The Spread Offense: What are the "must haves?"

This is a question that IMO has no right or wrong answers.

What does every offense need?

For me, the idea of the spread is spread out the defense and count the numbers in the box versus what we want to and/or can do. That said, for me the spread needs option plays (zone, speed, midline, veer, trap, etc.) The QB needs to be coached well regardless of whether he is ultra-talented or not or a runner, a thrower, or both. He needs to be coached well and thoroughly.

You are asking the question backwards. What will you face? How will teams line up against your spread offense? What blitzes will you see? What coverages will you see? What adjustments do you expect from your adjustments? What could they try, that maybe you haven't even seen yet, that would probably give you trouble?

Now, once you've figured out what they are going to do, you can now ask how you would attack Cover 2, Cover 3, this and that blitz, etc. That will be your answer.

It's the wrong direction to draw up a magic list of plays that you "need." In real life you're looking for answers and ways to attack actual defenses.

throwing uncovered


after that, anything is up for grabs

Definately believe that if you have the certain type of athlete that can play the slot and in the backfield, you need to utilize these types of players into your throwing uncovered schemes and into misdirection plays such as reverses, split screens,etc.

QB has to be a play maker. I like a lot of what WVU and Florida does with their skill guys. Find create ways to get those guys that are your 2nd and 3rd RB/QB/WR guys the ball in open space.

Thats the name of the game in the spread, spread the field and get your playmakers the ball in open field.

A "must have" for the spread offense is to understand the why's behind the what's.

...as stated previously, one thing is to be able to throw the uncovered, one-man bubble to either side. If you can't, the numbers are not in your favor in many situations.

To answer airitout616:
First of all you need to look at personnel to determine what you will do formation wise.

Do you have a TE ? 2 and we will use them both.

Do you have a FB ? Not a traditional I formation FB.

do you have more WR's ? Deep and talented with speed and size.

Then you need to figure out do you want to be a Zone blocking scheme or not.? We have been a gap blocking team for years, but are ready to intall the inside zone schemes this fall.

Do you want to be a Option/Read team ? No, but some read on zone and counter.

What kind of passing game do you want to have ? simple with half field reads or more of a Air Raid approach with progressions ? We have two full-field reads, but most passes focus on a key defender.

Is your QB more of a pocket passer, a runner or both ? Both. After a long history of 6'5 successful DI QBs we have the 6'1 190 athletic QB who needs his different talents showcased.

We have based out of the I and simply are looking at using parts of the spread and want to know if you "dangerously" pick and choose what fits your scheme.....what do you have to have so we have answers on game night when we are using the spread.

Hope this makes sense.

If you do not throw to uncovered recievers in the Spread, you are wasting your time. That is job 1! Everything else depends on what your kids can accomplish. Joe Montana or JC Watts can throw uncovered. After that coach to your abilities.

im sorry, theres 5 wr on left 2 online