful!

Coach Mountjoy,

Thanks for the quick response and great information. I'll be looking into all of your sugesstions.

Thanks again,

Mike Gillett

Coach -

Thanks again, I went away to find all the books come back and you've already posted it.

One other book I am looking into getting is The Assembly Line by Milt Tenopir the OL coach under Osbourne, supposedly it shows all of Nebraska's zone blocking schemes. Have you read this book and if so was it helpful?

Mike Gillett

Inside Zone Blocking


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Inside zone blocking is designed to use the movement of the defenders against them as the running back finds the crease in the defense. Though inside zone plays are usually called to the guard or tackle holes (3,4,6,or 7), they can break open anywhere from tight end to tight end, depending on how the defense attacks.

Inside zone blocking rules allow linemen to use the movement and attack angles of the defenders against them. Whichever way the defender chooses to go, he is sealed off and the running back is prepared to cut off the block. Nebraska running backs are taught to attack the line-of-scrimmage (LOS) before cutting on inside zone plays. This gives the blocks the needed time to develop. The rule for the I-back is that his feet must replace the feet of the lineman before he can cut.

Inside zone blocking rules are keyed by whether a lineman is covered or uncovered. A covered lineman (one who has a defensive lineman aligned across from him) will execute a "stretch base" technique. This means he will take a short stretch step to the play side (step right on a 44, left on a 46) and attempt to control the playside shoulder of the d-lineman. The purpose of the stretch step is to invite movement by the d-lineman, then immediately engage him.

Uncovered linemen (no d-lineman across from them) execute a "stretch double" technique. Stretch double also calls for a stretch step to playside. The uncovered lineman then attacks the backside shoulder of the same d-lineman, creating double teams on most of the defensive linemen.

NOTE: the linemen operate on a system that moves to playside, NOT toward the hole called. On a 44 dive the play is called to the right guard, but the key is that it is a right side play. The right tackle's and right tight end's playside shoulders are their RIGHT shoulders even though the play was called to the left of them. The 4 hole is to the right side of the center, so right is playside for everyone on the line.

In executing the stretch double technique, the uncovered lineman assists the covered lineman to the playside; i.e., if a center and playside tackle are covered, the playside guard executes the stretch double with the tackle, NOT the center. If side-by-side linemen are both covered, the playside lineman is "on his own," and executes a stretch base block without double team help.

When executing the double team, both linemen follow what some coaches call a four hands-four eyes technique. This means they have four hands on the defensive lineman and four eyes on the linebacker in the area (their zone- which is where the name of the blocking comes from). When that linebacker commits to attacking the LOS one of the linemen chips off the double team and blocks him. The other lineman must be in position by then to take over the block on the lineman by himself. The linebacker is technically the responsibility of the uncovered lineman, but in practice either lineman can chip off and take the linebacker, depending on their position.

The goal of the stretch and stretch double is to create a cutback lane for the running back. When executed correctly, the "stretched" defender has moved in the direction of the call, and the stretch double prevents him from reaching a running back that has "cut back" against the flow of the play. If the double team can prevent the down lineman from making the tackle, and the "chip off" block prevents the playside linebacker from doing the same, the play can quickly get into the secondary.

The beauty of zone blocking is that the defense can pick its poison. Which ever way they choose to attack or stunt, the linemen (if they have perfected the zone blocking teamwork) can account for them. And the running back is trained to watch this block develop and cut off of it, no matter which direction the defenders are moved.

A very important block on an inside zone play is the backside seal block that allows the IB to cut back all the way to the backside TE spot if the whole defense fights to the playside. Depending on the formation used, the backside tackle, tight end, or fullback can be used to block the backside. A sure sign of an inside zone play is when the fullback heads away toward the TE without a fake while the IB goes straight ahead for a handoff. In one-back sets the backside seal cen be done by a wingback in motion. This is one area where big WB Troy Hasselbroek shone at the end of the 1999 season.

Outside Zone Blocking


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The offensive line blocks Outside Zone Rules. These are similar to Inside Zone Rules in that they use the covered/uncovered read and playside direction. The blocking techniques, though, are different, as the plays are designed to get the defense moving laterally across the field and create seams in their coverage.

The covered lineman executes a "rip-reach" technique. He takes an angle step at the playside shoulder of the defensive lineman and rips with his backside arm. His job is to turn the DLs shoulders and get him off-balance and prepared for his partner.

The uncovered lineman executes a "pull and overtake" technique. He takes a shallow pull step toward playside (sometimes called a bucket step) and works to take over the block of his partner.

The covered lineman wants to rip through his d-lineman to get to the linebacker, while his uncovered partner takes over his original block. If the covered lineman is unable to rip through because the DL fights to the outside, then the covered lineman stays with that block and the pull and overtake lineman pulls around that block and finds the linebacker.

THIS IS FROM NEBRASKA!

That was Nebraska's Inside Zone blocking - not mine. I forwarded it to "Sonic Blue Coupe". What we do is below (same as Redskins):

RB: "If there is daylight in the B gap — cram the B gap — otherwise, if DLM goes out you cut inside (& vice versa)". That's ALL we tell him. In effect - he runs for outside hip of OG if he is covered, & inside hip of OT if OG is uncovered. Our RB Coach tells him to look at helmet of DLM - BUT what he really does is cram B gap if possible, & if a wrong color jersey shows in the B gap - make a LITTLE WIGGLE to the side he CAME FROM. That was John Riggins' style! He MOVED THE PILE (the backsides of Russ Grimm & Joe Jacoby used to be black & blue after the game from the impact of him "driving the pile"!

If you are talking about a shade left on the inside zone right - Center steps to him & puts a shot on him eyeballing MLB - C & LG try to get shade moving back until Center reaches the second level then he comes off late on M. They PREFER to run it to the shade or 2I side rather than to a reduction look (above example would have the reduction to the side they are coming).

The only thing I can tell you that in the playoffs one year (1983 0r 84) they ran the Inside Zone left (50 GUT) 9 consecutive times (all the way down the field) at Randy White - & Grimm/Jacoby TOLD HIM IT WAS COMING EACH TIME!!!!! They STAYED on the DT as long as possible (they want to WIN THE LOS & not worry about slipping off too soon). Bugel's use of the HANDS in blocking is the "secret" to their success. Below is from an article:

Bugel's current and former players believe his success stems from masterful motivational skills, communication ability and teaching acumen. Returning Redskins say they have improved markedly through Bugel's emphasis on hand techniques to hinder defenders.

Last season, Thomas, a gifted athlete who is agile despite his 6-foot-5, 306-pound frame, relied on a flawed blocking method -- blocking wide, with his hands several inches apart. It left Thomas' chest open to defenders, making him more vulnerable. A lineman has more control over the defender by keeping his hands close together inside the chest area -- "tight hands," Bugel explained -- before punching out.

The Redskins also have incorporated one of Bugel's trademark techniques: the arm pump, which is used in run blocking. The lineman cocks, or pumps, his arms to his sides before forcefully pushing upward -- "like a fork lift," Bugel said -- into the defender's chest area. It diminishes the chances of holding and keeps the lineman from being passive.

"He wants us to hit 'em in the chest and make their heartbeat stop," Thomas said. "It stuns them at the line because the defense is taught to hit you in your chest, so it's better if you hit them first."

Bugel used imaginary handcuffs, teaching his players through repetition and constant reminders. Thomas, a sixth-year veteran, had previously known a similar technique but stopped using it last season because it wasn't emphasized. Samuels, who is coming off perhaps his worst NFL season, picked up damaging tendencies in recent years -- dropping his head and using his hands improperly.

THIS IN ITSELF IS A GEM!!!!! Bugel's big thing is TOUGHNESS!!!!! They put pads on & hit almost every day IN-SEASON. He wants them to become what he calls "CALLOUSED"!!!!! Used to have the sign ib the dressing room over the "HOGS'" locker = "TOUGHNESS IS CONTAGIOUS"!!!!!

Good article about Ron Jaworski - one of SID GILLMAN'S prized pupils:

The linebackers are moving forward and backward before the snap. But the red dot of the laser is on the cornerbacks, who are standing still. "Those (linebackers) are playing games, but as you study tape, you know with the way these corners are as soft as they are, there's no way they're going to blitz."

This is what Carson Palmer came for. This is why he made a pilgrimage to football's mecca, NFL Films in South Jersey. To study at the feet of the master. To listen to Ron Jaworski as he breaks down tape.

"I never really learned how to watch film," Palmer, the Southern California quarterback, tells Jaworski. "When I came in at USC, I was always competing. I never got to sit back behind a guy and see how it's done. I'd like to see how you would prepare. I'd love to learn and pick up new techniques and ideas."

Palmer, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner who is expected to be the first pick in the NFL draft, met Jaworski in San Diego at a Super Bowl party. There, Jaworski invited Palmer to watch tape with him.

So a month later, they convene in the office where Jaworski watches up to a dozen games every week in preparation for the Edge NFL Matchup on ESPN. They are joined by Pat Kirwan, a former NFL executive and a columnist for NFL.com who is serving as a mentor for Palmer, and Greg Cosell, the executive producer for the Edge NFL Matchup. Each offers some pearls of wisdom to Palmer, but Jaworski crams advice into the day like rush-hour commuters jam into a bus.

"A lot of guys plug the tape in and they start watching the game," Jaworski says. "That's probably the worst thing you can do. At your position, the quarterback position, you have to know everything that's going on--not only your guys, but the 11 guys on defense."

Sid Gillman taught Jaworski the most about watching tape, Jaworski says, and he also learned from Chuck Knox, Dick Vermeil, Don Shula and Marty Schottenheimer. "I always feel I learned from the best," says Jaworski, who lasted 17 years as an NFL quarterback and led the Eagles to the Super Bowl after the 1980 season. "And I never have stopped learning. Always feel you can get better, and the film is the tool it all starts with."

"Look at this." The laser follows a linebacker moving toward the quarterback after the snap. "Once you see the linebacker takes a step up, you know they're not going zone. They're going to some sort of man responsibility. That's a great indicator if it's man or zone immediately."

Palmer wants to know how many tapes of an opponent he should watch. Jaworski says four is the standard and that Palmer also could watch tapes of himself before a game.

They start by dissecting Palmer's performance against Iowa in the Orange Bowl. Jaworski watches Palmer's first completion, on a deep route to Kareem Kelly.

Jaworski: "Did you anticipate this coverage?"

Palmer: "They played a lot of quarters, and right when that safety comes down, we know there's going to be a man free."

Jaworski: "You're absolutely right.... You have nosy safeties, this is what you go for, right here."

Mostly, Jaworski has praise for Palmer. He is impressed with Palmer's fundamentals and technique. He commends Palmer for his mechanics, quick release, ability to pump fake, accuracy, willingness to run out of bounds with a defender bearing down, discipline to keep his shoulders square while throwing on the move and commitment to make runs look like passes. He notes the way Palmer uses two hands to stick the ball into the chest of the running back, then turns his head and locates his receiver quickly on play fakes.

"Our coaches really like that, too, but every time I stick the ball in a sweaty, wet chest, the ball is all wet," Palmer says.

But here's a play that gets Jaworski's attention, when Palmer takes a false step with his left foot at the start of his dropback.

Jaworski: "Let me ask you about this footwork. Why do you drop that foot back?"

Palmer: "It's a little punch step. When I (go to my) left, for some reason I punch-step."

Jaworski: "This might get you in trouble on your time routes, your three-steppers that have to be out in 1.5 seconds. On Ronde Barber's interception against the Eagles (in the NFC championship game), Donovan (McNabb) made that step, and it cost him half a second."

Instead, Jaworski recommends a "stagger step," in which the quarterback lines up with his left foot already back, as Kurt Warner does.

The Titans' complex coverage is a hybrid of man and zone, and the result is an interception. "As a quarterback, you must see the throw against this defense. You can never say, `That's the coverage, I'm throwing it.' You have to see the lane and make sure you don't see that backside linebacker or the safety."

Palmer asks Jaworski what he should be studying and preparing for between now and the draft. Jaworski's answer: nickel coverages.

"In the NFL, it's unbelievably difficult," Jaworski says. "Like (defensive coordinator) Jim Johnson in Philly. Their whole plan is to get you in third-and-6 or more. Once they have that, they own you. As I've studied the evolution of the passing game against nickel, you see very few full-field reads.... They've gone to more either/or reads because of the great ability of the pass rush. Work on that. And keep yourself in great shape. Take care of your arm. In the course of a season, you'll throw 40,000 passes. That's a lot of wear and tear on your arm. When you're done with practice, ice it down. It's preventative maintenance."

Jaworski has other big-picture tips for Palmer that don't have anything to do with the screen in front of them. He says everything in his life must be geared toward winning a championship, and that means a complete commitment. Jaworski's recommendation is to be the first one to work and the last one to leave and to hang out with every position group and racial group on the team.

Championships are won by being effective in the red zone, the teacher tells the pupil. "Teams are almost giving you the field goal down here," Jaworski says. "They're going to rush three, drop five under and three deep. We've seen the Patriots rush two, drop nine. You're going to have to have great confidence in your arm and trust your wide receivers when you get in the red zone. You have to believe you can make those stick throws."

Kirwan asks Cosell to send some tapes to Palmer so he can study them at home. Cosell prepares tapes of the Eagles, Bucs, Patriots and Dolphins defenses, as well as the Bengals, Bears and Panthers offenses, the latter so Palmer can get a feel for the teams that might draft him.

The laser follows the safety moving forward in the middle of the field at the snap. "Whenever you get that `robber' or `thief,' it means you've got one-on-one on the outside. You can't do any better than that."

Jaworski tries to contrast some of the differences between college and the NFL. He points out a cornerback running with a receiver. They are close enough to smell what the other had for breakfast. He says in the NFL, that's called being open. Jaworski shows Palmer an NFL team's weekly game plan. Palmer says it is as thick as his Southern Cal playbook for the entire season.

Palmer notices how almost every throw in the NFL is an anticipation throw, unlike in college. "The key is to know what happens before that back foot hits, so when that back foot hits, you know where you're going with that football, not sitting there waiting, hoping something happens," Jaworski says.

Palmer, who watched eight to 10 hours of tape per week during college, says he feels he never can watch enough. Eventually, Jaworski says, Palmer's tape study will simplify the game. "It will happen like this for you," Jaworski says. "Maybe not Year 1, maybe not Year 2.... But I could see watching one game you're doing an incredible job of processing information.... You'll develop that process even quicker as you study more."

Jaworski points to a play.

Jaworski: "Corners in the NFL will read a three-step drop and drive on a receiver (to attempt an interception)."

Palmer: "So in the league, you can't back shoulder them (throw to the receiver's back shoulder)?"

Jaworski: "Oh, yeah, you can back shoulder them."

Palmer is relieved to see concepts that are not entirely foreign to him, but he says he has an entirely different perception of the game at its highest level.

"When you're a punk kid coming out of college and you have to compete with the best guys in the world at this game, it's very nerve-racking," he says as he prepares to leave. "It's scary. You question, am I going to struggle at first? You hear about how fast and how smart and how different the NFL is. To sit down and see it ... it's the same thing, except stepped up a level. You realize it is still football. To come here and hear it from laws ... it calmed my nerves down."

They shake hands, and Palmer makes his way down the long, winding staircase in the lobby of NFL Films, a better quarterback than when he came.

J.C. - do you watch "NFL MATCH" UP every Sunday morning (comes on here at 8:30 AM EDT on ESPN). "Jaws" breaks down film for close to 30 minutes, & you can watch his style. I tape them every week, & go back & edit out certain things on seperate tapes (RUNS; PASSES; ETC.). GREAT learning tool!

Bill,

Just finished watching the show, we did get it at the same time. I really enjoyed that segment on how Quentin Portis ran that opening touchdown. Jaws reads on the perimeter defenses were right there, wern't they? Merril Hogue seems to be well versed as well. Again thanks for the notice of the show.

JC

PART OF AN ARTICLE RE: SID GILLMAN:

Those Chargers teams presented the Gillman system at its most withering: the receivers split wide (always outside the numbers), making quick reads off the line; the five passing lanes filled to stretch the defense; the quarterback scanned the secondary for the "best-located safety"; the tight end and backs were heavily involved in the passing game; and the scoreboard spun like a slot machine. Nowadays, teams are doing it from San Francisco to Philadelphia, but before Gillman it was fringe football.

"No question, he was the master of using the field, sideline to sideline," says Raiders owner Davis, who got his professional start with Gillman in 1960. "Screens, gadgets -- he had 'em all. It was like going into a restaurant: Anything you wanted to eat, he had."

"It was Star Wars," says Walsh, who learned it from Davis in Oakland. "It was light years beyond anything else at that time."

And yet, as influential as Gillman's playbook proved to be, those who worked with him insist that what he taught was never as important as the way he taught it.

"Let's say we went into a history class," Davis says. "We may be interested in different areas of history, different 'theaters,' but the way we learn it might be the same. Write it. Learn it. See it. Do it. Remember that?"

That was the Gillman four-step, and it became the most popular dance in the league.