Good read about the future of the spread offense.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10939003

This was posted on tidefans.com a few minutes ago and as I posted over there this article is about two years behind the opinions a lot us had about the spread two years ago. You now seeing coaches admit that it's only a matter of time before this (like the wishbone and other option heavy offenses) is phased out.

 

I read the whole thing waiting for this point to be brought up.

That's really the bottom line.

 

yep, and in the meantime, the better spread/option teams will continue to collect crystal for thier trophy cases ..... :yelwink2:

3 of the past 4 BCS Champions have run the spread/option ...... and none of those teams are having problems recruiting the top skill position players that want to have their talents showcased on a national stage

I guess they didn't get the memo. (LSU, Texas, Florida, etc., etc.)

 

Maybe it's the NFL that should change its philosophy. I understand defensive speed is different and therefore less conducive to the spread but we've seen it work already. Sean Payton runs a form of the spread and has clicked off a top four offense for the last two seasons, and probably will again. If the Saints had even a mediocre defense, their numbers would be even higher because they would get more possessions.

It's only a matter of time before it catches on.

 

It doesnt translate well to the NFL because the NFL is loaded with Dorsey type players across the defensive line which is a major factor in stopping spread offenses. There are not enough of those kinds of defensive lineman to fill up the college ranks and you wont see the spread dying out anytime soon in college.

Just because it doesn't translate to the NFL will not mean its demise is imminent for college football. The emphasis is still on winning not just preparing guys for the NFL. It's similar to why you see NCAA Bball teams playing zone defense. It doesn't translate at all to the NBA but its designed to take advantage of a weakness and so is the spread.

I think Douche Bag Dodd is out to lunch as usual.

 

Difference is Drew Brees is a pocket passer. Most NFL QB's are expected to be pocket passers. Even Michael Vick fought to be considered a great passer. He was probably the most capable QB in the NFL to run the spread option, but they never did it. And I don't think you will ever see it spread to the NFL game.

 

I have no problem with it staying at the college level. It's one of the reasons we have such great parity in college football. But offensive systems cycle. You always have to stay one step ahead and the spread will become less popular eventually.

 

Good post and points, NFL teams dont run to many gimmick offenses because the speed of the defense is equalized. The NFL is big on technique at skill positions. You can have the fastest corner in the world, but if its 3rd & 6 and the corner is playing press coverage, but gets beat on a double move, then that speed dont mean shyt. First Down. In the college game the speed is spotty at best from team to team.

 

I think the jist of the article was that the "life" of this offense will not differ from any other similar offenses in that it has it's "life cycle". You're already seeing defenses adjust and catch up with it. Tebow by the sixth game last year had already suffered a rib injury (or some sort of injury to his side) and then a hand injury that was directly related to him running. Meyer has already admitted to adjusting his offense this season and not having Tebow run as much. So that right there shows defenses are already forcing some sort of change in the offense. And this change will continue. Now it's not going to be over night just like the wishbone didn't die over night. It was over time and got progressive each year.

I think the same will happen with the option spread until it (like most option offenses) runs it's course of effectiveness and defenses force coaches to change. Also, I don't think LSU runs a true "spread option offense". They run plays out of the spread option scheme but I don't think they full fledge run the spread option.

 

2 things about the spread in the NFL, if you use your QB to run options from it, he will get killed. No NFL team is going to expose their QB to that kind of risk. Next, it's just a glorified version of the Run and Shoot, which has already been tried and failed.