Coryell definitely didn't create the play action pass, but he was the first to really use it in coordination with a seriously threatening passing attack. Stretching the field is the basic concept of this system.
The Air Coryell (AC) system relies on a power running attack which is critical in setting up the kind of passing that the Coryell offense wants to accomplish. Power running wears a defense down fast. By running the ball, the defense must stay on the field, tiring and wearing the defense down. Then the defense will start to cheat a safety down into the box and the passing lanes begin to open up. That is when the fun starts.
Using play action, the offense will then begin to throw the ball. The ball is thrown down field, aggressively attacking a now weakened and out of position defense. Deep and intermediate routes run by skilled receivers, tight ends and running backs. The defense can pick their poison. The Air Coryell is now in full effect.
The ideal receivers for the Air Coryell are quick and great route runners. The receivers need to be able to go up and get balls down field, as well as track the ball and adjust accordingly.
The Running back is critical for this system to work. A between the tackles runner and he mustt have good all around receiving skills. In this system, even the running back will occasionally go deep.
Your Quarterback has to have a strong arm and be accurate on the deep throw and be able to split the zone and beat the DB to the receiver with the ball. The traditional drop back passer is ideal.
The offensive line needs to be good at both run blocking and pass blocking. Maulers are good on the inside for the power running and then add in some pass blocking tackles.
The Jaguars personnel already matches up well with the preferred types of players at each position. At receiver they have Torry Holt and Mike Walker as the starters, both are good route runners and have the speed required of AC receivers.
At Tight End, the Jaguars have Marcedes Lewis. Lewis is a good fit for the system. He is great at blocking in the running game, and has good speed to be a threat down the seam.
At running back, Maurice Jones Drew's versatility allows him to fill all of the roles required by the AC. He is a good runner between the tackles and almost always gainsmore yards after first contact. In the passing game he can take them out of the backfield or he can run a route and go deep.
The Jaguars have the right personnel to make the Air Coryell work. With Garrard's new weapons on offense, the Jaguars could give themselves a respectable and even feared offense.
