Coach McCarthy And The "Texas Coast" Offense - Formations
- Kelly Anozie
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
With a verbal agreement in place to make Mike McCarthy the Pittsburgh Steelers' next head coach, fans should expect a very different type of offense from the one seen under head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. One that was created to be efficient, fast-paced, and dynamic - the "Texas Coast" offense.
Coined in gest by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, this offense combines West Coast quick-passing(short/intermediate), horizontal, and ball-control principles with faster-paced, aggressive, and detailed concepts. In short,
it's a high-paced offense that is complex in nature, meant to expose vulnerabilities in various defensive schemes.
Formations In "Texas Coast" Offense
Though there are many aspects to the "Texas Coast" offense, we are going to focus on some of the formation types that are used as part of this offense:
Bunch
1x4 split formation
Empty sets
Variety in general
Alternate alignments
A) Bunch Formation
Bunch sets — three or four receivers aligned tightly within a few yards — are a McCarthy staple dating back to Green Bay. In the Texas Coast, they serve as a Swiss Army knife:
Natural rubs and picks vs. man
Horizontal stretch vs. zone
Simplified pre‑snap reads
Built‑in answers vs. pressure
Because defenders must declare their coverage earlier, the quarterback gains clarity before the snap. This fits perfectly with McCarthy’s emphasis on quarterback autonomy.
B) 1x4 Split Formations (Quads)
The 1x4 formation — one receiver isolated on one side, four on the other — is one of the most aggressive structural tools in McCarthy’s playbook.
It forces defenses into uncomfortable decisions:
Rotate coverage toward the overloaded side
Leave the isolated X receiver in true one‑on‑one
Create space for quick RPO‑style throws
Layer route combinations at multiple depths
Against AFC North defenses that rely heavily on split‑safety shells, quads formations can manipulate safety leverage and create explosive opportunities.
C) Empty Sets
Empty formations are paramount to the “fast‑paced” identity of the Texas Coast - The objective is as follows:
Spread the defense horizontally
Force immediate coverage declarations
Give the quarterback instant pressure indicators
Create quick‑game opportunities with built‑in hot routes
Prescott repeatedly praised how the system “simplified everything” for him and his receivers. Empty sets are a major reason why: they turn the quarterback into a distributor, attacking leverage with precision.
D) Formation Variety
McCarthy’s offenses have always been rooted in multiplicity. Even before Dallas, his Green Bay units were known for shifting between:
Condensed sets
Spread alignments
Motion‑heavy looks
Multi‑back personnel
This variety isn’t random — it’s layered. Each formation family has complementary plays, tags, and adjustments. The Texas Coast offense is built so that the same formation can produce dozens of route combinations, screens, RPOs, and misdirection elements.
E) Alternate Alignments (Stacks, Condensed Splits, Wide Splits)
Alternate alignments are the life blood of the Texas Coast. They allow McCarthy to:
Change the defensive picture without changing the play
Create free releases
Manipulate cornerback leverage
Hide route stems and timing
Condensed splits, in particular, are a hallmark. They allow receivers to work across the field, create traffic vs. man coverage, and disguise route concepts that would otherwise be predictable.
Though the Steelers’ offense has long been defined by a traditional pro‑style approach built on physicality and ball control, the Texas Coast offense should introduce more spacing, a faster tempo, greater formation variety, and improved quick‑game efficiency. While maintaining their identity remains important, this style of offense aligns far more closely with the modern trends we see in today’s most successful teams.
Later, we will break down several passing concepts that emerge from this system.