Sunday, July 26, 2009
Will The NFL QB Protection Rules Help Pat White Run The Zone Read?
It's November 19th and the Miami Dolphins are playing the Carolina Panthers on the NFL Network.
Pat White is in at QB for Miami, with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams joining him in the classic 2 back (3, including White) shot gun spread option set.
The ball is snapped, and White, Williams, and Brown begin running a classic triple option play out of the shot gun. White 'zone reads' the initial inside zone hand-off to Williams, decides to pull the ball as the backside defensive end (Julius Peppers -- yikes!) executes a perfect 'square shoulder' anchor technique in the murky B-C gap area on the LOS.
White... who can run this play in his sleep with all the reps he's had over the past 5 years now attacks the perimeter as his instincts tell him with Ronnie Brown in a perfect pitch relationship, 4x4 (four yards deeper than the quarterback and four yards in front of him).
Peppers, who's instincts like White's are well situated in his DNA to attack QB's decides to coil and fire like a Cobra snake in a static stance at White... landing his face mask into White's chest/lower face mask area.
White gets the pitch off perfectly to Brown who gets the edge and registers a nice 10 yard gain.
The referee, who's one of many jobs in the NFL is to call all roughing penalties vs. the quarterback watches as Peppers and White roll off of each other...
Does the referee ever call a flag on this hit? Is there factors in the hit that would make the referee call or not call this 'roughing the quarterback'??
Would love to hear comments on this... knowing how the NFL is proactive in protecting their quarterbacks.
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Friday, July 24, 2009
Nick Saban Discusses The Spread Offense at SEC Media Day
To read the entire article, go to:
http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/nick_saban_spread
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
http://www.spreadoffense.com/
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
NFL Defenses Are Too Fast For The Spread Offense Run Game
Imagine Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson, etc... all conceding to the fact that NFL defenses where just 'too fast' for me to be a productive running back in the NFL? No matter what offense you'd run out of... West Coast, Pro-I, Two Tight End - One back, etc...
Please, enough about the NFL defenses being too fast... all your doing in the shot spread option offense is adding an athletic dual-threat quarterback to the equation, not re-inventing football!
In 2006, Atlanta's Michael Vick became the first NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Where defenses 'not too quick' that year? No, Michael Vick was just quicker, and more agile, and more athletic... just like L.T. is at the TB position, Randy Moss is at the WR position, or any other superior offensive player.
It kind of reminds me of the bully who you've never actually seen fight, but has the reputation of being the toughest guy out there... I think we may see pretty soon the NFL defenses reputation of "too fast for the spread run game, dual threat quarterback gimmick" be put to the test.
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
http://www.spreadoffense.tv/ (video sharing library)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
ESPN.com Offers A Buffet Of College Spread Offense Articles
Here's the link to all the articles:
http://search.espn.go.com/spread-offense/
We thought it would be fit to put Coach Rod as the picture... still the 'Chairman of The Board' of the shot gun spread option offense.
Keep spreading u'm !
--Mark
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Does NFL Technology Favor The No Huddle Spread Option Offense?
Just to clear up one thing, this microphone communication in the NFL shuts off automatically with 15 seconds left on the 40/25 second play clock, but that still gives the coaches up in the booth time to relay an initial defensive look downstairs that can be sent in to the dual threat QB on the field.
We've all seen it during college and high school games, the QB in a no huddle shot gun spread offense checking with the sideline between one to three times prior to the snap, then audibling the best possible play to the rest of the offense based on the information from the coaches box. At these levels, the coaches and spotters (usually the back up quarterback's) need to hand signal the audibles to the QB on the field.
I believe I once read an article where Rich Rodriguez was asking the NCAA to look into microphoned helmets at the college football level.
One point to bring up, beginning last NFL season (2008), the defense also uses the same microphone technology, designating one player (usually the "Mike" linebacker or strong safety) to get the play call(s) from the sideline.
It'll be interesting to see if this advancement in real-time coach to player communication at the NFL level assists at all as the spread option offense makes its way into the NFL.
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
http://www.SpreadOffense.tv (video sharing library)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
2009 College Football Schedule - Spread Offense Action Galore
Below I decided to list some must see early season games (with TV coverage, if available) showcasing shot gun spread offenses going against one another.
Auburn vs Miss State - Sept 12th
Auburn vs West Virginia - Sept 19th (ESPN 2)
Ball State vs Auburn - Sept 26th
Boise State vs. Oregon - Sept 3rd (ESPN)
Bowling Green vs. Missouri - Sept 12th
Florida vs Troy - Sept 12th
Illinois vs. Missouri - Sept 5th (ESPN)
New Mexico vs. Tulsa - Sept 12th
Oregon vs Utah - Sept 19th (ESPN)
Utah State vs Utah - Sept 3rd
TCU vs. Virginia - Sept 12th (ESPN)
Wyoming vs. Texas - Sept 12th
Texas vs Texas Tech - Sept 19th (ABC)
Brigham Young vs Oklahoma - Sept 5th (ESPN)
Indiana vs Michigan - Sept 26th
Ohio vs. North Texas - Sept 12th
Houston vs Texas Tech - Sept 26th (ESPN 2)
Tulsa vs Oklahoma - Sept 19th (FSN)
I'll get another listing out as the season progresses, but get those DVR's warmed up and set your email calenders with the above for now.
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
Friday, July 3, 2009
Maybe A Taste Of What We'll See? - NFL Spread Option Football
Oh ya, the play was ran out of the shot-gun spread option formation, with Ronnie Brown playing QB. Now, imagine putting Patrick White at QB, with Brown and Williams in the tripe option set.
I'm predicting fun times ahead, not only on Saturday's, but Sunday's!
Original Video
"The NFL has always been ahead of the college game, but what's happened now is that so many (college) teams are running some version of the spread, and doing it so well, that it's catching the NFL's attention," college football analyst Todd Blackledge said. "And these talented players the NFL is getting are so accustomed to it, you now have NFL people thinking that one of the ways to get the most out of them is doing what they're most comfortable with."
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
http://www.spreadoffense.tv/ (video sharing library)
http://www.spreadoffense.com/ (main site)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Gators' spread offense catching on in the NFL
Remember, we predicted back in February, 2008 (yes, before the 'wildcat' craze even hit the NFL) that by 2011 you would see the transition in full effect, it looks like we may have under estimated the disruptive innovation of the shot gun spread option offense.
To view the full article, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/nh6olr
Keep spreading u'm,
Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com (main site)
www.SpreadOffense.tv (online video sharing library)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wildcat 2.0 - What NFL Teams May See In 2009 From The Miami Dolphins
As a blog dedicated to the spread offense, I thought I'd let the coach in me take an educated guess at what Dan Henning, David Lee, and George DeLeone are cooking up in the laboratory down in South Florida for 2009 as it relates to the 'wildcat' formation and their new player, Pat White.
First, lets look at the current wildcat formation:
Now I'm not claiming to be smarter than Gus Malzahn and David Lee who ran this offensive set very successfully at Arkansas with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, but I see some real limitations here that can be improved upon, now that you have a dual threat QB like Patrick White who can get into the shot-gun.
1) Strictly related to personnel (nothing to do with the formation itself), with White in the huddle, you will no longer require Chad Pennington to be on the field, which was no threat at all to the defense (though, he did throw an easy reverse pass touchdown out of the wildcat in a game last year, but that play is not a sustainable threat at this stage of the evolution of the formation in the NFL). Remember that White can easily get under center and run the Dolphins 'regular' offense, which is what he's learning now in mini-camps, OTA's, and eventually preseason camp. So in that case, the defense can't 'assume' White is coming out on the field just to run the wildcat or a spread offense.
With Pennington not on the field, you now add another 'athlete' to the offense, someone who can catch the ball, block well on a run to that side (we all know in the spread offense how important stalk blocks are for breaking long runs or screens), and run a reverse/mis-direction play.
2) The 'Y' or Tight End not being an eligible receiver is a crutch in the current wildcat formation. I fully understand the 'over' or unbalanced concept, but trust me the likes of Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan are in their lab's too... sniffing out every weakness and leverage point against the current set. I feel a more 'balanced' formation that allows for equal playmaker's across the entire 53 yards of the field will help this offense, and accent Pat White's skills, as well as the rest of the skill players on Miami.
Note: One play that really caught the Pat's off guard last year was when the Dolphins put Anthony Fasano (TE) at the eligible Tackle position in the current unbalanced wildcat, and sent him on a corner route where Ronnie Brown hit him for an easy touchdown.
See it here:
Lets take a look at what could possibly become 'Wildcat 2.0' in 2009.
In the above formation diagram, you'll notice a more 'balanced' set, and the thing I really like about it is it makes Ronnie Brown (H), Ricky Williams (Z), the flanker (FL), the X and the Y (TE) all threats on every play.
I would call this a 'TE-trips - open, empty' formation if I was still coaching, and one that can accomplish a lot of great things.
First thing is you can motion either Williams or Brown (speed or jet motion) in this set to create mis-direction or simply zone read with White of the mesh (Did you say 'Zone Read' in the NFL!) - Ya, you have the all-time NCAA leading rusher as a QB in the backfield with two seasoned running backs who want to take this thing to the next level... and Ricky Williams really impressed me with how he carried out his run fakes last year in the wildcat, these guys truly love it!
And the pass game, look at the horizontal balance now for White to shoot a ball out to Ted Ginn Jr. or the many other talented receivers on Miami.
Only time will tell, but my impression of wildcat 2.0 should make the Miami Dolphins (or any other team wanting to balance out the traditional wildcat) more effective in 2009.
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Single Wing Spread Offense Gives You 11% More Blocking Capability!?
These days things like percentages really intrigue me, like the Dow is up 1.8% today, or this person got a 5% salary raise, or Giants season tickets went up 4.5% from last year.
I was thinking the other day about the advantages a single wing spread offense brings to an offense, and of course I believe there are many, but I decided to let math tell me the advantage.
My handy calculator told me that an offense has an 11% (not exact, but lets round up) advantage or 'upside' when it comes to blocking a defense on a single wing run play where the single wing QB accepting the snap runs the ball and the other 10 offensive players block versus a QB under center handing the ball off to a running back and 9 offensive players blocking the defense.
Just to be clear, the above assumes there is no fake hand-offs out of the single wing (which would eliminate the % advantage, or does it? as the fake causes the defense to second guess there keys? - that's another post), just pure QB power, QB Iso, QB burst, QB sweep plays. Basically hats on hats type plays.
As far as percentages go, 11% is a pretty big number. If the Dow Jones Industrial Average went up 11% today, that would be a 964 point gain, likely the top story on every news channel in the country.
If you lost 11% of your salary on a $50,000 a year job, that would be a $5,500 drop in pay over a year, there goes the vacation and getting the patio fixed this year!
So as a coach, maybe good old math will make you think about a single wing spread offense package when you need a little percentage gain on the field.... it sure hasn't hurt Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators.
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
Monday, June 1, 2009
Spread Offense TV Video Sharing Launches
Now coaches, players, and fans can upload their favorite spread offense videos in an online community
environment. The system can accept all online video files, plus YouTube videos.
We expect this to be an amazing service for the thousands of spread offense enthusiasts out there... to share, collaborate, and learn what others are doing in the football community with the spread offense.
To sign up now for free, go to: www.SpreadOffense.tv
Keep Spreading U'm!
--Mark
Sunday, May 24, 2009
So Your Spread Offense Quarterback Is Out... What Now?
You call on your second string guy and he's inexperienced, lacks the proper rep's, and is not as physically gifted.
Here's 3 things we recommend you prepare for, just in case the above happens to you.
1) Have a WildCat type package ready with a Running Back at QB
A good way to keep your offense in 'spread mode' is to have a WildCat set ready with a good headed RB on your team taking the QB position. Obviously the throwing game will not be a big threat, but if you install the traditional WildCat sweep, power, and counter package with a RB at the single wing in the preseason and drill it during the season, it'll be an option for you until things stabilize. Herb Hand, OC at University of Tulsa actually mentioned they have this ready 'just in case'.
2) Have your #2 QB Ready - Pretty Simple
Sounds simple enough, but with limited practice time and new installs during the season, many #2 QB's lack the appropriate rep's. We recommend one practice a week for at least 12 plays with the first team, you yank the #1 QB out and pretend he's not available.... make it a heated session too, put some pressure on the offense and lay out some game situations that will make the whole unit think and support the new QB. I suggest doing this with your #1 center too....
3) Learn How To 'Quick Kick' Out Of The Shot-Gun
Sometimes the first few series with the #2 QB can be disastrous, the defense is feeding off the momentum of you losing one of your best players, and before you know it, you're in a 3rd and 27 at your own 20 yard line. I feel that putting in a 'quick kick' punt package out of the shot-gun with your 1st and 2nd string QB's is a nice way to regain some field position and put the game into your defenses hands until your offense settles down with the new QB. This needs to be practiced though against live reps in practice.... the last thing you want is a quick kick blocked, I've seen it happen. But executed correctly, I've seen field positions change 40 + yards as the defense has no one to field the punt.
Remember, having your personnel ready is the coaching staff's job, don't leave any rock unturned in your preparation.
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Can The Spread Offense Emergence In The NFL Help Michael Vick?
Vick will be serve two months of home confinement until July 20th, then will be able to 'get a job' in society.
Being a fan of Big East football, I used to love watching Vick play for Virginia Tech with his athletic style of quarterback play.
Is there a spot for Michael Vick with the 'Wild Cat' making its way into the NFL? Are his skill sets still there that would allow him to get into a shot-gun formation and run some single-wing 'run-pass' option football for an NFL franchise?
Time will tell if this is the case, or if a team will take the chance on Vick and the negative publicity that will surround such a move.
But then again, the young man 'did his time' for a crime he admits committing, no matter how wrong it was.
By the way, I do see Martha Stewart back on the scene, doing well in the free market we call capitalism.
Keep Spreading U'm!
--Mark
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Running The Spread Offense In The Red Zone
This is some very nice looking zone read execution within the red zone - Great job Oregon's O-Line...those dogs get after it!
Keep Spreading U'm!
--Mark
Sunday, May 10, 2009
WildCat Series for Madden NFL 10
They've created the jet sweep, power, and counter plays for the game out of the recently famous formation.
Here's what it looks like in real life:
To view the entire site and write-up, go to:
http://insideblog.easports.com/archive/2009/04/28/letting-the-quot-wildcat-quot-loose-in-madden-nfl-10.aspx
--Mark
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The WildCat Series From An NFL Perspective
To view the article link, go to:
http://bal.scout.com/a.z?s=118&p=2&c=863498
--Mark
Spread Offense
Friday, May 1, 2009
Pat White's First Action With The Miami Dolphins
You can only wonder what David Lee is saying to Pat White in this picture at Miami's rookie mini-camp. Is it... "OK, here's the play, if you feel the desire to run, then RUN! LOL!"
Or, maybe the entire wrist coach Pat is reading off says in real big letters: DRIVE THE DEFENSE CRAZY - Wild-Cat, Wild-Pat, Go Wild!
I hope the other teams have great cornerback's, because if the safeties creep into the box, Pat can beat you on the pass!
Whatever the plans are down in Miami, I'm sure they'll be doing just that... driving defenses nuts with Pat White in the spread offense in the NFL.
Follow the link below for some video highlights of the Dolphins mini-camp: http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/aquavision/aquavision.asp?category=1&search=&mediaid=42434
Keep spreading u'm!
--Mark
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Herb Hand Q&A Interview On The Spread Offense
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Why The Miami Dolphins Selected Pat White
The Wild-Cat Offense - Just Scratching The Surface
I bet Ronnie Brown let out a sigh of relief with this pick... because now he and Ricky Williams can be in their comfort zone as running-backs with the wild-cat in 2009.
What Pat White will add in terms of a dual threat 'single-wing' quarterback will be the presence of the forward pass with his lightning speed and four years of reading defenses.
It must be hard for the offensive staff down in Miami to wipe the grins off their faces tonight.
Keep Pat White Away From New England and Bill Belichick
It's been known that the Patriots have been eyeing White for about a month now, and you can bet Bill Parcells knew this and didn't want the Patriots and his old buddy taking the wild-cat to the next level in 2009... especially when it was the Dolphins who kicked the door open with it against New England.
The Dolphins Coaching Staff 'Gets It'
I don't know how else to put it, but if anyone deserves the services of Pat White in the NFL to see how far this wild-cat/spread run offense can go, it's the Dolphins coaching staff. It's kind of like how Bill Walsh deserved to have Joe Montana back in 1979 when he drafted him to run his West Coast Offense.
Dan Henning, David Lee, George DeLeone, and the rest of the offensive staff will see how fast this wild-cat car can drive in 2009.... or, as head coach Tony Sparano put it: “There was an awful lot left on the bone that we didn't roll out there in the wild-cat".
Make Opponents Prepare For Another Offense
Coaches out there, think about your preparation week now for the Miami Dolphins offense. You have to get your rep's in for the Chad Pennington/Chad Henne conventional offense and now the Pat White/Ronnie Brown Wild-Cat/single wing offense.
Think about how this can actually extend the careers of all the QB's involved. Lets say in a specific game the conventional offense is productive, you stay with it until they stop it. The same with the Wild-Cat/Single Wing, run it for a change of pace or stay with it until they consistently stop it.
I always thought that a conventional 'sitting duck' quarterback getting sacked 6 or more times a game was more vulnerable to injury then a running QB on designed run plays.
Pat White is a Winner
Pat White was the starting QB for West Virginia University from 2005 through 2008. Every year during that span, the Mountaineer's went to a bowl game (2 games being BCS games vs. Georgia and Oklahoma) and they won every one of those 4 bowl games. White was also named MVP in 3 of the 4 bowl victories.
White has also been drafted 3 times by Major League Baseball (Anaheim Angels twice and the Cincinnati Reds once).
Lastly, Pat White graduated this past December with a bachelor's degree in general studies from WVU.
Pat White Can Throw The Football
White threw for 5,576 yards in 4 years... with 1,844 yards coming in his senior season. The all-time leading rusher for NCAA quarterback's has a very good arm.
Check out the link below of Pat White's Senior Bowl MVP performance:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e54d3c
Keep Spreading U'm!
--Mark
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Vince Young and Pat White - Spread Offense Highlights
With the NFL draft this upcoming weekend, Patrick White out of WVU is getting a lot of attention, I'm curious to see who picks him, and when.
Note: Pardon the F-bombs in the music and the S-bombs also... feel free to mute the sound on the video, I didn't produce it.
Keep Spreading U'm!
--Mark
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/spreadoffense
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wild Cat Spread Offense Video - Miami Dolphins 2008
Gus Malzahn, now at Auburn University is featured in this video as the master-mind behind the wild-cat/wild-hog offense. We had also posted an article on SpreadOffense.com about another group who had influences on this now popular formation.
Enjoy the video...and keep spreading u'm.
--Mark
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Spread Offense - Not Just Between The 20 Yard Lines
Whether they're on their own 1 yard line or the opponents 1 yard line, they're going to line up in the gun and run the football. Notice the physical nature of the offense, with the down blocks, kick-out, and gut blocks (counters).
I love it, physical spread option offensive football!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Is This Spread Offense Too Spread Out?
advantage of a loophole in the high school rule book.
Here's a video below if you've never seen the A-11 offense, decide for yourself, is this too spread out?
--Mark
Spread Offense
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Tulsa Spread Offense Video Clips
Here's some great video clips of The Golden Hurricane offense in action:
--Mark
Spread Offense
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Utah 2003 Video Clips - Zone Read Out Of The Spread Offense
--Mark
Spread Offense
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Florida Gators Spread Offense Run Game Clips
You got to love that inside shovel pass to the TE!
Keep spreading e'm!
--Mark
Spread Offense
Saturday, March 28, 2009
It's harder to evaluate spread offense players... PLEASE!
That being said, I read a lot about all levels of football... from Pop Warner all the way up to the NFL, and one thing that's really aggravating me is this term being thrown around prior to this year's NFL draft: "It's harder to evaluate players that are from spread offense systems".
Do you really think an NFL team would pass up an elite football player who happened to come from a college 'spread offense' system??
You hear this term a lot with the quarterback's, O-linemen, and running backs more than any other position.
"The O-line in college are never in a 3 point stance in the spread offense so they'll have a very hard time adjusting to a pro style offense"... well, give them a mini-camp and guess what, they'll go right back to being in the 3 point stance!!
I remember hearing last year that Steve Slaton coming out of West Virginia would have a hard time adjusting to a pro-set I formation coming out of the spread offense. All those lateral movements in the shot-gun zone read and triple option would make for a hard transition to the 'down hill' I formation... HAHA!! 1,282 rushing yards later with a 4.8 per rush average his rookie year with the Houston Texans... tough transition to the I formation Steve... you really had a hard time figuring it out in the NFL.
Come on analysts.... give the spread offense a break, because in a few years you may be saying... "This XYZ player out of X University will have a difficult time transitioning from a pro-style, two tight end college career to the NFL shot-gun spread offense".
--Mark
Spread Offense
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Congrat's To Chip Kelly - Another Spread Offense Head Coach In Major College Football
Here's some video clips of the Oregon Ducks from this past season, they can execute the spread run game with the best of them:
--Mark
Spread Offense