Whatever you call it, Musgrave's new offense with Vikings will earn its identity

Leslie Frazier named Bill Musgrave as his offensive coordinator on Thursday, then both said they weren't sure exactly what their offense would look like, or what they might officially call it.

These people need help. If Bill Walsh can become famous because of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice and pretend he's a genius because he ran something called "The West Coast Offense," which was actually invented by Jerry Burns on the prairie, then Frazier and Musgrave should realize that a good nickname can lead to the Hall of Fame.

Problem is, "The Whizzinator" is taken.

So instead of focussing on that artificial piece of Vikings history and Brett Favre foreshadowing, the current staff can choose to highlight Adrian (All Day) Peterson, the supposed fulcrum of the new offense, and the color purple.

Purple Power? Not bad, although it sounds like something a hippy would chant during a bad trip.

Purple Tide? Plays off the Red McCombs' mantra "Purple Pride," but Alabamans might consider it a sign of Northern Aggression.

As a fan of vintage rock-n-roll, and someone who is sick of hearing Guns N' Roses at every Vikings game, I say it's time to admit that this is all about Peterson and call this the "All Day (And All of the Night) Offense," and start playing the Kinks at kickoff.

NFL bosses don't often admit to indecision or uncertainty, but this was indecision and uncertainty at its best. This was Frazier and Musgrave acknowledging that it is players, not schemes, that win games.

"Well, it will definitely be the Minnesota Vikings system," Musgrave said. "There will be some language that our guys will recognize off the bat because it will have some West Coast roots, and it will have some formations and protections that are more along the Pittsburgh Steelers offense ...

"One thing I believe in is minimal verbiage, and we'll make it very streamlined, we'll make the formations easy to learn for the guys, because I believe in players playing fast."

It's good to hear a new offensive coordinator keep his options open, especially as the phrase "West Coast Offense" has become as meaningless a cliche as "Increased civility."

While Walsh's system became famous, it was Joe Gibbs who was the more impressive offensive coach during his prime with the Redskins. Gibbs won three Super Bowls with three different non-Hall of Fame quarterbacks (Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien).

In fact, if the NFL's final four teams offer any worthwhile perspective on this debate, it's this:

There is no formula for NFL success.

Of the final four teams, there is one so-called "West Coast" offense, belonging to the Packers. That offense is thriving not because of the kind of quick, short throws made famous by Montana, but because of Aaron Rodgers' ability to make big plays down the field, and coach Mike McCarthy's willingness to use everything from three-back to five-receiver formations.

The Steelers pound defenses with the run and rely on Ben Roethlisberger's knack for making big, clutch plays.

The Bears run a version of Mike Martz's "Greatest Show on Turf" offense, but it's Mike Tice's work with the offensive line that has made the offense effective.

There are more ways to win in the NFL than there are catchy nicknames.

If Musgrave can find one of the former, he'll have plenty of time to concoct one of the latter.