Aaron Gershfield's Hero: Bill Walsh

 

Just like when something new and revolutionary is introduced in life, there is a forever change. That’s where my loyalty as a San Francisco 49ers fan lies: their innovation of the offensive scheme, the West Coast Offense. And it’s all thanks to the greatest coach, Bill Walsh.

Everything about Bill Walsh’s legacy to Football, the West Coast Offense was all built on precision. The Quarterback’s footwork had to be precise, as did the pass patterns, and the timing of the throws. Walsh first invented the Football strategy when was the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive Coordinator in the early 1970s. After his time in Cincinnati, he took his strategic system with him to San Francisco, where he would later revolutionize the game. He would go on to turn Joe Montana into a legend and bring the 49ers to five Super Bowl wins.

Today, Walsh's system can be seen in every level of the game, and outside of the West Coast. Many other coaches have worked with Walsh, and they have given his system a lot of variations. Nevertheless, the way of the 49ers is instilled in many teams of the NFL. Coaches such as George Seifert, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shannahan, Brian Billick, and Jon Gruden, have all won Super Bowl titles having used the Bill Walsh’s West Coast Offense.

The West Coast Offense is a modern approach to Football, relying heavily on aggressive aerial attacks, timing routes, pre-snap motions, and downfield throws to the receivers. In addition, it relies on rhythm and timing, featuring quick drops and high-percentage throws that turned the passing game into an extension of the running game. The results were endless, making the 49ers a dynasty team.

Today, most NFL teams and many college programs utilize Walsh’s principles of the West Coast offense. However, everyone of course has thrown in their knowledge, making their version of Walsh’s strategy a hybrid; nevertheless still a form of innovation from the 49er dynasty.