09-02-2013, 08:58 AM
There's a bit of terminological confusion in this thread. I don't think it's helpful to class all spread offenses too tightly together, just as it can be a bit obfuscatory to classify Bo Schembechler's power offense and Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense as "pro-style offenses." Yeah, sure, I-formation and all that but they're quite different.
Same for spread offenses. On one extreme you have the Oregons and Arizonas, who use the spread to run the ball; on the other hand, you have the Washington States who just want to throw the ball all day. D.ykes's offense is (typically) in between -- he had, I believe, a 50-50 split between running and throwing at Louisiana Tech. Against Northwestern, he curiously skewed heavily to the pass, though I had Jahvid Best flashbacks seeing Bigelow run. Additionally, unlike his mentor Leach, D.ykes likes to throw the ball deep more and stretch the field vertically as well as horizontally.
Anyway, what can be done. Your spread-to-run offenses typically test teams in option-like fashion, by reading them. That requires discipline. Teams must be highly disciplined to combat them -- especially since, being spread-out, they often only have one chance to make the tackle. Many spread-to-pass offenses like to throw the ball quickly, so quickly you neutralize the pass rush. It's helpful to have Henry Anderson types, who are tall and long enough to bat passes away at the line of scrimmage. Against both teams, hybrid-type defenders are really helpful -- players like Usua Amanam, who can cover, rush and defend the run at least somewhat proficiently. (See http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8251...otball-nfl).
Same for spread offenses. On one extreme you have the Oregons and Arizonas, who use the spread to run the ball; on the other hand, you have the Washington States who just want to throw the ball all day. D.ykes's offense is (typically) in between -- he had, I believe, a 50-50 split between running and throwing at Louisiana Tech. Against Northwestern, he curiously skewed heavily to the pass, though I had Jahvid Best flashbacks seeing Bigelow run. Additionally, unlike his mentor Leach, D.ykes likes to throw the ball deep more and stretch the field vertically as well as horizontally.
Anyway, what can be done. Your spread-to-run offenses typically test teams in option-like fashion, by reading them. That requires discipline. Teams must be highly disciplined to combat them -- especially since, being spread-out, they often only have one chance to make the tackle. Many spread-to-pass offenses like to throw the ball quickly, so quickly you neutralize the pass rush. It's helpful to have Henry Anderson types, who are tall and long enough to bat passes away at the line of scrimmage. Against both teams, hybrid-type defenders are really helpful -- players like Usua Amanam, who can cover, rush and defend the run at least somewhat proficiently. (See http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8251...otball-nfl).