The spread offense has quickly become one of the most
common schemes in Texas High School football. I have always maintained
that scheme is secondary to execution. The scheme really is less
important than the players who have to execute the system coaches put
into place. The spread gives coaches hands on control right to the snap
of the football. But to really be efficient at the spread, personnel is
critical.
Like most offenses the quarterback is the key. But in
no offense is it more important than the spread. The offense relies on
the quarterback to read pre-snap as well as in many cases post-snap.
There are two ways to run the spread huddle and no- huddle. The
no-huddle really gives coaches more control but places an additional
burden on the quarterback.
The spread also can vary as to whether
it is designed around the run or the pass. Most people think because it
is designed to "spread" people out that it is a pass first offense.
That is not necessarily true though. Often the ability to spread people
out can be just as important to the running game.
Let's talk
about the no-huddle spread. First of all in a perfect world you would
love to have an athletic and intelligent quarterback. One who can throw
the ball but also make plays with his feet. Intelligence is important
too. There are certain things though that can be taught to a
quarterback of average intelligence. Usually the coaches and
quarterback will count the number of players in the box, seven means I
need to throw, six means I can run or throw, and five means run it till
the cows come home!
Secondly, the quarterback receives formation,
motion, and the play from the sideline. In some cases the coach may
send in a "no play" signal that gets his team lined up just to read the
defensive alignment. Then the QB will check and relay the play to his
teammates. And while most people think of no-huddle teams as being fast
paced this is not always the case. A good team will vary the speed of
the game. Sometimes it is fast break style sometimes in will work the
clock.
After counting the box and a run or pass is selected the
quarterback will generally get a pre-snap read on the secondary to
identify where the soft is or will be. If it is a run play the
quarterback may read on the run. If a defensive end closes then the
quarterback will keep it and can make big plays out the back door. This
also prevents the backside from closing and making plays on inside run
plays.
In my opinion the two most important skill positions are
the quarterback and running back. If your team is average or below at
either position then the spread offense may not be for you. Most of the
time the offense line must be able to execute three different schemes,
inside zone, outside zone, and the counter trey. Again if you have an
undersized offensive line that does not move well the spread can expose
that and the scheme may not fit your personnel. By nature when zone
blocking offensive lineman can end up absorbing much of the contact. If
you don't have a few big boys up there that can maintain the line of
scrimmage then penetration will kill the spread's timing.
There
are many facets to the spread offense that I won't cover here today,
three-step passing, five-step passing, the jet sweep and so on. While
this offense has enjoyed much success I think slowly there will be a
migration back to some of the other schemes as coaches learn that
personnel is so critical. As defense coordinators continue to see the
spread and no-huddle they will become more proficient at handling the
scheme as well. Texas High School football continues to change and
adapt and nothing has marked that change more than the spread offense.
Daniel
Shipman is a freelance writer and entrepreneur and high school football
coach. Texas Football Guide is a news and opinion web site that focuses
on Texas football. For information visit my site at http://www.texasfootballguide.com
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