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

Herb Hand Q&A Interview On The Spread Offense

Last year we did our first coaches Q&A with Herb Hand, Co-Offensive Coordinator at the University Of Tulsa Golden Hurricane. It's our pleasure to offer our second installment with Coach Hand, as he offers more insight on the team, and the spread offense in general.

Tulsa is coming off an 11-3 season in 2008, and their spread offense is one of the most dynamic, explosive, and creative in college football.

To view the complete Q&A interview with Coach Hand, go to:

http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/news?news_id=44

Keep spreading u'm!

--Mark

Why The Miami Dolphins Selected Pat White

After just watching the Miami Dolphins select Pat White with the 44th overall pick in the NFL draft, I decided to jump online and give my 6 reasons for the decision by Tony Sparano and Bill Parcells:

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

Vince Young and Pat White - Spread Offense Highlights

I found this video combining highlights from both Texas and West Virginia... highlighting Vince Young and Pat White. It still amazes me how easy Vince Young can 'flick' the football 40 yards down the field, it looks effortless. It baffles me how he's a 'back-up' QB now with the Titans.... he's way too talented to be on the sidelines.

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

Wild Cat Spread Offense Video - Miami Dolphins 2008

Below is a video courtesy of ESPN Gameday discussing the wildcat spread offense the Miami Dolphins used this past NFL season. I'm excited to see how this evolves in the NFL this upcoming 2009 season, with the upcoming draft approaching, what teams will make offensive decisions based on the 'wildcat' factor? Patrick White, Percy Harvin, and Jeremy Maclin have all been discussed as wildcat influenced picks.

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

The Spread Offense - Not Just Between The 20 Yard Lines

One thing I love about the philosophy of the Florida Gators is they're going to run the shot-gun option from anywhere on the football field, and this video below shows just that.

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!

Is This Spread Offense Too Spread Out?

I found a recent article on the A-11 Offense, a complex hybrid spread offense that takes
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

Spread Offense 101 Video

I found a very good video called: Spread Offense 101

Keep spreading U'm!

Tulsa Spread Offense Video Clips

The University of Tulsa has one of the best shot-gun spread offense option philosophies in college football. One of our most popular posts is still our Q&A session with Herb Hand from Tulsa.

Here's some great video clips of The Golden Hurricane offense in action:



--Mark
Spread Offense

Utah 2003 Video Clips - Zone Read Out Of The Spread Offense

Here's some good video clips on the Utah inside zone read from 2003, the Urban Meyer, Dan Mullen days at Utah.




--Mark
Spread Offense

Florida Gators Spread Offense Run Game Clips

I thought you guys would enjoy this... The University of Florida spread offense run clips from the national championship game vs. Oklahoma this past January.





You got to love that inside shovel pass to the TE!

Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark
Spread Offense

It's harder to evaluate spread offense players... PLEASE!

I love football... I've been watching, playing it, coached it, and now have taken it to the internet with this blog and website (www.spreadoffense.com).

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

Congrat's To Chip Kelly - Another Spread Offense Head Coach In Major College Football

With the recent move of Mike Bellotti to Athletic Director starting July 1st at Oregon, Chip Kelly was promoted to head football coach effective immediately. Coach Kelly is a true spread offense coach, with his offensive philosophy being one of the best in the college spread game.

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

Using Motion In The Spread Offense Running Game

In the spread offense, wide receiver or slot motion can be used to open up the running game. This article will cover three types of motion, motion to a pistol set, motion to a two-back set, and speed sweep motion. Many of these plays use motion to provide different types of zone read style reads and they are all easy to flip.

To read the entire article, with diagrams please go to:

http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/spread_motion_offense

--Mark

The Spread Offense

Bootleg Pass Series Out Of The Spread Offense

My offensive philosophy is that we utilize our pass and screen game to set up the run. This has worked well for us and we always outnumber the defense in the box. Once we start running the football effectively, obviously our play-action is much more effective. One of my favorite play-action looks in the spread offense is the bootleg. The concept of the play is simple and you can run multiple variations of the play without changing the core concepts.

To read this entire article with play diagrams, go to:

http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/bootleg_pass_spread_offense

--Mark

Spread Offense

The Jailbreak Screen In The Spread Offense

One of my favorite plays in the spread offense is the Jailbreak Screen. It is an integral part of the offensive system that we run. To me, there is never a bad time to call this play. I believe the Jailbreak Screen is indicative of what the spread offense is all about - getting the ball into your athletes hands out in space with room to make a play after the catch.

To read more on this article with play diagrams, go to:

http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/jailbreak_screen

Pat White Open To Playing Other Positions

Pat White announced at the NFL combine that he's open to other offensive and special teams positions at the next level other than quarterback. White, who broke the NCAA QB rushing record out of a predominate spread offense at West Virginia University posted an unofficial 4.50 40 yard dash at the NFL combine. With the wildcat formation being introduced in the NFL this past season, White's style of play is being called the next progression of the shot-gun spread offense in the NFL.

West Virginia’s White open to playing other positions

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Pass Protection Techniques In The Spread Offense

One of the best attributes of the spread offense is that its formations limit the amount of defensive fronts by forcing them to walk out linebackers to cover receivers. This simplifies pass blocking, because there are only so many things the defense can do without leaving players unaccounted for. It also allows other aspects of the passing game to "assist" the linemen, such as a quick passing attack and easier "hot" reads.

To read the entire article with diagrams, go to:

http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/spread_pass_protections

--Mark

Spread Offense

Jon Gruden Intrigued By The Spread Offense

Jon Gruden, the former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently mentioned in an interview that he's very intrigued by the spread offense run in college and high school, and also had some encouraging words for Tim Tebow and his future in the NFL.

"He's like Brandon Jacobs playing quarterback," Gruden said. "Tim Tebow is 250 pounds, and he's the strongest human being that's ever played the position. He can throw well enough at any level."

Gruden went on to say that Tebow could 'revolutionize' the quarterback position in the NFL running a spread offense, once his chance arrives in 2010.

Gruden said he plans on returning to coaching and didn't rule out a job at the college level. He is also interested in working as a TV analyst next season and would like to attend some college camps to expand his knowledge, especially in the shot-gun, dual-threat QB spread offense.

Tackle Trap: An Alternative To The Zone Read

In the majority of spread offenses at the collegiate level, the zone read is a cornerstone of the offense. What do you do if you don’t have the personnel to be successful with a zone run game? I have found that the tackle trap is a great alternative to the zone read in the shot-gun spread offense.

To read this entire article, with diagrams, go to:

http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/tackle_trap_spread_offense

--Mark

Spread Offense

Super Bowl Preview - The Spread Offense Will Be On Display

The big game is one week away in the NFL, The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. The Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl forty three.

One thing we know for sure is that on the offensive side of the ball, both teams will be 3, 4 or 5 wide, with a lot of shot-gun sets. You'll see the classic spread offense passing game with Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger both looking to exploit the other's defense by spreading the field sideline to sideline in the passing game.

I found it interesting when a TV commentator doing the NFC championship game said on numerous occasions: "How is it possible that Larry Fitzgerald is SO wide open out there" - well, I'll tell you how.

It's the spread formations and offensive sets that the Arizona Cardinals execute on offense. They do a masterful job getting Fitzgerald spread across the field in numerous positions. When you add in Anquan Boldin as a major threat on the other side of the field, the defense can only do so much.

Now imagine this... take the arm of a Kurt Warner, throw in the legs of a Terrelle Pryor and blend it into one QB... How would the Steeler's (or any team) defend that!

--Mark
Spread Offense

NFL Teams Listen Up... Draft Tim Tebow and Pat White

The days following the national championship have opened up a lot of discussions on this years upcoming NFL draft. The big networks have their experts making predictions on who will be drafted, who will leave college early, etc...

Tim Tebows name has come up numerous times, and all I have heard is "He'll be a situational player", "He'll be an H-Back or Tight End", "He's not a NFL quarterback, a third round pick at best...." and so on.

Bottom line in football.... who are the winners who come together as a 'team' and how will they help you win games.

Tim Tebow in this instance is a first round draft pick in my opinion, an easy top 5 overall pick.

If I was starting the "Hawaii Sharks" in 2009-2010 and had the first pick this year... it would be Tim Tebow.

Another guy I would draft.... Pat White from West Virginia. Again... a winner!!! 4-0 in bowl games (2 BCS games) meaning he's a big game player that raises peoples talents around him.

Offenses in the NFL are moving to hybrid styles, I'm not claiming the spread offense seen in college will be dominating the NFL anytime soon, but a variation or complemental (is that a word?) portion of it will continue to grow.

Wait till you see how many NFL offensive and defensive NFL coaches (especially the ones who've been in the league for over 5 years) flock to college campuses to talk spread offense shop.

I found the Miami Dolphins so interesting this year... not just for the 'Wild Cat' and Ronnie Brown, but also take a look at their coaching staff.

We know David Lee from Arkansas, but what about George DeLeone and Paul Pasqualoni (together at Syracuse during all those years they played Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia).

They've been in the spread offense and defending it for almost 10 years.... I'm sure the offensive staff would keep the door open for Coach Pasqualoni to give some feedback, even though he was the DC.

George DeLeone, I've been at many high school clinic's he has spoke at and he's a spread u'm out junkie... learning a lot from trying to defend Coach Rod at WVU in the Big East.

Back to my point... this will ALL keep evolving in the NFL, college coaches with spread in their blood being hired as Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano have. It's a natural process.

Back to my point point: Tim Tebow and Pat White.

Winners, winners, winners, period. And GM's and Coaches in the NFL get fired if they lose, that's a fact no one can deny.

--Mark
The Spread Offense

Disclaimer: We're not sure Tebow is going pro this year (he's only a junior and has one more year of college eligibility), but Pat White is a senior and will enter the NFL draft.

Inside Shovel Off The Speed Option - Spread Offense

Congratulations to the Florida Gators ! If you watched the game last night, you saw a great play that Urban Meyer has used for some time now even before coming to Florida, but last night might have been the first time some of you may have seen it.

It's off speed option action to the perimeter... but the backside TE (or H-Back in a different formation) runs the inside shovel pass, with his backside guard pulling or folding up into the hole for a gut or kick-out block. If the defensive end knifes down for the shovel pass, the quarterback keeps the ball and attacks the outside with his pitch relationship to the running back. If the defensive end square shoulders the QB or keeps outside leverage, the shovel pass is executed to the TE.

--Mark

Spread Offense

Reprint: Valuable Spread Offense Coaching Resources For The Off-Season

Spread Offense Playbook - Download Now!

Stopping The Spread Offense - Download Now!

One of the best quotes I ever heard and still truly believe is: 'Leaders are Readers' or in the modern era 'Leaders are Readers and watch Video'.

Below are both free resources and pay for resources for coaches looking to educate themselves on the spread offense:

1) Free Resources

I can't stress how important it is to use recording technology to your advantage if you want to learn and study something, especially the sport of football. The ability to tape games via a DVR machine (usually available through a cable company, satellite provider, or telephone TV service like Verizon FIOS) or a standard video recorder right from the comfort of your home is very valuable free resource.

If you're a coach that is passionate about running the spread offense or a coach passionate about stopping the spread offense, I would have to ask if you've taped most or all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games with teams that run the spread offense or some hybrid of it.


That's A LOT of spread offense to evaluate and learn from. It may not be too late if you missed a lot of these because ESPNU and ESPN Classic do a good job of replying these games for a few weeks after the bowl season.

These games are so valuable for learning and seeing what some of the best spread offensive minds are thinking and more importantly what some of the best defensive coaches are doing to stop it (or at least trying to do too stop it).

If you ever read 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, he mentions a very important point: "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer". If you want to be a great offensive spread coach, you need to know what the defensive coaches are thinking and planning to stop you (and vice versa).

The ability to breakdown film as a coach is a critical skill, not just your teams or your opponents, but what I call 'third party' film. Imagine in your head what you might call that 'third party' play based on your terminology and formations.

When I coached, I had a lot of 'specialty' plays that I stole from the likes of the Ol Ball Coach (Spurrier) and Bobby Bowden, plays like the Gator Counter and the Seminole Toss Pass.

I still have boxes of old VHS taped from the early 90's thru the early 00's that I just can't part from (my wife thinks I'm nuts) with game upon game that I recorded.

Get detailed on paper with notes if you see something you really like, what are the lineman's splits?, are there any influence blocks (or joker type techniques on the O-Line) taking place?, is the slot receiver acting out the bubble screen?, what's the play tempo like?, what's the down and distance?, where on the field is the ball?, what are the backfield splits?, etc.

Try not only praising the video, but be critical of plays when you evaluate 'third party' film. Is the quarterback carrying out his option fakes or carrying out the zone read bootleg fake on the hand-off? Is the tailback carrying out his fakes if he doesn't get the ball on the zone read? Are the X and Y receivers blocking aggressive enough on the bubble screen? Coach the other teams on the video as you would coach your team.

Besides video resources, another free option is to simply call a college or high school in your area that runs the spread offense and ask the coaches if they would clinic with you and your staff. Most staff's are very open to this, especially if you have some solid recruits that may be of interest to them in the future. Even if you don't and you're say a Pop Warner coach, most coaches will be glad to assist.

2) Pay For Resources

There are many good resources that you can pay for, many of these I have personally used and others I am going off references from other coaches.

I personally prefer video over books when it comes to coaching instructional stuff. The ability to rewind, slow mo, pause, and taking notes while watching is very valuable as opposed to reading it.

What I do enjoy reading is more motivational type stuff, life balance, or organizational books to help build teamwork, character, discipline, work ethic, and courage (the 'intangibles' of football).

Before I get into my favorite spread offense instructional videos, let me share some of my favorite motivational, positive attitude, life balance, organizational, and leadership books.

1. Sun Tzu For Success - Gerald Michaelson
2. Turning The Thing Around - Jimmy Johnson and Ed Hinton
3. Power For Living (Christian based) - Jamie Buckingham
4. Finding a Way to Win - Bill Parcells and Jeff Coplon
5. The Education of a Coach - Bill Belichick and David Halberstam
6. The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
7. Creating Your Own Destiny - Patrick Snow
8. You Can Heal Your Life - Louise L. Hay

I have attached below an Amazon.com online search box for your convenience to order these books. Just so you know this is a mix of books that I feel will make you a well rounded leader and person, both on the football field as a coach and in life. To me, balance is the key to be a great leader, motivator, and teacher.




Here is my list of favorite spread offense instructional videos:

1. The Shotgun Spread Offense Series - Bruce Eien, Brethren Christian (CA) High School Head Coach
2. West Virginia Spread Offense - Rich Rodriguez, Rick Trickett, Calvin Magee - West Virginia University
3. The Zone Option Package - Brian Hughes, C.W. Post College Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator
4. The Run Game Within the Spread Offense - John Reagan, University of Kansas Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
5. The Simplified Spread Offense - Dennis Dunn, Louisiana College Head Coach (former Evangel Christian Academy (LA) Head Coach)
6. Transitioning From the Wing-T to a Spread - Lew Johnston, Western Branch HS (VA) Head Coach
7. The Basics of the Single Wing Offense - Mike Rude, Johnston City High School (IL) Head Coach;Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame

Defending The Spread Offense Videos

8. Defending the Spread Shotgun Wing-T Offense - Lew Johnston,Western Branch HS (VA) Head Coach
9. Defending the Spread with the 50 Defense - J.T. Curtis, John Curtis Christian School (LA) Head Coach,2006 USA Today National HS Coach of the Year
10. 12 Keys to Defending the Spread - Brian George, Indiana University Co-Defensive Coordinator / DL
11. Defending the Spread with the 3-5-3 - Bert Williams, Georgia Military College Head Coach

Coaches Clinic's:

Glazier Clinic's 2009 Schedule

Nike Football Clinics 2009


The Spread Offense Coaches Forum - Interact with fellow spread offense coaches throughout the world online

I have produced hyperlinks above so simply click on the titles to view these fine videos and clinics. If you're interested in purchasing them, follow the directions once the page launches.

One area I'm not going to elaborate on but is critical for a successful spread offense is your off-season strength and conditioning program. This not only builds strong, fast, athletic athletes, it also goes a long way in building teamwork, togetherness, and comradery amongst your players and staff.

"The key is not the will to win . . . everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” - Bobby Knight.

Best wishes in your off-season preparation, and keep spreading them!

--Mark
http://www.spreadoffense.com/

The Quick Passing Game in the Spread Offense

By Greg Nejmeh, The College Of New Jersey:

One of the big advantages of the spread offense is to use the quick passing game (i.e., slants, stops, speed ins, sticks) as well as other routes and combinations to exploit the defense. At the most basic level, the quick passing game works well because it is high percentage passing, beats blitzes, minimizes an aggressive pass rush, and allows your best athletes – usually your slot receivers - to make moves on linebackers in space.




To read more and view the diagrams associated with this article, please go to: http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/quick_passing_game_spread_offens

Combo Passing Sets In The Spread Offense

We're probably all familiar with using a passing tree to describe the routes to be run on a given play. Often, in the spread offense, numbers aren't enough. An example of this would be if you wanted to run a follow pattern, in which the inside receiver runs a short in and the outside receiver runs a deep in; how would this differ from a follow switch pattern, in which the inside receiver runs the dig, and the outside receiver comes underneath on an in ... say your "4" pattern is a down-and-in route -- is a "44" a Follow or a Follow Switch? Is a 4 route a drag, dig, or square in?

For more details and to read the entire article, go to:
http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/combo_routes_spread_offense

And the Heisman Winner Is... A Spread Offense Quarterback

This Saturday (12/13/2008) will unveil the Heisman trophy winner for the 2008 college football season. The three finalist are all quarterback's from spread offense systems. You have last year's winner, Tim Tebow from the Unversity of Florida - Texas Longhorn's Colt McCoy, and Oklahoma Sooner's Sam Bradford.



Tebow, our SpreadOffense.com player of the year last year (2007) came on strong the second half of the season and is just an amazing player and person.




McCoy, who put up amazing numbers this year and showed the heart of a lion in the Oklahoma game, is our choice here at SpreadOffense.com




Bradford, Mr. Consistent who is extremely accurate with his throws and a great, humble leader.

Good luck to all the finalists... one thing is for sure, for the third year in a row a spread offense quarterback will win the award.

The Spread Offense Thanks You Pat White

Last week when West Virginia's Pat White broke the all-time NCAA QB rushing record against Louisville, I had mixed emotions. One part of me was so happy for Pat and his WVU teammates while the other part of me was sad that an era was coming to an end. With college football down to two more games for most teams (some only one), I would only get to see #5 in the old gold and blue twice more... man, that stinks!

When I started this site about a year ago, it was an easy choice on who's mold I wanted the logo of "SpreadOffense.com" made from, I figured that the most inspiring spread offense player(s) over the previous 3 seasons was Pat White (and his partner in crime at the time, Steve Slaton). Hence, I made them the second and third WVU players that a logo was molded after (the first being Jerry West, who's the mold for the NBA logo).
This upcoming Saturday (December 6th at 8:00pm, televised on ESPN2), West Virginia plays the University of South Florida at West Virginia for Pat White's final home game as a Mountaineer. WVU is officially making it a Pat "White Out" event, meaning everyone in the stadium is being instructed to wear 'White' clothing in honor of #5.

The WVU Official Sports website recently released their 'Top 10' Pat White all-time game performances as a Mountaineer, go to: http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?DB_OEM_ID=19400&story=13796 to see them.

The Mountaineer's will make a bowl game this year so that will be Pat's last official game, but do yourself a favor and tune in Saturday night for his last home game.

If you love the modern day spread offense... You'll love seeing the 'Magician' one more time in front of the home crowd.

Thank you Pat White... I can't wait to see you in the NFL.

--Mark
http://www.spreadoffense.com/

Simplifying Pre-Snap Motion Out Of The Spread Offense

An area of the spread offense that drives defensive coordinators crazy is the pre-snap motion that many offenses use to out-man or gain an advantage on the defensive alignment. This changes the strength of the offense, and the defense must react quickly to re-align. To view a recent article with diagrams on simplifying the pre-snap motion offense out of the spread, go to: http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/spread_offense_motion_plays

--Mark

Triple Option Shot-Gun Spread Offense - Works In The NFL Too!

OK, now it's getting serious down in Miami with the spread offense. If you saw the game or highlights of their last game vs. Seattle, Ricky Williams went untouched from 51 yards away out of the triple option set. It looked like a Steve Slaton run from his old West Virginia days when him and Pat White would drive defenses nuts.

How often do you see an NFL running back go 'untouched' for 50+ yards (well, see the video below)?? NFL defensive coordinators, look out!! I think 2011 has arrived a little early.


--Mark
http://www.spreadoffense.com/