Spread Offense Membership Portal Opens - Certification On The Horizon

Hey Folks! It's a start of a new era here at SpreadOffense.com, we have launched the final piece of our online properties focused on the spread offense in football.

Since we opened our doors in late 2007, this was what I had in mind for all those coaches and players out there that were passionate like I am about learning and evolving with the spread offense at any level.

I invite you to become a member of our Exclusive Coaches and Players Membership Portal, which will be the online platform for learning, development, and education for our 2012 Spread Offense Certification Program for Coaches and Players.

Our main site, www.SpreadOffense.com will continue to offer the same quality (free) content, but our hope is that those of you who are serious about taking your education, preparation, and knowledge of the spread offense to the next level will join our new membership portal.

We are lining up as we speak quality coaches from all levels to be a part of the certification program and membership portal. We will continue to grow this new portal until we create the ultimate library of videos, articles, diagrams, podcasts, webinars, practice planners, install manuals, playbooks, etc... All focused on the spread offense in football.

Stay tuned... and in the meantime, be one of the early pioneers who will begin absorbing the knowledge required to become a Certified Spread Offense Coach or Player. Membership will provide you the required materials at a discounted rate in order to prepare for our 2012 certification programs.

Keep spreadin 'em!

--Mark

http://Members.SpreadOffense.com

Intro To The Spread Offense Video - Part II

Hey Folks!

I wanted to share our most recent video release, our continuation of the Introduction To The Spread Offense (Part 2 of a 3 part series).





Here's the video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfvh_m2dHu4

We'll have one more 'Intro' video (Part III), focusing on the offensive line, in particular their line splits and stance from Tackle to Tackle, and then some other landmark positioning teaching with the skill guys.

After that, we'll be ready to get after it as the foundation will have been laid for most coaches at any level.

Thanks again for all the great feedback, and make sure to sign up for our newsletter if you haven't already, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages, which we post to daily.

Keep spreadin' em!

-- Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Spread Offense Video Series Preview

Hi Folks,

It's an exciting day here at SpreadOffense.com, we finished the editing on our 'preview' video for our upcoming original content video series on the spread offense.

Here's the video:



Since we opened our doors in late 2007, the main website, our .tv video portal, and this blog have continued to grow, and that is because of you, our loyal audience... thank you.

Feel free to drop us a line as to what you would like to see in our video series, we plan to start 'In the beginning...' like the bible reads... and take this thing all the way to the inner depths of the spread offense, leaving no coach at any level behind. Oh.. and keep sending us any live spread offense game or practice video content you'd like us to use for live examples, etc...

We also have this 'preview' video posted on You Tube, see it here and 'spread it around' to all of your football coaching friends and players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg0NfgIKiTA

Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Wildcat Power

Hey folks! Here's a great video of the classic Arkansas wildcat/wildhog set run by Gus Malzahn (Offensive Coordinator) and David Lee (QB Coach) in 2007. You'll see Darren McFadden and Felix Jones (both having solid careers in the NFL) as the single wing quarterbacks in this video running 'Power' off of jet sweep action.




Wildcat 2007 power @ Courtesy of Brophy's Football Blog

If you're starting to plan your 2011 season offensive sets and you have a few stud runners who have what it takes to accept a shot gun snap, think about adding the wildcat into your arsenal.

It's a great way to get your QB off the field for a few plays to discuss some things and can be a great change of pace for your offense.

Keep spreading 'em!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Video: New Clemson Spread Offense - QB Bubble Screen Drills

I found this nice QB drill video, courtesy of the Orange and White blog covering Clemson University sports http://www.orangeandwhite.com/ .

You'll see new Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris drilling his quarterbacks on the bubble screen throwing mechanics to the left and right. I like how he makes a verbal coaching point about a baseball player, which is what I learned years ago when Rich Rodriguez used an analogy of your quarterback needing to be like a middle infielder in baseball on the bubble screen 'turning the double play' on his throws.

Chad Morris working with QBs during Clemson spring practice

Keep spreading 'em!

- Mark

Spread Offense - How To Run

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

Florida Gators Zone Read Video Clips

Hey Folks! I found this nice video online showing some classic zone read run plays by the Florida Gators during the Tim Tebow days. Speaking of Tebow, I caught his first appearance as a Denver Broncos last night. It was a good outing, not great out he did throw a perfect ball on a 9 route that a receiver dropped and scored his first rushing touchdown on a 6 yard run to end the game (of course, he smashed into two defenders while crossing the goal-line.).

Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

Spread Offense Playbook, Get It Now!

Athletic Quarterback In The Spread Offense

Hey folks! I hope your summer is going well, football is right around the corner... get your R&R in now and charge that battery for the season ahead!

I found this great video (courtesy of Coach Ayinde in California) of Francis Parker (CA) High School and their spread offense featuring a really dynamic athlete at quarterback.

I love the chess match between the offense and defense, especially with those 'grey area' outside backer defenders versus the spread offense. Do you respect the perimeter bubbles and quick screens? or the inside run with the athletic QB and tailback? The dilemma of the spread offense for any defense.

You'll see how the offense does a nice job of attacking the 6 defenders in the box (3-3 stack) with a lot of nice QB wraps, QB ISO's, and tailback counters between the tackles.




Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.tv (24/7/365 Spread Offense TV)

Spread Offense Preseason Checklist For Coaches

Repost from July, 2008:

Happy 4th of July folks!, I always felt during my coaching days that the next big holiday will have me knee deep into football (Labor day), so I better get busy now on the details!

This is a great time to get your preseason checklist in order if you're a football coach running the spread offense.

One other house keeping item, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily spread offense updates and announcements.

Here's my list of what you should be working on daily with your players during preseason sessions:

1. Quarterback/Center Exchange

If you're running a true shot-gun spread offense, your quarterbacks and centers should be getting hundreds of snaps in weekly. These snaps should include different tempo's, ques, and verbal communications used to ignite your offense.

I always like to add some D-linemen in my centers face for half of these practice snaps, making simulated jerking movements, verbal 'smack', and the like to simulate wars in the trenches.

2. Bubble and Rocket Screens (Turning the double play)

My personal feeling is the bubble screen and rocket screen are two very important plays in the shot-gun spread offense. They assist in keeping defenses 'honest' on the perimeter vs. the zone run or zone read, and when executed correctly they can break for big plays for your offense.

These two plays need to rep'd daily in the preseason, just as an infield in baseball rep's 'turning the double play' over and over, the quarterback bubble or rocket screen throw needs to be practiced from all spots across the field (based on college or high school hash-marks and your #2 receivers alignment) over and over.

3. Situational Football

Bill Belichick from the New England Patriots has made the word 'situational football' a very important term in the sport of football. What is it? Well, it's making your players and coaches think of the situation at hand (down, distance, time on the clock, area of the field, score of the game, weather conditions, protecting the football, time outs remaining, etc..) in practice so during the game when the scoreboard is on, your team is intellectually prepared for the situation at hand.

I feel the preseason is a great time to discuss this stuff with your team, it will also allow your coaching staff to think about situations prior to it happening during camp or more importantly the season.

I know Urban Meyer has really made a conscious effort down at Florida to train his team on 'situational football'.

With the competitive SEC becoming like the NFL in respect to the slim margin of error involved in winning or losing a game, this is a priority as you would imagine.

4. Know the Rule Book Inside-Out

How many of you can say you know the rule book of your league, state, or conference equal too or better than the officials calling your football games? Well, you should! Especially if you run a spread offense with unbalanced lines and hybrid type sets.

The month of July is a great time to get a copy of your latest rule book from your Athletic Director or League Representative and learn it all.

5. Pick up the tempo

It's time to start getting on your players and coaches about 'picking up the tempo' in everything they do. In the weight room, in running drills, in 7 on 7 passing camps, etc...

Set the tone now so that when camp opens, it's already ingrained in their DNA.

6. The Eye In The Sky Doesn't Lie

Get your team on film as much as possible and go back and watch old film from last year. Set the tone with your team that you and your coaches are perfectionists, and not only are we watching you live at practice and in games, but we are also videoing you constantly and reviewing your every move in slow motion and rewind.

There's nothing like visual feedback for a player, no matter how much it may hurt them to see it (In the long run, it'll only help them become better).

Best of luck in your preseason preparation leading up to camp.

--Mark

http://www.spreadoffense.com/

Auburn Spread Offense - Video Highlights from Spring Practice 2010

I found this nice video clip courtesy of Grid Iron Source



This video shows some nice practice drills that Auburn uses to work on their spread offense techniques and skills at a bunch of different positions.

Remember that proper execution on gameday has to be refined and perfected on the practice field, and a lot of times that means stripping down the layers and really practicing the fundamentals part by part.

Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.tv

Deception With Pre-Snap Motion In The Spread Offense

Hey folks! I found this great video over at Smart Football on Auburn Universities offense under offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.

It is very well edited and really shows how Malzahn's offense uses pre-snap motion to deceive the defense. It reminds me of the Delaware wing-t in high school, how the wing back would motion pre-snap and really get the defense thinking, which is never good. This makes sense, considering Malzahn started his coaching career at the high school level.

It just shows that with practice and repetition, a well coached offense can make even some of the best defenses in the SEC guess wrong when they execute their fakes.




Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

Goal Line Defense vs The Spread Offense

Hey folks! I just posted a new article on our main site on defending the spread offense in a goal line situation. A successful goal line defense not only keeps the opponent out of the end zone, but it also provides a tremendous momentum shift and confidence boost for your entire team.

It's football emotions at your best!

In this era, teams who are good at spreading the field between the 20's are also spreading you right up to the goal line, and heck why not!?

Here's the article link:
http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/defend_spread_offense_goal_line

Keep spreading e'm and defending e'm!

--Mark

http://www.spreadoffense.tv/ (video sharing platform)