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James Rickard
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Robin PottratzCan the Spread Offense make it in the NFL
October 26th 2008 13:57
College or High School is the place for the spread
Other than the spread using more shotgun (quarterback not directly under center) formations I can’t see much difference between the two offenses. The big difference is that the Spread pays more attention to running the ball. However the Run and Shoot was effective at it too, just ask Barry Sanders!
Now I will explain why the spread is an effective running offense. It is named Spread because that is what it does. It uses the whole field sending its multiple wide receivers all over the field. The defense has to account for those players thus keeping their players from massing around the line of scrimmage.
You will often hear the term “Eight men in the box” about a defense trying to stop the run. This means 8 defensive players close to the line of scrimmage prepared to tackle a ball carrier. It is very difficult to run the football against an eight man in the box defense.
However with all the defenders spread out to cover your wide receivers you have more room to run in. And this brings up another difference between this and the Run and Shoot.
In the Spread, the Quarterback HAS to be a good runner. He will often keep the ball on draw plays or option runs. The option is a big part in this offense. So is the no huddle which means the quarterback calls the plays from the line of scrimmage.
It’s no huddle aspects are good for limiting the defense’s substitutions and that is a good thing for any offense. However I am not convinced that it is a good run out the clock, protect a lead offense. You can set the tempo with it and run the play clock down low before snapping the ball, so I guess it could be used that way
I was very surprised recently when attending a game at my old high school, Bunker Hill, in Claremont North Carolina. I went as part as my 20th high school reunion. When I was there we ran the Wishbone offense, a run first pass only in desperation formation. Bunker Hill now runs a no huddle spread offense. Of course they also have won 1 game in a season and a half. Bring back the Bone Coach Turner!
The option plays used in this offense can be deadly, both to the defense and to the quarterback (which is why you won’t see it as a base offense in the NFL much if at all). The quarterback either keeps the ball or flips it back to a ball carrier. Often a runner and often hit after optioning the ball, this offense can get your QB hurt in a hurry.
But when the option works it is a thing of beauty. The defense is zeroing in on the quarterback and suddenly he does not have the ball. The new ball carrier now can go around the defense before it reacts to him having the ball.
You will see college quarterbacks put up good numbers in this formation. But when they get to the NFL they are way behind other players at the position. They are not used to the majority of snaps being taken directly from center for one thing. Even direct handoffs to a ball carrier rather than flipping the ball, is something they don’t have a large amount of work doing.
The Spread won’t work on the NFL level because of the lack of pass protection it offers. The same as the Run and Shoot didn’t work. Four or Five receiver’s means less blockers and NFL defenders will defeat one on one blocks and nail your quarterback. Or get you with a fast blitz.
I do think high school teams with the right personnel could murder other teams with this offense. Because it isn’t as widely used as some formations it may be difficult to defend on that level.
And of course it is being used with much success on the college level and will be for years to come. In college a dominant athletic quarterback makes all the difference. If you have that, then you can win games. However a good pass rushing defense still gives it trouble.
All in all the Spread is a good formation on the college and high school level but I don’t think it would ever make it in the NFL. Thanks for reading this article and please feel free to leave a comment below and tell me what you think of it.
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Comment by James Rickard
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