Friday, March 4, 2011

The Spread Offense In Youth Football

There are many youth football coaches that will shy away from the spread offense. The main reason why is the snap. Coaches tend to be scared of fumbled and/or mishandled snaps. When coaches hear the word “spread” they think passing offense.

There is a lot more to the spread offense than just 4-5 wide. The “myth” that shotgun snaps are fumbled often is completely wrong. I do not agree with the “myth” that the spread offense is a passing offense only and that it cannot be used in youth football. I have been coaching youth football for ten seasons, seven of which I have been coordinating the offense.

Here are my statistics of fumbles out of my shotgun vs. under-center series:

* Since 2007 I have had roughly (give or take) 400 shotgun snaps, QB mishandled nine, lost one
* I had over 300 snaps under center since the 2007 and had ten fumbles, four lost
I lost twice as many fumbles in my under center series than my shotgun series. With efficient practice reps there will be no snapping issues. What I like about the spread is that the quarterback can see the field and the defense much easier. Say the defense is showing blitz, quarterbacks tend to pull out early from under center and fumble, because they are anxious about the blitzing defense. The shotgun not only gives the quarterback time to see the field, but it also makes him a threat to run the ball.

Spreading the defense out will create some key advantages:

● Make the defense defend the whole field
● Make them defend multi threats (5-6 threats in each play)
● The wide splits create natural running lanes and easy blocking angles inside (base blocking is useless in youth football).
● Great blocking angles out on the flanks
● Isolate “stud” defensive players
● Makes defenders tackling in space (extremely difficult)
● Easy read of the defense, allows a real good look where you out man or flank the defense. This will allow you to call a play where you have the advantage
● Spread them out!! When you spread the defense out and use a motion it will freeze the defense, allowing you to only have to block three-four defenders to gain yardage

Using motion is a great way to get the ball carrier the ball in full stride, while working the edge of the defense. Make the defenders tackle in the open field. You can also use the motion to deceive the defense.

This is a no huddle friendly offense; let the defense dictate how we will attack and beat them. If the defense wants to load the box, here comes bubble screen, sweep or play action pass. Say the defense wants to spread out with our offense and gives us a “soft box” then we hit them with; draw, trap and power all day.

The screen game is really underrated, bubble, smoke/tunnel, and pull screens are killers. I do not have to tell coaches how hard it is to get their players tackling well in space. You need to work three to four centers snapping from day one for depth. Yes it does take time and reps but once they get comfortable with it, the spread offense will be a complete nightmare for coaches to stop.

Our philosophy is the spread offense at the youth level is a run first offense, the run sets up the pass.

I would like to thank SpreadOffense.com for allowing Youth Football Online to do a guest blog.

"SpreadOffense.com is definitely the best source about the spread offense on the web."

Contact Coach Jeff via email at: youthfootballonline@gmail.com


Saturday, February 12, 2011

Empty Spread Pass - Reading The Leverage Points

Hey Folks! I found this nice video that shows the importance of leverage points that quarterbacks and receivers need to read pre and post snap and be on the same page with versus defenders within the spread offense pass game.

Lets take a look at the video and I'll explain the leverage reads below:



In this video, we have a 2nd and 10 down and distance, ball on the left hashmark and the offense is in an empty formation (3 to the field / 2 to the boundary).

Now while working with your quarterbacks and receivers, they need to recognize the pre-snap and post-snap leverage points of the defenders related to their receivers. In this situation, notice the #2 receivers on both sides of the formation and their respective defenders.

The defenders are both in an inside shade, basically giving the #2 receivers the quick speed out for an easy 5-6 yard pitch and catch. Now of course even as important is the play of the cornerbacks and safeties (safeties are two high in this situation, showing a Cover 2/Cover 4 look and the Corners are soft, 5-6 yards off the #1 receivers with a slight outside shade).

Now the only thing that can disrupt the easy speed out to the #2 receivers would be if the corners quickly jumped the flats (which they could do considering Cover 2 principles), but based on the the post snap read, the quarterback needs to detect that the corners are opening their hips to defend the deep vertical by the #1 receiver, leaving the flats open (at least to the boundary in this case). My assumption would be Stanford in this situation was defending some sort of vertical or 'double move' to a vertical deep slant by the #3 receiver to the field, thus playing more of a Cover 4.

Just a nice coaching point to run by your quarterbacks and receivers when studying film with your guys - read the leverage points pre-snap and post-snap (because we know defenses will change leverage points post-snap) and don't be afraid to snap off a route sooner or re-route to beat the leverage.

Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Monday, January 17, 2011

SpreadOffense.com Newsletter - Football Coaches Survey

Dear Football Coaches and Spread Offense Fans,

Please take the time to read our latest newletter which contains a Coaches Survey that will take you less then 15 minutes to fill out. It is an important item in allowing us to offer you the best possible information and services.

Spread Offense Newsletter Link - Click Here

Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

http://www.spreadoffense.com/

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Oregon's LaMichael James 2010 Spread Offense Highlights

Hey Folks! Happy New Year. I hope you all had a great holiday season and are enjoying the bowl games. No bowl game brings out the best of the spread offense then the 2011 BCS national title game that will be held on January 10, 2011 with Oregon and Auburn matching dynamic offenses.

Here's a highlight video of the Oregon Ducks running back LaMichael James, who was a heisman candidate for the 2010 season.



Enjoy the game Monday night, and keep spreading 'em!

-- Mark

How To Run The Spread Offense

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Mississippi State Spread Offense - 2010

Besides the BCS National Title Game on January 10th, 2011 (Oregon and Auburn), the second most anticipated spread offense match-up that I am looking forward to watching is the 2011 Gator Bowl on January 1, 2011 that matches the University of Michigan versus Mississippi State University.

Not only are these two great spread offense teams, this game has arguably two of the best spread offense coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Dan Mullen.

Here's a video below of every offensive snap by MSU in a game versus Kentucky this past regular season:



Coach Mullen has some of the best power and counter run schemes out of the shot gun spread offense. He exemplifies the philosophy that a spread offense run game can be a smash mouth concept.

Keep spreading 'em!

- Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Bringing pressure from the field versus a Spread Offense

Hey Folks! Below is a nice instructional video detailing a blitz package (called a: field dog) from the field or wide side used by Virginia Tech University against a spread offense. Coach Bud Foster is without a doubt one of the best defensive coaches in college football.



Keep spreading 'em and defending 'em!

--Mark

Defending The Spread Offense Resources

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Youth Football Spread Offense | Highlights

Hey Folks! I love getting emails and calls from youth football coaches who are interested in implementing the spread offense. They usually come with some hesitancy that the execution of the shot gun snap may be to much to handle physically, or the quarterback can not handle the nuances of the offensive packages mentally, etc...

That's why I love when I'm able to post videos like this, showing youth football players executing the spread offense and having great success.



The only coaching tip I would give is to the Quarterback (#8) in the first segment. On the hand-off plays (traps, sweeps) to the tailback, the QB should always carry out his run fake hard after handing the ball off, especially if you're a good running QB. As we know, football is a game of inches and if you can make the defense hesitate just a split second on a carry out fake, that can be the difference between a 5 yard gain and a 50 yard touchdown.

I compliment the offensive line play by these young guys, like at any level, it all starts upfront at the line of scrimmage.

Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Thursday, December 2, 2010

A Wild Game - Michigan vs Illinois 2010

Hey folks! Just in case you hadn't seen this game last month, here's a video below of the spread offense fest between Michigan and Illinois. The game went into triple overtime, with Michigan finally prevailing 67-65.



Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Shot Gun Spread Wing-T Offense - QB Plays

Hey folks! One of the things that gets me real excited is when coaches take a certain element of one offense, in this case the Delaware Wing-T (which was the first offense I ran as a coach way back in 1993 thru 1995) and blend it with the shot gun spread offense.

In the video below, you'll see highlights of wing-t plays ran solely out of the shot-gun (trips) formation, with the dual threat QB executing the run plays usually run by the tailback.

Knowing that by using the quarterback as the predominant runner, they gain an extra blocker within the offensive scheme, which is always a positive in the spread offense on QB runs.



Keep spreading 'em!

-- Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Cam Newton Through The Air - Auburn Spread Offense

Hey folks! I wanted to share with you a great video highlighting Cameron Newton, quarterback and Heisman front-runner at the time of this post from Auburn University.

This video highlights Cam's pass plays through his first 8 games. Most people think of the Heisman front-runner as a run dominant dual threat QB, but he shows in this highlight reel a strong ability to move the ball through the air out of Auburn's spread offense.



Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Spread Offense TV (24/7/365)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Boys Of Fall - Football's Life Lessons

Hey folks! Every once in a while I like to step back from the spread offense in particular and post something about the great sport of football in general. If any of you haven't seen the documentary by Kenny Chesney Boys Of Fall, you should definitely make I point of watching it in full sometime.

There's so much I can say about this great sport and the life lessons I've personally learned and benefited from since the age of 7 years old. It's without a doubt the most important thing that has molded me in my life, being a football player and football coach.

Here's a small clip below from Boys Of Fall by Kenny Chesney



Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Oregon Spread Offense Highlights vs UCLA 2010

Hey Folks! Here's a highlight video of the Oregon vs UCLA game this past Thursday Night (October 21, 2010) on ESPN.

The Oregon Ducks spread offense was running on all cylinders, executing the offense with great precision and at a torrid pace.



Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

Get Your Spread Offense Playbooks - Offense Defense

Monday, October 11, 2010

Taylor Martinez - Nebraska Dual Threat Quarterback

Hey folks! I found this highlight video of Taylor Martinez from the University of Nebraska in there game last week versus Kansas State.

Martinez is showing a lot of ability, leadership, field vision, and break-away speed running Nebraska's spread option offense.



It will be exciting to watch Martinez throughout the rest of year.

Keep spreading e'm!

-- Mark

www.SpreadOffense.tv (Video Sharing - Spread Offense TV)

Get your Spread Offense Playbooks at www.SpreadOffense.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Denard and QB Sweep Pass Out Of The Spread Offense

Hey Folks! As I've been watching film of the Michigan spread offense from this year to date, there is one specific play and/or scheme that Coach Rod and Coach McGee have been calling and the players executing that makes me go 'Wow'!

Now we all know the threat that Denard Robinson brings with his legs at the dual threat quarterback position, and one play that has been working extremely well is the QB Sweep out of trips formation.

Basically this QB run play is a 'hat on hat' play where the superback (or half-back in the shot gun alongside the QB) will lead the QB on a sweep play with the rest of the offensive players executing 'on' blocks, especially on the perimeter. The interior linemen are executing outside zone and reach blocks on this play, trying to work to the outside of the 'V' of the neck of the defensive linemen and working to drive the opponent off the line of scrimmage while working to the second level linebackers once movement occurs.

Here's a video showing the play I mention above, with the trips being created on this play by a tight end (TE) and two flankers (FL). You'll notice on this play the play-side offensive tackle (OT) executes a nice fold block to get to the perimeter backer with the TE blocking down.




Now that we've seen a visual of the run play, lets look below at a very hard to defend counter to that play, a QB Sweep Pass.



Lets take a look at this in a static play diagram below.



OK, now put yourself in Notre Dame's defenses shoes on this play - you have the best dual threat quarterback in the nation coming at the perimeter of your defense with his lead back ahead of him, you're thinking QB Sweep right?

Wrong! Denard pulls up and flips an easy touchdown pass to his #3 receiver out of the trips formation. Notice in the video how the Notre Dame's linebackers Sam, Buck, and Mike come flying up to defend the QB run, leaving the defense one defender short in covering the pass to the trips formation.

This highlights the pressure a dual threat QB can place on a defense.

Keep spreading e'm!

Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Monday, September 27, 2010

Michigan Spread Offense - Every Snap vs Bowling Green in 2010

Hey Folks! How does a spread offense video sound to you that shows 82 offensive snaps, 721 total yards of offense, 31 first downs, and 9 touchdowns?





Keep spreading e'm!

Mark

Get Your Spread Offense Playbook - Offense and Defense