Drunk.
I had to dial back a 3 paragraph diatribe to make that statement. I want to see where this discussion can go regarding the merits and intricacies of various systems - and didn't want to see the thread die without folks having an incentive to get involved.
For those that are too drunk, I empathize deeply. Here is a "too long didn't read":
On passing plays, most NFL systems specify each individual route for each particular receiver. This allows the receiver to know exactly what to do just from the play call, but means that the play calls are incredibly long.
EP puts more of a burden on the receivers. Instead of specifying route by route, it uses multiple-receiver route concepts. If you click on my avatar, you can see an example of the EP method. The top-left play is "3 out slot hat - 73 ghost tosser". Lets break that down piece by piece (I have a partial copy of the Pats 2004 playbook I found online)
"3 out slot hat - 73 ghost tosser"
"3 out slot": the initial formation
"(H)at": tells the "H" player "to move to the TE side from a backfield set
"73": sets the protection, and strong side. 72 & 73 are both for empty protects with 5 skill players in routes.
"ghost": ghost is a three-receiver route concept. it tells the outside to run a fade, the middle route is an out, and the inside to run a flat route.
"tosser": tosser is the two-receiver route, in which the inside runs a slant, and the outside runs a deeper post.
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I will describe that same play as in a "West Coast" system. I am going to leave the EP terminology for the formation, protection, and pre-snap motion. I believe these would also vary, but not in important ways. The key difference is the West Coast system will specify each route individually. The play call becomes:
"3 out slot hat - 73 X Post, Y out, Z Slant, H Flat, F fade"
Again, the key is that each individual route is specified. The receiver knows exactly what to do in isolation, but is not invited to think about the play as a wholistic picture.
This is merely an example, and I don't think I translated it perfect, and left a good portion of it in EP language. I also have a copy of the old West Coast playbook. If someone finds a West Coast play call, I can try to break it down piece by piece.
