The West Coast Offense is heavy on play calling terminology. For the computer geeks here, think of it like maybe Python and spread offenses like Ruby on Rails.
It takes a long time to call a play in the West Coast Offense compared to others because there are so many plays, and because each one includes whether it's a run or pass, the formation, what the route is, and what the protection or blocking scheme is. Everyone on the field has to know all three options.
OL has to know what the blocking scheme is every play
WRs have to know the routes to run and where to line up
RBs have to know whether to take ball or block and where to line up
TEs have to know to run a route or block and where to line up
Example:
http://www.westcoastoffense.com/terminology.htm
The advantage of this is the QB has the ability to change routes or blocking schemes with pre-snap reads if he thinks the play that was called should be changed based on what the defense appears to be doing.Â
Other offenses are much less complex with much shorter play calls. In the spread offense, for example, the QB makes his decisions about how a play will go, post-snap. A play can be called that can be a run or a pass, depending on what the QB sees the defense do after the ball is snapped. In some spread systems, the QB must read the defense and see the same thing as the receivers, because the routes are based on what the defense is doing. If the QB reads man-to-man, and the receiver runs a route thinking its zone, they will not be in sync.
There are also hybrid offenses. IMO, it makes sense to limit terminology as much as possible so play calls can be made faster. This allows an offense to play with more tempo, and to change a play closer to the play clock expiring; more opportunity to catch a defense in a bad matchup.
