Erhardt- Perkins Offensive System!
Posted by Steve O'Reilly on May 17, 2010 · 2 Comments
In this episode of “Check the Technique” we are going to look at the traditional Erhardt-Perkins Offense, how it came about and what it’s known for. To begin this we first must look at the men who this style of offense is named after – Ron Erhardt and Ray Perkins.
Ron Erhardt and Ray Perkins both worked for the New York Giants and ran a system that is commonly considered “Smash-Mouth Football”. The basic premise and understanding of the system is that teams that are located in the cold North Eastern part of the country will not be able to heavily rely on the passing game due to the weather conditions that may alter the passing attack. This system uses bigger offensive lineman and typically bigger Running Backs who can sustain running between the tackles on a regular basis. The Offensive Tackles and Guards in this system typically “Pull” and “Trap”. What this means is, on a Running play that is designed to run to the right, let’s say in the B Gap or between the Guard and Tackle on the Right Side, the Left Guard will quickly leave his original position and become the lead blocker for the Running Back. This type of Rushing attack usually requires big Offensive Lineman who will be able to handle a large Defensive Tackle head on.
Ron Erhardt
In this offense, terminology is typically spoken in Numbers as opposed to the West Coast offense which is typically spoken in Colors. An example of this would be in a play called “Zero Ride Thirty Six” – Zero would set the formation, Thirty is the Running Back and Six designates what hole along the offensive line that the Back will run through.
The Passing attacks in this offense are mostly vertical and are set up through Play Action Passes. That means that Quarterback will fake as though it’s a running play to draw up the Linebackers and Safeties then throw the ball to on of the Wide Receivers streaking down the field.
The NFL has changed dramatically since this Offense and other type “Pro Offenses” were established so keep in mind that adaptations have been made and nothing is “cookie cutter”. Each Head Coach adds wrinkles to what he likes to do. In addition, Quarterbacks today are much more accurate, teams also now play in Domes that control the climate and the Rules have been changed in favor of scoring points and the league has now shifted to a pass happy, scoring machine. The Wide Receivers are exceptional athletes that are getting bigger and faster seemingly every year.
Ray Perkins
The Core of Smashmouth football however is still found today. You see certain teams that utilize a FullBack, a blocking Tight End and employ large Offensive Lineman. They Pull their Guard and Trap up the center as they plod their way downfield. Now however, new wrinkles in the system are beginning to develop with speedy Slot Receivers and 4 – 5 WR looks. Teams adapt with the times and nothing stays the same for very long.
One thing is certain, if your favorite team doesn’t run a variation of the West Coast Offense that Bill Walsh created, or Mike Martz’s spread style passing attack, or the Ernie Zampese-Don Coryell “Air Coryell” timed passing attack, you can be pretty sure they run some form of Erhardt-Perkins, especially if your Head Coach ever worked for Bill Parcells, Bill Belicheck or Bill Cowher!
Feel free to drop in any questions you may have about Offensive systems in the Comments Section! Look forward to hearing from you!
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Would you say the Erhardt-Perkins offense would be perfect for a fictional Montana Grizzly team that makes the leap to FBS, in a season in which they have a two-year starting quarterback, who is a decent enough short passer, a couple of slashing, between the tackles runners, but a Freshman phenom who set virtually every high school passing record as the understudy. The senior quarterback is injured in the final practice… Would the Erhardt-Perkins system be more easily adapted to some kind of modified Air Coryell attack? Slashing runners setting up a deep passing game? This is for my latest novel.
Hi Vin,
Interesting question and good luck with your novel. To answer the specific question would the E.P. System be more easily adapted to some form of Air Coryell attack, yes perhaps easier than other systems. Bear in mind that Head Coaches can scheme up what ever they want, for example Mike Shanahan and Andy Reid both run forms of the West Coast Offense but they are for the most part different offensive philosophies within the same scheme. Traditionally speaking the E.P. System was designed for cold, rough Northeastern conditions. Teams from Cleveland on to New England utilized a Power Running Scheme for ball control purposes and focused on a more vertical passing attack. The Air Coryell attack would be much more suited for a team with a very good passing QB. I don’t know if this fits under some of your hypothetical situations but considering they are in Montana they might want to play more smashmouth as opposed to finesse.
Steve O’