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Post by brutus8367 on Mar 1, 2007 8:57:15 GMT -6
Would really like some input from coaches who have made the switch to the spread, both good and Bad. We are debating the pros and cons of going to this offense.
What was your rationale from switching from your old offense to the spread?
What was your old offense?
What did the spread do for you? Was it a succesful transition?
Was the offense easier to learn/teach than your old offense?
What were the bad things about going to this offense?
Are you glad you made the change?
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juice10
Sophomore Member
Posts: 200 
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Post by juice10 on Mar 1, 2007 11:01:49 GMT -6
1. I took over a program with very little tradition and NO IDENTITY. I took over 2 weeks before the season started and I tried to implement a spread along with wishbone. Before I got here they ran everything but nothing real well. So I brought in the spread along with some wishbone concepts they were familiar with and did both for the 2005 season. Towards the end of the year we ran 90% spread.
2. Wishbone
3. This offense was much more successful than any offense in the previous 20 or so years. Problem is, we have to learn how to be effective on all sides of the ball.
4. We are going through a transition with zone blocking. We are trying to go to all zone, and this is new the football team so this gave us some troubles last year.
5. We were the first team in our conference to go to spread, but now it looks like for 2007 there will be 5 teams going to some type of spread. As far as bad, I really don't have any, I really love this offense.
6. I am very happy for our kids. They have an identity now, and to be honest, they can relate a little bit to what they see on saturdays and sundays now.
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Post by raider7342 on Mar 2, 2007 9:48:53 GMT -6
1. wanted better pass threat and when two rb quit really had to go there, but glad i did
2. I
3. got all our best players on field - somewjat successful, we are more competitve because we have scored more but not to the playoff level yet
4. teaching about the same but we have really simplified the offense using a lot of our old terminology
5. have trouble running out of it, small school so i dont feel we have enough time at practice to rep our routes and timing enough
6. glad for change, kids like it better and helps move pace of practice so they don't stay on a group forever anymore
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Post by coachjoe3 on Mar 2, 2007 23:33:22 GMT -6
juice10,
I was talking to an old school coach last night and he had mentioned that since many HS teams in our area are now running the spread, it makes it easier for defenses to stop it since they see it in a lot of games and practice for it most weeks.
Is this something your staff has worried about while making the switch, now that five teams are now running the same offense? How many teams in your conference?
Is this something that any of you spread coaches out there have noticed before in your leagues, that once other teams start to switch to the spread it becomes harder to keep ahead of defenses that maybe before you got the best of?
Just curious,
thanks coaches.
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Post by coache67 on Mar 4, 2007 12:24:27 GMT -6
Two years ago 1 school in our conference ran exclusive spread O (1 did part time so I won't count them)
This season 4 teams did. However, of those four there were four variations of the spread!
I think this more than anything else would lend an argument that the defenses don't/won't have an easier time in prep. The other four teams in the conf. all are "shrink" teams but one is I one is Power and the other two are wing T ver.4.2. Does it make it any easier for their opponents D?
I too am interested in other coaches opinions on this. My perception from the various Fox Sports Channels etc. that 84% of the HS in Texas and Louisiana run the Spread O so I wonder what those guys think.
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Post by coache67 on Mar 4, 2007 12:32:30 GMT -6
Didn't mean to hijack your thread -
1. Fit our players/potential players better
2. I
3. Scored more points, more accountability, more fun. Yes.
4. Easier than most b/c we kept a lot of the same concepts - if you're moving from more of a "system" offense, it may be more difficult.
5. Sequencing, time constraints.
6. Yes - I also echo what juice said in the last part of his post. More kids have come into class or stopped in the halls to tell me that such and such team ran the Stick play 9 times in their game.
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Post by coachcb on Mar 4, 2007 14:46:50 GMT -6
I don't run the full blown spread, but the short passing game is the bread and butter of my scheme.
1. I have found that we can take any QB and teach him to throw slants, arrows, hitches, outs, screens, etc..
2. We can teach any skill player to run a short route and catch the ball.
3. You get what you put into the short passing game; lots of time and reps will lead to success. This isn't necessarily true for all plays and schemes. I love option football and I love coaching it; but you don't get the best payout sometimes for all the time and reps.
4. Not blocking intensive- you can run short passing schemes with any OL. As long as you're getting the ball off, of course.
5. Blitz beater- stunt and twist all you want, the ball's gone long before you get there.
6. Easy to adapt to all coverages.
7. Can be run from almost any formation. It's fun to go out and run slants or hitches/arrow combos 6 times in a row, from 6 different formations.
8. Allows the kids to develop an offensive rhythm
9. Most DCs move into a Cover 2 against short passing attacks- now we can run the ball more effectively.
I'm not sold on running moving into the spread exclusively; I don't know enough about it yet. However, I do love being able to go SG 2x2 and chucking the ball all over.
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Post by dacoachmo on Mar 4, 2007 17:15:06 GMT -6
What was your rationale from switching from your old offense to the spread?
Went to a team that ran it
What was your old offense?
flex bone option
What did the spread do for you?
CLEANS UP THE BOX!!!
Was it a succesful transition? YES
Was the offense easier to learn/teach than your old offense?
just like ANY offense...there is easy and difficult concepts
What were the bad things about going to this offense? NOT YET...
Are you glad you made the change? You bet!
The spread offense can be taylor made to your team.
A run heavy
A pass heavy
A balance ratio
Option
Zone
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Post by fbdoc on Mar 4, 2007 19:36:05 GMT -6
I think the reason most spread teams become spread teams is that the offense reduces the need to have a "stud" on the team. Old school power offenses are great if you have bigger, stronger kids than the team you're running over. Spreading out the defense is a plus for any offense. Fly Sweep Teams run the Fly for the same reason - Force teams to cover the biggest gap (D Gap).
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Post by coachjoe3 on Mar 5, 2007 0:31:56 GMT -6
Two years ago 1 school in our conference ran exclusive spread O (1 did part time so I won't count them) This season 4 teams did. However, of those four there were four variations of the spread! I think this more than anything else would lend an argument that the defenses don't/won't have an easier time in prep. The other four teams in the conf. all are "shrink" teams but one is I one is Power and the other two are wing T ver.4.2. Does it make it any easier for their opponents D? I too am interested in other coaches opinions on this. My perception from the various Fox Sports Channels etc. that 84% of the HS in Texas and Louisiana run the Spread O so I wonder what those guys think. Thanks, Coache67! |
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Post by cqmiller on Mar 5, 2007 9:39:34 GMT -6
Many people have moved to the spread in HS, due to the fact that they get 20 kids with WR type bodies every year, and if you are lucky...1 kid who can play FB or TE in a "Power" type offense...I know many teams around here (SLC, Utah) have moved to it because of the success of Urban Meyer at the University of Utah, but many coaches explain that it is the easiest way to get ALL their best athletes on the field at the same time.
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juice10
Sophomore Member
Posts: 200
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Post by juice10 on Mar 5, 2007 11:36:49 GMT -6
Coachjoe,
We have 8 teams in our conference, so over half will run the spread.
As far as getting worried, I think that there are so many formations and types of spread offenses (Zone, Power, Option) that really no offense is alike. You have to treat each week differently because one spread team may do something completely different than another.
I think that by us running the spread, it should help out our defense a little because they defend it in practice.
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Post by coachjoe3 on Mar 5, 2007 13:00:51 GMT -6
Coachjoe, We have 8 teams in our conference, so over half will run the spread. As far as getting worried, I think that there are so many formations and types of spread offenses (Zone, Power, Option) that really no offense is alike. You have to treat each week differently because one spread team may do something completely different than another. I think that by us running the spread, it should help out our defense a little because they defend it in practice. Thanks juice! |
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Post by briangilbert on Mar 5, 2007 13:33:22 GMT -6
HS kids on average are also terrible in pass coverage. The average team if you're lucky has one or two great cover guys at best. Think about how many good cover guys your team had, and now think about how good your defense was at stopping the run, I'm willing to bet you had 5 or more kids who could tackle. The bottom line is on average HS defenses are going to find more guys who can stop the run then can defend the pass.
And to those who have a huge line up front who can move... Well you can run whatever damn offense you please.
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Post by warrior53 on Mar 6, 2007 18:54:00 GMT -6
In Texas one of the reasons to move to the spread is you can practice passing all year long with the introduction of 7 on 7 leagues in the summer - I think it is a point here in this state that most overlook.
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Post by kcfootballwv on Mar 8, 2007 11:48:32 GMT -6
I am switching to the spread this year. My biggest concerns are the communication and the zone blocking.
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Post by realdawg on Mar 8, 2007 12:14:46 GMT -6
Puts athletes in space, "cleans up the box" Makes teams fear the vertical passing threat and gives you the ability to run the ball.
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Post by gatorball on Mar 8, 2007 12:16:47 GMT -6
It really makes the most sense. You get the best athletes on the field and they cover the entire field from sideline to sideline. Your QB can survey the field and make reads more efficiently in the presnap. You are creating lanes in the defense because they have to respect the position of the players on the field. Its like all things in football, one day a coach will successfully defend it and that formula will be duplicated transmitted throughout the land. But more or less I would have to say that it has evolved from a gimmicky fad into sound scheme that can be deployed in so many ways.
This used to be an offense that was run at places like Utah and Boise St. and now it is at Florida and Texas. The first time I saw it was when Dennis Franchione ran it at Alabama against UCLA. Alabama was a heavy underdog but they unleashed this funky new offense that created a ton of big plays. Mike Gottfried and Ron Franklin kept refering to it as a single wing/run and shoot hybrid
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Post by ccscoach on Mar 8, 2007 13:00:59 GMT -6
I run the spread because I can't recruit 2 tightends or I would run the ACE formation(2 TE, 2 WR, one back) but since I can't I can put five guys on the field that can run and one to throw it and force teams that have the studs to run around and try and catch me. Paul Brown said it best you can't lick speed.
The Florida and West Virginia offenses are really versions of the single wing that is the reason alot of these old defense are coming back like the 6-2(4-2-5) or 5-3(3-3-5) you.
If you can get kids to play TE or Fullback like USC or Notre Dame can then I would run a pro style offense. I wish I could but I can't.
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Post by huntdog21 on Mar 12, 2007 11:51:20 GMT -6
I'm in agreement with CQ here in Utah Urban Meyer ran it and then you see a lot of the high schools start running it, same thing happened with Lavell Edwards and BYU's offense you saw a lot of it here in utah because of the success they were having.
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Post by coachcalande on Mar 15, 2007 9:55:47 GMT -6
Have any of you guys ever seen the old TCU spread single wing highlights and game films? I know that SOMEWHERE I have it in my basement along with some really cool detroit lions spread single wing...please, at the moment dont ask for a trade for it, i have not a clue where it might be other than "in the piles"....
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Post by touchdowng on Mar 17, 2007 12:23:11 GMT -6
We went to the spread at a brand new high school for the following reasons 1. Linemen were very scarce to run the offense we had been successful with at other schools which was multiple I. We had personnel packaged and utlized the fact that we were used to having a bunch of 5'10 to 6'1 185 to 210lb athletes. At our new school, we don't have these types of kids to play at FB or TE's. 2. We found that we had a bunch of kids who are 6'0 175 and can run and catch fairly well. 3. We have some squat body OL types (5'9 to 6'0 200 to 240). 4. We went to the spread last season (keeping it very vanilla per our plan) and had OK success with it. However, we did a great job of moving the ball between the 20's with a very young team and proved that we could MOVE the ball on anyone. We just didn't light up the scoreboard. It was very frustrating but we made progress week to week and ended up scoring 37 points in our last game. 5. This year we will expand on our offense and as our players develop (weight room, weight room, weight room) we will begin adding some TE sets and 2 back sets to the spread. The TE and/or 2 back gun might muddy up the box a bit but we know how to deal with that from our past experiences. 6. Most of us have coached together for 10 years or more and most of our staff are 15+ year vets. We once laughed at the spread and thought it was too much of a finesse thing. BUT we have learned that it's not the system, it is how you coach your system. We want our guys to believe that we spread them out to single out who we want to beat up. If you go to the Spread, do so and ingrain a bully mentality  or your kids will become very finesse minded. Good luck!  |
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Post by coache67 on Mar 18, 2007 15:26:37 GMT -6
Be the bully, I like that!
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Post by coachjoe3 on Mar 20, 2007 2:31:49 GMT -6
BUT we have learned that it's not the system, it is how you coach your system. If you go to the Spread, do so and ingrain a bully mentality or your kids will become very finesse minded. Good luck! Thanks Coach! |
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Post by oguru on Mar 30, 2007 15:32:16 GMT -6
I heard Urban Meyer speak a week ago in Madison Wisconsin,and he sais that at Florida they are a run first team and always have been since he has been there.
He also stated that the reason that they went to the spread at BGSU is because they could not line up in the I am beat people doing it.
He also loves the idea of running the option which forces defenses to vanilla up their schemes.
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or your kids will become very finesse minded. Good luck! 
