The spread option: Why does it work?

[SkinsHokieFan]

Alright so in light of Virginia Tech's JV offense this year, I have been paying much more attention to the WVU spread, and the variations that have spawned throughout the country

Right now I think its the most exciting offense in terms of big plays, and consistant chunks of yardage

So why is it able to work? To me it seems fairly simple to stop, but I guess it does because VT stops it a lot

Is it quick lineman? The exact right reads? Super fast QB and RB?

What makes it tick?

[rincewind]

I think its two things -


1. The spread offense is catching on faster than the defense that can stop it. You suddenly have teams in traditional '3 yards and a cloud of dust' conferences, like the Big 10, spreading out their offenses; but the defensive mind sets haven't caught up yet. Hence, you have things like a spread offense running App. St. beating a power defense led Michigan.



2. Speed at the skill positions. There is just way too much speed on the offensive side of the ball in college football. But when those spread teams run into a defense that can run, look out. Just ask WVU about playing that USF team.

[Major Harris]

rince is right, it's speed. the key to the spread offense is speed, and defenses that have it, especially up front, can contain the offense.

outside of speed, it's discipline. there's a lot of misdirection. if the defensive end stays home every play, he essentially takes the option out of it.

[SkinsHokieFan]

rince is right, it's speed. the key to the spread offense is speed, and defenses that have it, especially up front, can contain the offense.

outside of speed, it's discipline. there's a lot of misdirection. if the defensive end stays home every play, he essentially takes the option out of it.

So would you say one of the major keys to stopping it is a disciplned DE?

What I have noticed with the spread option is how many 15-20 yard gains there are, right up the middle at that

It seems simple enough to stop, but clearly the speed must be overwhelming because few teams have stopped it consistantly

[Major Harris]

So would you say one of the major keys to stopping it is a disciplned DE?

What I have noticed with the spread option is how many 15-20 yard gains there are, right up the middle at that

It seems simple enough to stop, but clearly the speed must be overwhelming because few teams have stopped it consistantly
definitely, yes.

pat white is reading the last down lineman on the offside of the play (usually DE). if he crashes inside, he's keeping. if he stays home, pat white is nothing but a traditional hand-off qb in the option read game.

as far as the guts, that's defeated by strong AND fast d-lineman that eat up blockers. if they can keep the o-line on the first level, unable to get to the lb's, then it's very hard to execute.

[SkinsHokieFan]

definitely, yes.

pat white is reading the last down lineman on the offside of the play (usually DE). if he crashes inside, he's keeping. if he stays home, pat white is nothing but a traditional hand-off qb in the option read game.

as far as the guts, that's defeated by strong AND fast d-lineman that eat up blockers. if they can keep the o-line on the first level, unable to get to the lb's, then it's very hard to execute.

Thats one thing I admire, is how quick the lineman are on the 2nd level

Last year I noticed that Slaton didn't even get breathed on until he was 8-9 yards down field

[Major Harris]

Thats one thing I admire, is how quick the lineman are on the 2nd level

Last year I noticed that Slaton didn't even get breathed on until he was 8-9 yards down field


yeah, and i think that our o-line has taken a step back with the losses to graduation (especially sheffy) and trickett. we're just not into the 2nd level like we were the previous 2 years.

[The Evil Genius]

It works for the same reason that zone blocking works (which coincidentally, the run spread offenses usually employ).

Athletic (not jumbo) offensive linemen who rarely miss assignments.

It helps too when you have both a QB and a RB who run sub 4.45 40's.

:laugh:

[PleaseBlitz]

The other thing about the spread offense is that it allows you to get the ball to your skill position guys in space with 1 guy to beat. If you have a guy like Slaton (or Reynaud) that can consistently beat their man and then have the speed to run away from everyone else, the spread can move the ball quickly.

The key to stopping it is having disciplined DE's and LB's and getting into the backfield quickly up the middle.