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
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Using Motion In The Spread Offense Running Game
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Bootleg Pass Series Out Of The Spread Offense
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Jailbreak Screen In The Spread Offense
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Pat White Open To Playing Other Positions
West Virginia’s White open to playing other positions
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Sunday, February 15, 2009
Pass Protection Techniques In The Spread Offense
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Jon Gruden Intrigued By The Spread Offense
"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.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Tackle Trap: An Alternative To The Zone Read
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Super Bowl Preview - The Spread Offense Will Be On Display
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
Saturday, January 10, 2009
NFL Teams Listen Up... Draft Tim Tebow and Pat White
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.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Inside Shovel Off The Speed Option - Spread Offense
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Reprint: Valuable Spread Offense Coaching Resources For The Off-Season
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/
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Quick Passing Game in the Spread Offense
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
Friday, December 19, 2008
Combo Passing Sets In The Spread Offense
For more details and to read the entire article, go to:
http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/combo_routes_spread_offense
Friday, December 12, 2008
And the Heisman Winner Is... A Spread Offense Quarterback
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.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Spread Offense Thanks You Pat White
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/
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Simplifying Pre-Snap Motion Out Of The Spread Offense
--Mark
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Triple Option Shot-Gun Spread Offense - Works In The NFL Too!
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/
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Pre-Snap Motion Passing Out Of The Spread Offense
Friday, October 24, 2008
Tulsa Giving The Spread Offense A Good Name
Back in February, SpreadOffense.com posted a Q&A session with Herb Hand, co-offensive coordinator at Tulsa.
To view that post, Click Here
#19 (BCS and Coaches Poll) Tulsa is averaging 56.6 points per game, and QB David Johnson has thrown 31 TD's. Tarrion Adams is the leading rusher for the Golden Hurricane, averaging 5.9 yards per rush.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Auburn Fires Franklin - Remain Committed To The Spread Offense
Tommy Tuberville, the head coach at Auburn said he remained committed to the spread offense, but a change in play calling and style was required and he was going with his 'gut felling' on the decision.
"It hurts. It hurts bad," Tuberville said on Wednesday. "It's a difficult situation. It's a difficult thing to do in the middle of the season. My responsibility is to this football team and it always will be. Tony's a good person. When it all comes down to it, it's about production. I didn't think over the last few weeks we were making any progress."
Tuberville hired Franklin from Troy last December after firing Al Borges. Franklin led the offense in the Chick-fil-A Bowl — a victory over Clemson that created a lot of excitement over the new offense at Auburn.
Auburn plays Arkansas this Saturday in an SEC battle.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Missouri Tigers Clearly The Cream Of The Spread Offense
Through four games, Daniel has completed 101-of-133 passes for 1,412 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception.
Not to mention one of the most exciting skill players in the country, Mr. Everything Jeremy Maclin.
To read more about Missouri's recent win over Nebraska, Click Here.