Monday, October 11, 2010

Taylor Martinez - Nebraska Dual Threat Quarterback

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

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



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

Keep spreading e'm!

-- Mark

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

Get your Spread Offense Playbooks at www.SpreadOffense.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Denard and QB Sweep Pass Out Of The Spread Offense

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

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

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

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




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



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



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

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

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

Keep spreading e'm!

Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Monday, September 27, 2010

Michigan Spread Offense - Every Snap vs Bowling Green in 2010

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





Keep spreading e'm!

Mark

Get Your Spread Offense Playbook - Offense and Defense

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Denard Robinson Show - Michigan vs Notre Dame 2010

Hey Folks! In case you didn't see the game, here's every offensive snap of Denard Robinson and the University of Michigan spread offense versus Notre Dame last weekend.

Robinson, a dynamic dual threat quarterback in Rich Rodriguez's spread offense contributed 502 yards of total offense, with 258 on the ground and 244 yards passing.

Being a coach, I have to give a lot of Robinson's early season credit to the Michigan offensive line and the perimeter blocking by the wide receivers.

Great job!

Here's the video:




Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.tv (all spread offense videos, 24/7/365)

Main Portal: www.SpreadOffense.com

Monday, September 6, 2010

Michigan Spread Offense Solid In 2010 Season Opener

Hey folks! The University of Michigan football team had a nice opening day victory over the University of Connecticut out of the Big East.

Coach Rich Rodriguez's spread offense was very effective, especially highlighting dual threat quarterback Denard Robinson. I really like what they did with the quarterback isolation play (QB ISO) in this game, spreading the field out and then using the numerical advantage in the box to run Robinson, an athletic QB with the Ace (or superback) leading through the hole.

Robinson's throwing was probably the most impressive, he showed great accuracy, great decision making, and had nice zip on the ball.

Here is a nice video clip segment of all the Michigan offensive plays in the game.



Keep spreading e'm!

Mark

www.SpreadOffense.com

Monday, August 16, 2010

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

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Notre Dame Spread Offense Hits The Field For 2010 Season

The University of Notre Dame football team hit the field for its fall first practice of the 2010 season under new head coach Brian Kelly. Kelly and his staff will continue the implementation and development of the spread offense that he has run so successfully at his past coaching stints.

The below video is some highlights of this first day of practice, with a fast pace tempo the main theme throughout the day.



Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

www.SpreadOffense.tv (video sharing platform)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Nick Saban Comments at 2010 SEC Media Day On The Spread Offense

Last year, we posted what Coach Saban said at the 2009 SEC media day, so I thought it would be nice to post what he had to say this year about the spread offense. With the popularity of the spread (especially in the SEC), it seems to be a consistently popular question for the head coach of the defending national champions and 2009 SEC champ.

Question: As many football college teams are using the spread offense. Do you see many teams in college football perhaps taking advantage of what you do and mimicking some of what you do? Could that be a trend in college football, to go back to more of a pro-style set? What advantage does that give you on the recruiting trail when you're recruiting offensive athletes who can play in a set like they would eventually play in the NFL?

COACH SABAN: You know, I think one of the things we always tell players when we're recruiting them is, you know, when you go to college, you're in the business of developing two careers. You want to develop a career off the field by graduating from school, and that's the most important career that you have to develop when you go to college. But you also want to have a great college experience as a football player, win a championship, be as good as you can be, and see if you can develop a career as a football player and play at the next level.

Being a little bit of a pro background guy, we've always tried to sort of pattern our systems out of how we could best develop guys to be able to do that. That's probably why we play offense the way we play it, and it's the way we play -- why we play defense the way we play it. And even special teams, we haven't gone to the spread punt, all that stuff, which is pretty predominant in college football. I think there is some concerns at the next level, which is not our concern in college.

I will say this: the spread offense, some of the things that are being done offensively in college football, is very challenging and very difficult to defend, especially if you have the kind of personnel to do that. So this is in no way a criticism of that style of offense, because I think it's very difficult to defend.

But I do think it's more difficult for the people in the NFL, which is really not our issue as college coaches, to sometimes evaluate players, a left tackle that never gets in a three-point stance, a quarterback who never takes a snap from under center, a runner that never gets the ball with his shoulders pointed down parallel to the line of scrimmage. Some of those things are evaluation issues, which it's the player's choice when he chooses that, where he wants to go to college, the style of offense or defense he wants to play.
This is interesting - see Dan Mullen's reply to Nick Saban's comments on the spread offense, go to: http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20100722/SPORTS/7220304

Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

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)

Sunday, July 4, 2010

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/

Sunday, June 27, 2010

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

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

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)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Spread Offense Q&A With Villanova University WR Coach Brian Flinn

Hey folks! I just posted on the main site a great Q&A session I had with Brian Flinn, Wide Receiver Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Villanova University. Villanova is a spread offense team, and they are the 2009 NCAA Division 1 (subdivision) champions, beating Montana.

In addition to the Q&A, Coach Flinn also sent me a bunch of video clips to go through... really looking forward to diving into that, and I'll get some of it posted either here or on Spread Offense TV as soon as possible.

Here's the link to the Q&A session, go to:
http://www.spreadoffense.com/ssp/news?news_id=54
Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark


Wednesday, June 9, 2010

What Will Texas Tech's Spread Offense Look Like In 2010?

Hey folks! I think one of the biggest questions coming into the 2010 season is, what will Texas Tech's offense look like post Mike Leach?

Now with Tommy Tuberville as the head coach (formally from Auburn) and Neal Brown the offensive coordinator (formally from Troy University), The Red Raiders will be running under a little different philosophy on the offensive side of the ball.

Just to give you a little taste of what you'll see, here's a video of Troy's offense versus LSU in 2008.



Notice the fast pace of the offense, they are in 'Indy or Jet' mode a lot of the time, trying to out pace, confuse, and wear down the defense. I also think you'll see Tech run the ball more, especially if it's working as this is what Tuberville likes to do.

Here's a 2010 Texas Tech preview video with some interviews:



I'm looking forward to seeing the new Texas Tech Offense in 2010!

Keep spreading e'm!

--Mark