| FTBL Spread Offense Losing Ground?

[bamatommy]

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[Guest]

As things stand now, with four of the remaining six games on the road and no Indiana on the schedule, it's not inconceivable that Michigan (2-4) could go 2-10, starting with a potentially ugly visit to Penn State this weekend.

The immediate future at Auburn (4-3) isn't that bleak, but with the rise of Alabama and the presence of several other Southeastern Conference powers, the Tigers' inability to settle on an offense portends poorly for the years ahead.

Here is the thing with the spread offense! Its a great offense if you have the players that fit inside the offense.
Look at Rich Rod. He was kicking some butt at WVU with Pat White and Steve Slaton in the back field. They are 2 great running players. The defense has to play on its toes!
Michigan knew that they where going to have a "down" year. They recruited huge players and slow QB's for years. NOW, they are changing everything. I think what Rich Rod is doing at Michigan is really good. He just doesn't have the players that he had at WVU. Granted he most likely has better players then what he got at WVU but he doesn't need the best. He needs the player that fits into his program!
Pat White could run a 40 yard dash in 4.37.
Chris Todd (Auburns current QB) runs it in 4.8.
Thats a huge difference. Thats the difference between being able to out run the tackles and open run options all night.
You cant just change everything right off that bat without a "lag-time". When they can figure it out and recruit players to "fit" inside the offense they have a great shot and beating teams in the SEC. But the only problem is they just don't have them. And they are not going to start 22 freshman next year so its going to take a while for them to be molded into the offense.
So they are going to have to be patient. They are going to have to understand that switching offenses is not an overnight thing.

Should they fire there coach? NO. Why he is trying to get an advantage in the SEC.
Should they have fired there O.C.? Who cares? They are just slowing down the processes!!!

Its kinda like building a new highway! They just fired the construction company!! Now they need to find a new company to build it. They will get the highway built. It will just take time!

 

[Crimsonblood82]

The spread offense can and does succeed...but neither Auburn or Michigan are going to be patient enough to wait for the right players to be recruited for it.

Watch...next year, Auburn and Michigan BOTH go back to the more pro style offenses. I guarantee it.

 

[Guest]

Aubrun fans and patience...

I needed a good laugh this morning.


Burns can run....but that is about all. Watched the replay last night of the Arky game..they cant run him every play. They just do not have much talent on O. White was more effective when Slaton was on his game also.

 

[TerryP]

The spread offense can and does succeed...but neither Auburn or Michigan are going to be patient enough to wait for the right players to be recruited for it.

Watch...next year, Auburn and Michigan BOTH go back to the more pro style offenses. I guarantee it.

Auburn, maybe.

Michigan? No, they'll stick with the spread.

That said, I doubt we'll see the number of teams in 5-8 years running it then as we do now.

 

[Crimsonblood82]

btw...i haven't been able to watch any Georgia Tech games this year, but i heard they are running the option offense....is that the spread option or the Wishbone though?

 

[TWJUA]

Its not losing ground for the teams that know how to run it. UF Saturday night was ridiculous!

 

[alagator]

Part of the problem with the Spread is it requires an extraordinary athlete at the QB position. A true Spread-QB needs to be part Barry Sanders or Jim Brown and part Joe Montana.

The problem is there are not too many of those supermen type players around.

Whereas in a more traditional pro-style system, a QB with a gifted arm is almost as critical, there are many, many more players with the skill set necessary for success in that system. And even if you don't have a Joe Montana or Joe Namath or Troy Aikman on your roster, you can overcome that with a strong O-line and a solid RB. But, if you do not have a Tim Tebow or Pat White or Steve Young (who would in my opinion have been the PERFECT QB for the Spread) you are in big, big trouble.

The teams that can find the prototypical Spread QB from the very thin pool of prospects will succeed in this system at the highest level. Those that cannot or do not will not.

The UF spread, with all the speed in Harvey, Rainey,and Demps will fall on its face if Tebow is injured (like mid-season last year). Not that the back-up QBs are not talented, just that they are lacking in one or the other skill set required to make that system dangerous (one is a good runner but throws like Kodi Burns, the other a fantastic passer but runs like Chris Todd). If we, on the other hand, lose Wilson, we will suffer but we can still use our complimentary players at a higher level than UF could with a loss of Tebow.

This, in my opinion, is the real risk of the Spread. But, when the pieces are all in place, it is sure a fun thing to watch. Unless it is your opponent running it.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

btw...i haven't been able to watch any Georgia Tech games this year, but i heard they are running the option offense....is that the spread option or the Wishbone though?

I'd say it's more of a wing-based option. Sometimes they line up in a true Wing-T, and they run some straight plays from that standard playbook. Passing, they run a waggle (roll out with the FB or wing in the flats, TE dragging midlevel and WR/SE third level, all with a QB run option), which is a primary passing weapon of the Wing-T.

RTR,

Tim

 

[Crimsonblood82]

btw...i haven't been able to watch any Georgia Tech games this year, but i heard they are running the option offense....is that the spread option or the Wishbone though?

I'd say it's more of a wing-based option. Sometimes they line up in a true Wing-T, and they run some straight plays from that standard playbook. Passing, they run a waggle (roll out with the FB or wing in the flats, TE dragging midlevel and WR/SE third level, all with a QB run option), which is a primary passing weapon of the Wing-T.

RTR,

Tim

that's good to hear. I wish the Wing-T and the Wishbone would both make a comeback. Still to this day it is the most physical, in-your-face offense out there.

 

[TiderSpectator]

The spread offense can and does succeed...but neither Auburn or Michigan are going to be patient enough to wait for the right players to be recruited for it.

Watch...next year, Auburn and Michigan BOTH go back to the more pro style offenses. I guarantee it.

Auburn, maybe.

Michigan? No, they'll stick with the spread.

That said, I doubt we'll see the number of teams in 5-8 years running it then as we do now.

You nailed it, especially with regards to Michigan. The only way they change back to pro style offense next year is if they fire RichRod as head coach. That's his M.O. for offense and that's what he will stick with so long as he has a job. That's the system he's recruiting for too.

As for the Barn.... :lol: I don't really care what they do so long as we roll them...

 

[Crimsonblood82]

As things stand now, with four of the remaining six games on the road and no Indiana on the schedule, it's not inconceivable that Michigan (2-4) could go 2-10, starting with a potentially ugly visit to Penn State this weekend.

The immediate future at Auburn (4-3) isn't that bleak, but with the rise of Alabama and the presence of several other Southeastern Conference powers, the Tigers' inability to settle on an offense portends poorly for the years ahead.

Here is the thing with the spread offense! Its a great offense if you have the players that fit inside the offense.
Look at Rich Rod. He was kicking some butt at WVU with Pat White and Steve Slaton in the back field. They are 2 great running players. The defense has to play on its toes!
Michigan knew that they where going to have a "down" year. They recruited huge players and slow QB's for years. NOW, they are changing everything. I think what Rich Rod is doing at Michigan is really good. He just doesn't have the players that he had at WVU. Granted he most likely has better players then what he got at WVU but he doesn't need the best. He needs the player that fits into his program!
Pat White could run a 40 yard dash in 4.37.
Chris Todd (Auburns current QB) runs it in 4.8.
Thats a huge difference. Thats the difference between being able to out run the tackles and open run options all night.
You cant just change everything right off that bat without a "lag-time". When they can figure it out and recruit players to "fit" inside the offense they have a great shot and beating teams in the SEC. But the only problem is they just don't have them. And they are not going to start 22 freshman next year so its going to take a while for them to be molded into the offense.
So they are going to have to be patient. They are going to have to understand that switching offenses is not an overnight thing.

Should they fire there coach? NO. Why he is trying to get an advantage in the SEC.
Should they have fired there O.C.? Who cares? They are just slowing down the processes!!!

Its kinda like building a new highway! They just fired the construction company!! Now they need to find a new company to build it. They will get the highway built. It will just take time!

you're exactly right about needing the right players for the spread. It doesn't matter if you have 5 star players coming out the yin-yang.... if they aren't the right type of players for your style of offense, you're going to struggle mightily.

There's only two things that can happen now for Auburn and any other team that is switching from a pro-style to the spread:

1. Be patient and let the coach rebuild the offense. It won't happen in one year, but when all the pieces are finally in place, you will be thankful and your team might very well be the next West Virginia, or even better.

OR

2. Everyone gets impatient because they aren't seeing immediate results. Fans put pressure on school, school puts pressure on coach. Recruits get frustrated by what is happening and decide to go elsewhere to play college ball.