Air Raid Offense ("Spread 'em and Shred 'em")

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In American football the air raid offense refers to an offensive scheme popularized by such coaches as Mike Leach, Hal Mumme, Sonny Dykes, and Tony Franklin during their tenures at Valdosta State, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, and Washington State.

The system is designed out of a shotgun formation with four wide receivers and one running back. The formations are a variation of the run and shoot offense with two outside receivers and two inside slot receivers. The offense also utilizes trips formations featuring three wide receivers on one side of the field and a lone single receiver on the other side.


History

The offense owes a lot to the influence of BYU HC LaVell Edwards who utilized the splits and several key passing concepts during the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's while coaching players such as Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, and Ty Detmer. Mike Leach has made reference that he and Hal Mumme largely incorporated much of the BYU passing attack into what is now known as the Air Raid offense. Some of the concepts such as the Shallow Cross route have been incorporated into such offenses as the West Coast Offense during the early 1990's as well, prominently under Mike Shanahan while he was the head coach of the Denver Broncos.

The offense first made its appearance when Mumme & Leach took over at Iowa Wesleyan University and Valdosta State and had success there during the late 1980's and early 1990's. The first exposure into Division 1A was at the University of Kentucky starting in 1997. There, Mumme & Leach helped turned highly touted QB Tim Couch into a star and later a 1st Round pick in the NFL Draft. Mike Leach would then coordinate the offense at the University of Oklahoma in 1999 to moderate success before landing the head coaching job at Texas Tech. Shortly into the early 2000's, assistant coaches started landing coaching jobs such as Chris Hatcher at Valdosta State, Art Briles first at Houston then Baylor, and Kevin Sumlin at Houston.
Air raid system

The Scheme is notable for being very pass centric with as many as 65-75% of the calls during a season being a pass play. A large reason is due to the control that is placed on the QB who has the freedom to audible to any play based on what the defense is showing him at the line of scrimmage. In at least one instance, as a result of the QB's ability to audible, as many as 90%[1] of the run plays called in a season were audibled to at the line of scrimmage.

Another factor in this offense is the inclusion of the no huddle. The QB and the offense race up to the line of scrimmage, diagnose what the defense is showing, and then snap the ball based on the QB's play call. This not only allows a team to come back if they are down a lot as seen in the 2006 Insight Bowl[2] but it also allows them to tire out the defense and allow for bigger runs and bigger pass completions.

One important aspect is the split of the offensive linemen. Normally they are bunched together but in the this offense, they are often split apart about a half to a full yard from another. While this allows easier blitz lanes in theory, it forces the defensive ends and defensive tackles to have to run further to reach the quarterback for a sack. The quick, short passes are then able to offset any Blitz that may come. Another advantage is that by forcing the defensive line to widen, it opens up more wide open passing lanes for the QB to throw the ball through without fear of having their pass knocked down or intercepted.
Core pass plays

The three biggest plays in the offensive scheme are what is known as the Shallow Cross, the Screen package, and the Mesh route. The Shallow Cross was originally invented by the coaches at BYU during the 1980's and partially updated by coaches such as Mike Shanahan for the West Coast Offense.

The Shallow Cross often involves the quarterback taking a quick three step drop and watches one of the inside receivers cross a yard or two behind the defensive linemen. The opposite inside receiver will often run a square in route with an option to button hook if there's an open area. The Mike Shanahan variations were a bit more complex and involved the opposite inside receiver running a corner post pattern. One of the biggest benefits of the Shallow Cross as a play is that it involves a speedy receiver who can get open across the field if being covered by a linebacker while forcing the field behind the linebackers to open up for the opposite inside receiver. If the safeties cover the second inside receiver, that then opens the deep field for the two outside receivers. This has become a staple of teams such as the New England Patriots in the National Football League.

The Wide Receiver Screen Pass involves the quarterback taking a quick one step drop and throwing to the receiver, who will catch the ball, then following the blockers ahead of him to get downfield. This play has started to become a staple in the National Football League. The main screens use are the Bubble Screen, where the inside WR catches the ball and heads outside as the outside WR blocks inside, and the WR Screen where their roles are inversed as the outside WR cuts inside and the inside WR blocks outside. Also a delayed screen to the RB is quite common.

The final play is what is called the Mesh route. It involves the two inside receivers "meshing" as they run their routes. Both inside receivers will run a shallow cross and force the defenders covering them to bump into the other or sidestep their teammate. This allows for one of the inside receivers to get separation while continuing their shallow crossing route. The biggest advantage of this play series is that one of the linebackers will often have to stop their coverage, allowing that inside receiver to then become open in an area that is uncovered.


Play names

Y Cross: Entails the Y/Slot Receiver (in 2 RB Sets) or an Inside Receiver (in 3-4 WR Sets) to run a crossing pattern over the middle of the field. This generally involves forcing the defense to put an outside linebacker or middle linebacker to defend the slot receiver who is oftentimes much faster and able to get separation through their speed, making for an easy pass from the quarterback.

Y Sail: Involves the Y/Slot Receiver (in 2 RB Sets) or an Inside Receiver (in 3-4 WR Sets) to run what is called a Sail, generally running north and cutting sharply at an angle away from the middle of the field towards the sideline. This forces the defense to either put an outside linebacker against the receiver or a safety, allowing for the middle of the field to open up for another receiver or allowing for the speed of the receiver to beat the defender towards the sideline.

Mesh: Involves the 2 inside receivers to run shallow crosses and force the linebackers to avoid hitting their teammate to continue covering them. Often allows a teammate to get separation when their defender is forced to stop or gets picked by their own teammate. Another play that can allow a quick, easy throw from the quarterback.

Shakes: Involves the outside receivers starting out their route by running inside as if running a slant and go (sluggo) route but at the end of their route, they cut sharply at an angle towards the sideline much like the Y Sail play. The speed and sharpness of their cut outside allows for the receiver to get separation from their defender.

Screens: A staple of this offense in part due to the sheer variety that coaches like Mike Leach and Hal Mumme employ. Inside WRs can run bubble screens where they run parallel to the line of scrimmage and let the outside WR block. Outside WRs can run inside and allow the inside WRs to block. HBs can run flat screens and let the inside and outside WRs block.

6 or Verticals: Exactly what it says. All the wide receivers run vertical routes trying to stretch the defense and utilize their speed to get by their defender. Mike Leach mentioned in his book that he added a wrinkle, allowing for the quarterback to throw towards the receiver's shoulder closest to the sideline (back shoulder throw) and allow for the receiver to essentially turn the play into a button hook route by stopping short and coming back to the ball. Since the defender is going so fast vertically, he has to stop and takes longer to get back to the ball compared to the receiver.

Shallow Cross: The Y/Slot receiver runs a shallow crossing route underneath where the middle linebacker is. The other inside receiver runs a deeper route where he cuts sharply and runs parallel to the line of scrimmage in front of the deeper safety. Depending on whom the linebacker covers (the crosser or the square in receiver), the quarterback has 2 options to throw to and both should be wide open as a result.



The immediate impact of installing the air raid


From 1994-1996 the University of Kentucky went 9-24[3] while scoring 149, 223, and 138 points. Upon hiring Hal Mumme, they went 18-17 while scoring 348, 431, and 328 points from 1997-1999.

From 1996-1998 the University of Oklahoma scored 255, 232, and 184 points.[4] In 1999 they would score 430 points and finish 13-0 while scoring 481 points in 2000. The 481 points were the most they had scored in a season since 1987 when they were coached by Barry Switzer.

From 1997-1999 Texas Tech University scored 245, 315, and 253 points.[5] From 2000-2002 they would score 330, 402, and 537 points while improving their record to 9-5 by 2002. From 2002-2009 they never won fewer than 8 games under Mike Leach.

From 2000-2002 the University of Houston scored 211, 190, and 320 points.[6] In 2003, under Art Briles, they scored 448 points. That was the most since 1990 when they were coached by John Jenkins. Art would have 2 more seasons in which his teams would score over 440 points in a season. Kevin Sumlin would then take that up a notch with his teams scoring 528, 591, 452, and 660 points from 2008-2011.

From 2009-2011 the University of Texas A&M scored 427, 382, and 475 points.[7] Kevin Sumlin took over and led the 2012 Aggies to an 11-2 record while scoring 578 points and garnering a Heisman Trophy for QB Johnny Manziel.

<a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raid_offense" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_raid_offense</a>
 

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Quarterbacks' Reading Is Done on Field at Texas Tech

By Eric Prisbell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 7, 2005

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/07/AR2005080701008.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01008.html</a>

Two years ago, a high school senior watched Texas Tech on television thinking its freewheeling offense looked awfully confounding. Now a quarterback in the program, Graham Harrell knows better, even pointing out, "Coach never handed out a playbook."

Based more on repetition than complexity, the offense has become an ideal system for quarterbacks looking to accumulate gaudy statistics. Over the past three seasons, three Red Raiders have led the nation in passing. The opportunity this season will go to either Harrell, a redshirt freshman, or fifth-year senior Cody Hodges, who acknowledged, "It's a good time to be a quarterback at Texas Tech."

Coach Mike Leach polished his aerial attack while working for a decade under Hal Mumme during stints at Iowa Wesleyan College, Valdosta State in Georgia and the University of Kentucky. Spending many late nights scribbling plays on napkins, Leach and Mumme eventually broke 26 national records at NAIA Iowa Wesleyan, at least seven at Division II Valdosta State and six at Kentucky.

Based primarily on the system Brigham Young employed throughout the 1980s, the offense also incorporates principles of the West Coast and run-and-shoot offenses.

"They used to always talk about some secret recipe," Leach said during last month's Big 12 media day. "Kentucky Fried Chicken, Colonel Sanders, he had this recipe for finger-food. I drove by it one time at Kentucky; I wanted to know where the vault for the recipe was. Contrary to belief, we don't have a vault."

Instead of distributing an official playbook, Hodges said, Leach diagrams plays on a grease board at the onset of summer practice, expecting quarterbacks to store the information over the course of camp. But there always is room to tweak because Leach has never met an idea he won't consider.

Players said if they pitch ideas to Leach, he will test them in practice, perhaps even during games.

"You can draw up a play and test it on" a video game, Harrell said in a telephone interview. "And then you could take it to Coach. I haven't tried it, but that's not a bad idea."

In all, Hodges said, there are no more than 25 primary passing plays, but each can be run using five different formations. The challenge is for the quarterback to know when to switch plays at the line of scrimmage.

"He gives the reins to the quarterback," Hodges said in a telephone interview, "and lets us be in charge."

Practices are fast-paced and always pit the offense against some sort of defense in game-like situations. The key, Leach said, is running the same play again and again, almost a monotonous routine.

"There's that Don Henley line about why the Eagles were good: They had a great capacity for boredom," Mumme, now head coach at New Mexico State, said in a telephone interview. "You practice one line of a song or one chord until you have it right, and that's basically what we do in our offense."

The Red Raiders, who are 39-25 in five seasons under Leach, twice scored 70 points last season. Tech completed more passes (426) than 100 other teams attempted and often continued to throw even with the game in hand.

"A lot of teams, if they are not throwing the ball well, they get away from it and go straight to running the ball," Hodges said. "We're going to throw it 70 times a game regardless of whether we're winning, losing, trailing by six, whatever."

Hodges has thrown only a dozen passes in his college career. Harrell, the Gatorade Texas high school player of the year two seasons ago, has not played a snap in college. Few expect the inexperience to hamper Leach's "Air Raid" offense.
 

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As the Ram Offense takes the field,,, crank this.......

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP61LI41mgs[/youtube]
 

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Does this have any similarities to the K-Gun that Jim Kelly ran in Buffalo?
 

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Differing Philosophies

There are many forms of the spread system. One of the extreme versions is the pass-oriented Air Raid typified by Mike Leach at Texas Tech, and coaches Dana Holgerson, Kevin Sumlin, and Kliff Klingsbury originating at the Houston Cougars. Others include, Mike Gundy's Oklahoma State Cowboys, Dana Holgorsen's West Virginia Mountaineers, Mark Stoops's Kentucky Wildcats, Mike Leach's Washington State Cougars, Tommy Tuberville's Cincinnati Bearcats, Kliff Kingsbury's Texas Tech Red Raiders and Kevin Sumlin's Texas A&M Aggies. This version employs multiple spread sets and is heavily reliant on the quarterback and coaches being able to call the appropriate play at the line of scrimmage based on how the defense sets up. California Golden Bears head coach Sonny Dykes, who coached under Mike Leach at Texas Tech, uses a variant of the pass-oriented spread system that makes more use of the tight end and running backs.

The other extreme is the spread option - consisting of a slot receiver, a tailback, and a dual-threat quarterback - used by Gus Malzahn 's Auburn Tigers, Rich Rodriguez's Arizona Wildcats, Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes, Dan Mullen's Mississippi State Bulldogs; Chip Kelly's Oregon Ducks, and Hugh Freeze's Ole Miss Rebels. Despite the multi-receiver sets, the spread option is a run-first scheme that requires a quarterback that is comfortable carrying the ball, a mobile offensive line that can effectively pull and trap, and receivers that can hold their blocks. Its essence is misdirection, making it effectively the old triple option, except that it utilizes spread sets. One of the primary plays in the spread option is the zone read, invented and made popular by Rich Rodriguez. The quarterback must be able to read the defensive end and determine whether he is collapsing down the line or playing up-field containment in order to determine the proper play to make with the ball. A key component of the spread option that utilizes a run-capable QB is that the threat posed by the QB forces a defensive lineman or linebacker to "freeze" in order to plug the running lane of the QB; this, in effect, creates a virtual block on the defensive player, without the offense needing to put a body on him.

A third version of the spread offense is the Pistol offense used by Chris Ault's Nevada Wolf Pack and some high schools across the nation. The Pistol focuses on using the run with many offensive players, and it calls for the quarterback to line up about three yards behind the center and take a short shotgun snap at the start of each play. Instead of lining up next to the quarterback like in the normal shotgun, the tailback lines up behind the quarterback at normal depth. This enables him to take a handoff while running toward the line of scrimmage, rather than parallel to it from the standard shotgun. Since Ault installed the Pistol in 2004, his Wolf Pack has been among of the NCAA's most productive offenses. In 2009, they led the country in rushing and total offense, and were also the first team in college football history to have three players rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

Perhaps the most extreme example is the spread option used by Paul Johnson's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets which runs about 2/3 of the time and typically uses two wide receivers, two slot backs (known as A-backs) and a fullback (known as a B-Back) out of a formation known as the Flexbone Formation. The offense often uses motion by the slot-back to create a numbers advantage where the offense will have more players than the defense on the play side. The results speak for themselves, as Georgia Tech's rushing attack consistently ranks at the top of the nation in rushing yards and plays over 20 yards. Despite not throwing often enough to qualify for NCAA official statistics, Georgia Tech's offense also ranks high in Passing Efficiency due to the high passing yards per attempt.

Another version, used by Larry Fedora of the North Carolina Tar Heels, is a balanced attack that relies on the quarterback to keep the defense honest and open up lanes for the running backs.

In addition, a new offense known as the "spread-flex" is emerging among many programs. This offense combines the flex-bone and the spread offense together in order to cause confusion for defenses and to take advantage of mismatches. This dynamic offense has worked its way up into the smaller colleges and universities such as Air Force who use it very effectively. It can be effective in many ways to spread the ball out to the wide receivers as well as using a lot of pre-snap shifting and motion to run the option zone read plays. The offense combines elements of the triple-option offense at Navy, Army, Air Force, and Georgia Tech and the version of the "Air Raid" offense crafted by Leach.


NFL


Versions of this scheme have also been used by professional teams, beginning with the former Houston Oilers, the Atlanta Falcons, and Detroit Lions. The 2007 New England Patriots utilized the spread with quarterback Tom Brady and wide receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and Jabar Gaffney. In addition, the San Diego Chargers (1980s) and the various West Coast schemes developed by Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 49ers (1980s) built their offenses, in many ways, on Ellison's and Davis' designs.

The 2008 Miami Dolphins also implemented some form of the spread offense in their offensive schemes. Lining up in the "wildcat" formation, the Miami Dolphins, borrowing from Gus Malzahn's college spread offense, “direct snap” the ball to their running back, Ronnie Brown,[7] who was then able to read the defense, and either pass or keep the ball himself.

The spread offense is generally not used as a team's primary offense in the NFL. NFL defenses are usually faster than college defenses, which allows the vertical seams created by the formation to close up much quicker. In addition, the quarterback is more vulnerable to injury since he is the ball carrier more often than in a typical pro-style offense (thus, getting tackled more) and the amount of protection is decreased with the backs and receivers being used to spread the defense instead of providing pass protection.[8] Since the level of talent between the starting quarterback and the backup is generally much greater than with a typical college team that NFL teams are more protective of their quarterback. With that said, this has been changing in recent years with Chan Gailey in 2008 with the Kansas City Chiefs utilizing Tyler Thigpen at quarterback and now he has taken the offense to the Buffalo Bills and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Green Bay Packers have also been running a lot of the spread offense with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
 

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PhxRam said:
Does this have any similarities to the K-Gun that Jim Kelly ran in Buffalo?
Found this, doesn't directly answer your question but refers to the issue. There is more at that site.

I learned the offense, but I also became familiar with the familiar reservations coaches had about it. Indeed, in staff meetings someone usually stated that we could run our same four-wide schemes but with a tight-end or even with two running backs in the backfield. After all, wasn’t the “K-Gun” that the Buffalo Bills ran back in those days the run and shoot with tight-end? Didn’t they also run the choice route?

<a class="postlink" href="http://smartfootball.com/dialogue/thoughts-on-the-spread-offense-hemlocks-comment" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://smartfootball.com/dialogue/thoug ... ks-comment</a>


And here's a discussion in another forum that addresses some of what you're asking.


The K-Gun - named after Jim Kelly - was created because Kelly went to the Bills after the USFL folded - thanks to ego-maniac Donald Trump - and Kelly had put up insane numbers running the R&S w/ the Gamblers in the USFL. He was very insistent that the Bills bring in his WR's from the Gamblers and run that offense. The Bills were reluctant, which is a shame, because one of Kelly's WR's in the USFL was Rickey Sanders who later starred for the Redskins and played for the Falcons in 1994.

But the Bills decided to try and meet Kelly halfway - they went 3-wide w/ a TE. And June Jones has used the TE before, I have some 1994/95 Falcon games on DVD where they employ a TE. Anyway, the K-Gun wasn't a full-on R&S but from what I've read and heard Kelly say in interviews, there were aspects of it in the K-Gun.

Another thing a lot of people don't know is that Bill Walsh - the West Coast Offense guru - implemented the Option Routes of the R&S into his offense. I believe it is in one of the America's Game segments where Dwight Clark, former 49er WR, talks about how having the ability to adjust their routes was so huge for their offense and they won Super Bowl XVI the first year they began doing that.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.thegamingtailgate.com/forums/showthread.php?4849-The-Definitive-Guide-To-The-Run-amp-Shoot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.thegamingtailgate.com/forums ... -amp-Shoot</a>
 

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Not gonna lie I didn't read all that haha, but the Rams have been trying to spread out the 49ers and Seahawks for the past few years now with only slight success because of the lack of talent at wideout. Go back and watch the Seattle games especially. If the front five stays healthy, I see no reason to not spread the shit out of defenses this year.
 

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I watched this O take shape here at Valdosta State over the years under Mumme and Hatcher. Hatcher made it go to perfection because he was so deadly accurate. I used to watch him at practice drop flares at the back corners of the end zone into a 55 gallon drum from the 25 yard line. It so happens I work with a backup QB who ran it at VSU in the mid 90s under Hatcher.
 

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And the West Virginia head coach, Dana Holgorsen, was the QB and WR coach at Valdosta State in the mid 90s.
 

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Honest question here; what happens to Austin Pettis now? Does he become/remain strictly a short-yardage or end zone threat? Does he move into a Ricky Proehl type career? Is he being phased out? Or is there still hope that he can develop into a strong #2?
 

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MontrealRam said:
Honest question here; what happens to Austin Pettis now? Does he become/remain strictly a short-yardage or end zone threat? Does he move into a Ricky Proehl type career? Is he being phased out? Or is there still hope that he can develop into a strong #2?
That's a great question Montreal. Pettis has gotten better every year, but we are starting to get pretty deep at WR. I can see Pettis becoming our current Rams version of Proehl. Pettis is a pretty good redzone and short yardage WR. But when does he play? Seriously, now we have Quick, Givens, Austin, Cook, Bailey, Kendricks...it's starting to look pretty difficult to crack our WR line-up (when was the last time we were able to say that?)
 

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Now that we got some tools for Bradford to use they just need to turn him loose.

All Schotty does is put the personal group he wants to use that series on the field then turn it over to Bradford to go no huddle and call the play at the line based on what he sees.
It's not easy for coaches to give up that control, but they got to have the trust in Bradford.
 

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Yamahopper said:
Now that we got some tools for Bradford to use they just need to turn him loose.

All Schotty does is put the personal group he wants to use that series on the field then turn it over to Bradford to go no huddle and call the play at the line based on what he sees.
It's not easy for coaches to give up that control, but they got to have the trust in Bradford.
Sam is smart enough
 

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The thing about the spread is that it also uses "groupings" for certain situations (down and distance), field position and defensive personnel on the field. I think all the guys we have now (Givens ,Quick, Pettis, Austin, Bailey, Cook, Kendricks) and not to mention the different skill sets but the RB group, make the myriad of groupings they can use almost dizzying.

The newer variations of the spread also use some "jumbo" looks and "heavy" looks. We now have the personnel to throw MAJOR match up problems at a defense at any given time. None of our new toys should be "pigeon holed" to any one spot (Slot, x, z, etc.) The whole thing is to move guys around in the formation differently on nearly every play. The QB has already signaled the play, reads the match up and then calls for change of formation. Keeps defenses from being able to "key" and correctly on every play ... especially if the QB can read and adjust quickly.

And this was what made SB a Heisman winner at OU. It suits him to a "T". Up tempo ,attacking. It's hard for Some defenses to play to their strengths, because they are forced to play more zone. SB gets the ball out quicker and spends less time on the ground.

I'm hoping that they are planning to go this route. It suits Sam's strengths like it does Brady and Rodgers. And you still have the ability to go into traditional offense at any given time. We still have the personnel for that too.

Look at what Harbaugh does at SF ... he uses just about EVERY offensive formation imaginable. It's the new NFL. You have to be creative. All the new additions help us be able to do it now. I love it!
 

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ReddingRam said:
The thing about the spread is that it also uses "groupings" for certain situations (down and distance), field position and defensive personnel on the field. I think all the guys we have now (Givens ,Quick, Pettis, Austin, Bailey, Cook, Kendricks) and not to mention the different skill sets but the RB group, make the myriad of groupings they can use almost dizzying.

The newer variations of the spread also use some "jumbo" looks and "heavy" looks. We now have the personnel to throw MAJOR match up problems at a defense at any given time. None of our new toys should be "pigeon holed" to any one spot (Slot, x, z, etc.) The whole thing is to move guys around in the formation differently on nearly every play. The QB has already signaled the play, reads the match up and then calls for change of formation. Keeps defenses from being able to "key" and correctly on every play ... especially if the QB can read and adjust quickly.

And this was what made SB a Heisman winner at OU. It suits him to a "T". Up tempo ,attacking. It's hard for Some defenses to play to their strengths, because they are forced to play more zone. SB gets the ball out quicker and spends less time on the ground.

I'm hoping that they are planning to go this route. It suits Sam's strengths like it does Brady and Rodgers. And you still have the ability to go into traditional offense at any given time. We still have the personnel for that too.

Look at what Harbaugh does at SF ... he uses just about EVERY offensive formation imaginable. It's the new NFL. You have to be creative. All the new additions help us be able to do it now. I love it!
Excellent post. Just top notch.
 

ReddingRam

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Thanks Dude! I just see endless possibilities with this new group. It just SCREAMS a new era of offensive personalty with this team ... more modern and tailored to SB's strengths. And I was just pointing out how just because we got this guy and that guy, does not mean that any certain guy's job is in trouble. Everyone they have fits a "role" or "use" for this style of system. Groupings also keep your skill guys fresh ,while the Defense tires. Some guys will be gone just by shear #'s but that will sort itself out in camp.
 

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ReddingRam said:
The thing about the spread is that it also uses "groupings" for certain situations (down and distance), field position and defensive personnel on the field. I think all the guys we have now (Givens ,Quick, Pettis, Austin, Bailey, Cook, Kendricks) and not to mention the different skill sets but the RB group, make the myriad of groupings they can use almost dizzying.

The newer variations of the spread also use some "jumbo" looks and "heavy" looks. We now have the personnel to throw MAJOR match up problems at a defense at any given time. None of our new toys should be "pigeon holed" to any one spot (Slot, x, z, etc.) The whole thing is to move guys around in the formation differently on nearly every play. The QB has already signaled the play, reads the match up and then calls for change of formation. Keeps defenses from being able to "key" and correctly on every play ... especially if the QB can read and adjust quickly.

And this was what made SB a Heisman winner at OU. It suits him to a "T". Up tempo ,attacking. It's hard for Some defenses to play to their strengths, because they are forced to play more zone. SB gets the ball out quicker and spends less time on the ground.

I'm hoping that they are planning to go this route. It suits Sam's strengths like it does Brady and Rodgers. And you still have the ability to go into traditional offense at any given time. We stial have the personnel for that too.

Look at what Harbaugh does at SF ... he uses just about EVERY offensive formation imaginable. It's the new NFL. You have to be creative. All the new additions help us be able to do it now. I love it!
I've been listening to Greg Cosell quite a bit and it seems that, if I understand him correctly, is essentially saying the same thing. It's no longer about players being pigeon-holed into specific roles, but more about getting playmakers into space, however possible, so that they can leverage their talents.

I guess my question continues to be.... is Shotty up to this task
 

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Stranger said:
ReddingRam said:
The thing about the spread is that it also uses "groupings" for certain situations (down and distance), field position and defensive personnel on the field. I think all the guys we have now (Givens ,Quick, Pettis, Austin, Bailey, Cook, Kendricks) and not to mention the different skill sets but the RB group, make the myriad of groupings they can use almost dizzying.

The newer variations of the spread also use some "jumbo" looks and "heavy" looks. We now have the personnel to throw MAJOR match up problems at a defense at any given time. None of our new toys should be "pigeon holed" to any one spot (Slot, x, z, etc.) The whole thing is to move guys around in the formation differently on nearly every play. The QB has already signaled the play, reads the match up and then calls for change of formation. Keeps defenses from being able to "key" and correctly on every play ... especially if the QB can read and adjust quickly.

And this was what made SB a Heisman winner at OU. It suits him to a "T". Up tempo ,attacking. It's hard for Some defenses to play to their strengths, because they are forced to play more zone. SB gets the ball out quicker and spends less time on the ground.

I'm hoping that they are planning to go this route. It suits Sam's strengths like it does Brady and Rodgers. And you still have the ability to go into traditional offense at any given time. We stial have the personnel for that too.

Look at what Harbaugh does at SF ... he uses just about EVERY offensive formation imaginable. It's the new NFL. You have to be creative. All the new additions help us be able to do it now. I love it!
I've been listening to Greg Cosell quite a bit and it seems that, if I understand him correctly, is essentially saying the same thing. It's no longer about players being pigeon-holed into specific roles, but more about getting playmakers into space, however possible, so that they can leverage their talents.

I guess my question continues to be.... is Shotty up to this task

It is not uncommon now to see HC's and OC's "visiting" other places to learn how to adapt different concepts. It is happening at every level ... HS, NCAA, NFL. If you remember the story, Harbaugh sent hi OC to Nevada to learn the pistol from ...or at least elements of it. It would not surprise me at all if Schotty hasn't already been looking into the Spread more already. It's not like "re-learning" football.... more about understanding the principles.