Friday, May 3, 2019
Divide Route vs. Split Safeties (2 High)
Football Friday: Florida hits the divide route identifying MOFO vs. split safety coverage. The inline TE releases vertically holding the backside safety. #spreadoffense
Sunday, June 26, 2016
3 Ways Green Bay uses Randall Cobb
Monday, April 25, 2011
Spread Offense Membership Portal Opens - Certification On The Horizon
Since we opened our doors in late 2007, this was what I had in mind for all those coaches and players out there that were passionate like I am about learning and evolving with the spread offense at any level.
I invite you to become a member of our Exclusive Coaches and Players Membership Portal, which will be the online platform for learning, development, and education for our 2012 Spread Offense Certification Program for Coaches and Players.
Our main site, www.SpreadOffense.com will continue to offer the same quality (free) content, but our hope is that those of you who are serious about taking your education, preparation, and knowledge of the spread offense to the next level will join our new membership portal.
We are lining up as we speak quality coaches from all levels to be a part of the certification program and membership portal. We will continue to grow this new portal until we create the ultimate library of videos, articles, diagrams, podcasts, webinars, practice planners, install manuals, playbooks, etc... All focused on the spread offense in football.
Stay tuned... and in the meantime, be one of the early pioneers who will begin absorbing the knowledge required to become a Certified Spread Offense Coach or Player. Membership will provide you the required materials at a discounted rate in order to prepare for our 2012 certification programs.
Keep spreadin 'em!
--Mark
http://Members.SpreadOffense.com
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Intro To The Spread Offense Video - Part II
I wanted to share our most recent video release, our continuation of the Introduction To The Spread Offense (Part 2 of a 3 part series).
Here's the video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfvh_m2dHu4
We'll have one more 'Intro' video (Part III), focusing on the offensive line, in particular their line splits and stance from Tackle to Tackle, and then some other landmark positioning teaching with the skill guys.
After that, we'll be ready to get after it as the foundation will have been laid for most coaches at any level.
Thanks again for all the great feedback, and make sure to sign up for our newsletter if you haven't already, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages, which we post to daily.
Keep spreadin' em!
-- Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Spread Offense Video Series Preview
It's an exciting day here at SpreadOffense.com, we finished the editing on our 'preview' video for our upcoming original content video series on the spread offense.
Here's the video:
Since we opened our doors in late 2007, the main website, our .tv video portal, and this blog have continued to grow, and that is because of you, our loyal audience... thank you.
Feel free to drop us a line as to what you would like to see in our video series, we plan to start 'In the beginning...' like the bible reads... and take this thing all the way to the inner depths of the spread offense, leaving no coach at any level behind. Oh.. and keep sending us any live spread offense game or practice video content you'd like us to use for live examples, etc...
We also have this 'preview' video posted on You Tube, see it here and 'spread it around' to all of your football coaching friends and players.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg0NfgIKiTA
Keep spreading 'em!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wildcat Power
Wildcat 2007 power @ Courtesy of Brophy's Football Blog
If you're starting to plan your 2011 season offensive sets and you have a few stud runners who have what it takes to accept a shot gun snap, think about adding the wildcat into your arsenal.
It's a great way to get your QB off the field for a few plays to discuss some things and can be a great change of pace for your offense.
Keep spreading 'em!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Video: New Clemson Spread Offense - QB Bubble Screen Drills
You'll see new Offensive Coordinator Chad Morris drilling his quarterbacks on the bubble screen throwing mechanics to the left and right. I like how he makes a verbal coaching point about a baseball player, which is what I learned years ago when Rich Rodriguez used an analogy of your quarterback needing to be like a middle infielder in baseball on the bubble screen 'turning the double play' on his throws.
Chad Morris working with QBs during Clemson spring practice
Keep spreading 'em!
- Mark
Spread Offense - How To Run
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Spread Offense In Youth Football

* Since 2007 I have had roughly (give or take) 400 shotgun snaps, QB mishandled nine, lost one
Spreading the defense out will create some key advantages:
● Make the defense defend the whole field
● Make them defend multi threats (5-6 threats in each play)
● The wide splits create natural running lanes and easy blocking angles inside (base blocking is useless in youth football).
● Great blocking angles out on the flanks
● Isolate “stud” defensive players
● Makes defenders tackling in space (extremely difficult)
● Easy read of the defense, allows a real good look where you out man or flank the defense. This will allow you to call a play where you have the advantage
● Spread them out!! When you spread the defense out and use a motion it will freeze the defense, allowing you to only have to block three-four defenders to gain yardage
Using motion is a great way to get the ball carrier the ball in full stride, while working the edge of the defense. Make the defenders tackle in the open field. You can also use the motion to deceive the defense.
The screen game is really underrated, bubble, smoke/tunnel, and pull screens are killers. I do not have to tell coaches how hard it is to get their players tackling well in space. You need to work three to four centers snapping from day one for depth. Yes it does take time and reps but once they get comfortable with it, the spread offense will be a complete nightmare for coaches to stop.
I would like to thank SpreadOffense.com for allowing Youth Football Online to do a guest blog.
Contact Coach Jeff via email at: youthfootballonline@gmail.com
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Empty Spread Pass - Reading The Leverage Points
Lets take a look at the video and I'll explain the leverage reads below:
In this video, we have a 2nd and 10 down and distance, ball on the left hashmark and the offense is in an empty formation (3 to the field / 2 to the boundary).
Now while working with your quarterbacks and receivers, they need to recognize the pre-snap and post-snap leverage points of the defenders related to their receivers. In this situation, notice the #2 receivers on both sides of the formation and their respective defenders.
The defenders are both in an inside shade, basically giving the #2 receivers the quick speed out for an easy 5-6 yard pitch and catch. Now of course even as important is the play of the cornerbacks and safeties (safeties are two high in this situation, showing a Cover 2/Cover 4 look and the Corners are soft, 5-6 yards off the #1 receivers with a slight outside shade).
Now the only thing that can disrupt the easy speed out to the #2 receivers would be if the corners quickly jumped the flats (which they could do considering Cover 2 principles), but based on the the post snap read, the quarterback needs to detect that the corners are opening their hips to defend the deep vertical by the #1 receiver, leaving the flats open (at least to the boundary in this case). My assumption would be Stanford in this situation was defending some sort of vertical or 'double move' to a vertical deep slant by the #3 receiver to the field, thus playing more of a Cover 4.
Just a nice coaching point to run by your quarterbacks and receivers when studying film with your guys - read the leverage points pre-snap and post-snap (because we know defenses will change leverage points post-snap) and don't be afraid to snap off a route sooner or re-route to beat the leverage.
Keep spreading 'em!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Monday, January 17, 2011
SpreadOffense.com Newsletter - Football Coaches Survey
Please take the time to read our latest newletter which contains a Coaches Survey that will take you less then 15 minutes to fill out. It is an important item in allowing us to offer you the best possible information and services.
Spread Offense Newsletter Link - Click Here
Keep spreading 'em!
--Mark
http://www.spreadoffense.com/
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Oregon's LaMichael James 2010 Spread Offense Highlights
Here's a highlight video of the Oregon Ducks running back LaMichael James, who was a heisman candidate for the 2010 season.
Enjoy the game Monday night, and keep spreading 'em!
-- Mark
How To Run The Spread Offense
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Mississippi State Spread Offense - 2010
Not only are these two great spread offense teams, this game has arguably two of the best spread offense coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Dan Mullen.
Here's a video below of every offensive snap by MSU in a game versus Kentucky this past regular season:
Coach Mullen has some of the best power and counter run schemes out of the shot gun spread offense. He exemplifies the philosophy that a spread offense run game can be a smash mouth concept.
Keep spreading 'em!
- Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Bringing pressure from the field versus a Spread Offense
Keep spreading 'em and defending 'em!
--Mark
Defending The Spread Offense Resources
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Youth Football Spread Offense | Highlights
That's why I love when I'm able to post videos like this, showing youth football players executing the spread offense and having great success.
The only coaching tip I would give is to the Quarterback (#8) in the first segment. On the hand-off plays (traps, sweeps) to the tailback, the QB should always carry out his run fake hard after handing the ball off, especially if you're a good running QB. As we know, football is a game of inches and if you can make the defense hesitate just a split second on a carry out fake, that can be the difference between a 5 yard gain and a 50 yard touchdown.
I compliment the offensive line play by these young guys, like at any level, it all starts upfront at the line of scrimmage.
Keep spreading 'em!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
A Wild Game - Michigan vs Illinois 2010
Keep spreading 'em!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Shot Gun Spread Wing-T Offense - QB Plays
In the video below, you'll see highlights of wing-t plays ran solely out of the shot-gun (trips) formation, with the dual threat QB executing the run plays usually run by the tailback.
Knowing that by using the quarterback as the predominant runner, they gain an extra blocker within the offensive scheme, which is always a positive in the spread offense on QB runs.
Keep spreading 'em!
-- Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Cam Newton Through The Air - Auburn Spread Offense
This video highlights Cam's pass plays through his first 8 games. Most people think of the Heisman front-runner as a run dominant dual threat QB, but he shows in this highlight reel a strong ability to move the ball through the air out of Auburn's spread offense.
Keep spreading 'em!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Spread Offense TV (24/7/365)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Boys Of Fall - Football's Life Lessons
There's so much I can say about this great sport and the life lessons I've personally learned and benefited from since the age of 7 years old. It's without a doubt the most important thing that has molded me in my life, being a football player and football coach.
Here's a small clip below from Boys Of Fall by Kenny Chesney
Keep spreading e'm!
--Mark
www.SpreadOffense.com
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Oregon Spread Offense Highlights vs UCLA 2010
The Oregon Ducks spread offense was running on all cylinders, executing the offense with great precision and at a torrid pace.
Keep spreading e'm!
--Mark
Get Your Spread Offense Playbooks - Offense Defense
Monday, October 11, 2010
Taylor Martinez - Nebraska Dual Threat Quarterback
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
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
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Denard Robinson Show - Michigan vs Notre Dame 2010
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
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
Keep spreading e'm!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Notre Dame Spread Offense Hits The Field For 2010 Season
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

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.
Keep spreading e'm!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Athletic Quarterback In The Spread Offense
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

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:
- 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
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Auburn Spread Offense - Video Highlights from Spring Practice 2010
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