Last month we had a lot of fun doing a week of morning posts about the Fairbanks-Bullough defensive system that the Patriots run. So it only seems fair that this week we’re looking at the other side of the ball and the Erhardt-Perkins offense.
The most interesting thing about the two systems (Erhardt-Perkins offense, Fairbanks-Bullough defense) that the Patriots run derivatives of today, both have their roots back to the Patriots teams of the 70s.
If you look back at the 1976 Patriots, the first really good Patriots team in franchise history at least as far as the regular season goes, you’ll find the following on the coaching staff:
- Chuck Fairbanks – Head Coach
- Ron Erhardt – Offensive Backfield
- Ray Perkins – Receivers
- Hank Bullough – Defensive Line
So let’s start with the basics on the Erhardt-Perkins Offense (via Wikipedia):
This Erhardt – Perkins system is noted for its multiple formation and personnel grouping variations on a core number of base plays. Under this system, each formation and each play are separately numbered. Additional word descriptions further modify each play.
The system has at times had a reputation (whether or not earned) of being a traditional smash mouth offense that maximizes a team’s time of possession and does not as frequently call upon its running backs to serve as receivers. Erhardt was famous for his adage, “throw to score, run to win.” This system is thought to be particularly well suited for teams playing in harsh outdoor weather conditions of the northeast of the United States.
This offense often uses “the run to set up the pass” via play-action passing, faking the run in order to throw deep downfield when the defense is least expecting it. Despite its reputation, this system is not always a run first offense. Erhardt commonly ran the system in his later years spread wide open with multiple receivers (earning the moniker “Air Erhardt”), as NFL rules evolved to benefit the passing game. As a result of this influence, the Patriots will frequently run this offense with five potential receivers and an empty backfield should a favorable matchup present itself or as a function of available personnel.
Throughout the rest of the week we’ll have more articles and linkage about the Fairbanks-Perkins offense. With tidbits on it’s evolution as well as the touches that Josh McDaniels and Charlie Weis had on the system.