As with many sports, football has evolved through the years with hundreds of coaches at all levels seeking the best tactical approach to success. One of the more recent products of the search for effective offensive schemes, the spread offense, has found favor at all levels of the game. The premise of the spread offense -- to spread the field horizontally with extra receivers -- has caused trouble for defenses since its inception.
History
The coach most frequently credited with the spread offense, Darrell "Mouse" Davis, first instituted the use of extra wide receivers spread out across the line of scrimmage in 1975 at Portland State University, according to ESPN.com. It didn't take long for Portland State's gaudy offensive numbers to catch the attention of other coaches around the country. In fact, by the 1990s, three NFL teams -- Houston, Atlanta and Detroit -- began using the scheme with some success.
How it Works
The spread offense uses four wide receivers spread along the line of scrimmage, stretching the defense, which must account for each receiver. Unlike traditional offensive sets, including the wishbone and T in which all the players set up close to the ball, the spread requires the wideouts to separate themselves from the offensive line as much as possible. According to Football Outsiders.com, such formations complicate the defense's attempt to have a man on each eligible receiver.
Strengths of the Spread
The spread offers the quarterback more options when throwing the ball. Defenses trying to account for all the receivers on the field often miss assignments and leave a man open. Additionally, according to Football Outsiders.com, spread offenses force defenses to use more defensive backs, removing linemen or linebackers from their formations. Teams without depth at defensive back will end up using players who can be more easily exploited by the opposing offense.
How to Attack the Spread
Successful defensive approaches to the spread do exist. The most popular way of attacking the formation comes in the form of varied blitz packages in which different defensive players have opportunities to attack the quarterback, reports Football Outsider.com. Spread offenses feature less protection for the quarterback than more traditional sets. The extra receivers negate the ability to include a tight end or fullback -- positions typically tasked with blocking for the quarterback on pass plays.
Member Comments