West Coast staple

Sporting News, The, Sept 11, 2000 by Michael Bradley

Even though USC quarterback Carson Palmer didn't tear it up in the Trojans' season-opening win over Penn State, he has all the tools and experience needed to have a big year. Now in his third season with the program, Palmer is familiar with coach Paul Hackett's West Coast offense and knows how to make the progression reads necessary to thrive in it.

"Red Right 22 Z Hook" is one play he'll use often Saturday against Colorado.

The name: Despite the complicated moniker, this is a staple of the West Coast offense. "Red" refers to the split-back set. The tight end is on the "Right."

Pass protection is designated by the number; in this case, the weakside running back may have to stay in and block a blitzing linebacker. The "Z" receiver, flanked out to the right, will run a hook pattern and is the primary target.

The goal: This is a "strong side triangle read" play, referring to the quarterback's need to evaluate the three receivers (Z receiver, tight end, halfback) on the right side. "When a quarterback first begins to learn this offense, he begins with this," Hackett says. Palmer wants to hit the Z receiver, who will have hooked 12 yards downfield.

The protection: The five interior linemen don't do anything special, but they will get some help from the back on the left side, who must check to see if the weakside linebacker is blitzing. If that happens, the back must block him. If there is no blitz, the back does a short flare to the left flat.

The primary look: First, Palmer will check the Z receiver, who releases according to how the cornerback covers him. "The No. 1 receiver gets a little more freedom to get open," Hackett says. If the cornerback is in zone coverage, the receiver takes an outside release before hooking. If it's bump-and-run coverage, the receiver runs hard to the inside. In a perfect world, Palmer will hit him. "If we run this play 10 times, we'll go to the No. 1 receiver six or seven times," Hackett says.

The variables: If the strongside linebacker comes, he will be unblocked. That means Palmer must get the ball quickly to his "hot" receiver, the right halfback who has flared to the right side. Or, he'll be sacked. "You have to hit that back quickly," Hackett says.

If the backer doesn't come, but the primary receiver is covered, Palmer looks at the tight end, who has run a short inside route. If the pocket breaks down and the right side offers no options, Palmer will try to find the X receiver, who has run a 14-yard curl on the left side.

The result: First down, Trojans. "Instead of reading the defense, you're reading the offense," Hackett says. "This is a play that started all of us off in the West Coast offense."