DEMYSTIFYING THE SPREAD

***** College & High School teams all over the nation are playing the Spread offense . They think they can win with less players . Not so fast .

The Spread is football's latest trend or fad . All trends are successful at first but then defenses catch up . The Spread is the latest fad .

A Spread offense has a QB taking the snap from 5 yards behind the center . The QB will have from Zero to three backs in the backfield with him . The Spread will have from 2 to 5 wide receivers . A Spread formation with all 4 backs in the backfield is called the Power Gun .

Most Spread offenses will have one back & 3 wide outs plus the QB lined up shotgun . This is not new . I have a book called Spread Formation Football written in 1950 which is what today's teams are doing .

To win in the Spread you must have
1. Receivers that can beat single coverage
2. A dual threat Quarterback .

If your wide- outs cannot beat one on one coverage the Spread is dead . The defense will just play you man - up & out number you on the run .

If your QB is not a threat to run & pass the Spread will not work . NFL teams don't run the Spread because they don't want those high priced QBs running & taking hits .

Now. You are not required to have a powerful O - line to be successful in the Spread . You can isolate small fast players in space . Stretch the area the defense must cover .

To put it in the most simple terms , you can be as good as your QB in the Spread . If you do not have an outstanding trigger-man you will not have a great team .

As the QB goes so goes the Spread . Texas with Vince Young & Florida with Tim Tebow are examples of great Qb = great Spread team .

If your QB is average you will be an average Spread team . The Spread is a most intensive QB offense . The Wing - T or the Double Wing are the least QB intensive offenses .

***** Another way to classify offenses is to count the number of players in the core { players lined up tight }.

10 - 11 are tight heavy run power offenses . Wing -T , Power I , Wishbone & Double Wing are examples of this .

8 - 9 are more balanced offenses . The Pro - I , the Veer , & the Georgia Tech Flexbone are some of these.

6 - 7 are more wide open passing & option offenses . The Spread , the Run & Shoot & the Miami offense are some of these .

If you have less than 6 in the core you are dealing with a gimmick offense like the Polecat .

***** Don't know why this kept changing fonts & size but forgive me .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!