Is the "spread offense" the next big thing the in the nfl?

[bronco0608]

As far back as I can remember, there have always been fad offenses that gain popularity in the NFL and then leave.

I remember the Run n' Shoot offense that four of five teams adopted.

Ok, that's all I remember, but that's besides the point.

Is the spread offense the next Run n' shoot?

The spread has been big for a while on the college level. Texas Tech is killing with it right now.

Last season, the Patroits use the spread to score an historic amount of points and now Denver is averaging 40 pts a game with it.

Is the offense a fad or something that will last stand the test of time like the West Coast Offense?

[lex]

As far back as I can remember, there have always been fad offenses that gain popularity in the NFL and then leave.

I remember the Run n' Shoot offense that four of five teams adopted.

Ok, that's all I remember, but that's besides the point.

Is the spread offense the next Run n' shoot?

The spread has been big for a while on the college level. Texas Tech is killing with it right now.

Last season, the Patroits use the spread to score an historic amount of points and now Denver is averaging 40 pts a game with it.

Is the offense a fad or something that will last stand the test of time like the West Coast Offense?


What makes you think the spread is so different than the run & shoot?

[BroncoMan4ever]

Denver isn't really doing exactly what NE did last season. Last season NE was straight up a spread offense and went downfield a lot. Denver still has Cutler get right up behind the center and still is running the ball a bunch with short passes that are common in the West Coast offense. Denver is still using the West Coast offense with an incorparated spread offense touch to it, that gets the teams best playmakers on the field.

But i don't think it will be around for that long. there are not enough teams with the required talent to pull it off successfully, similar with the Zone Blocking Scheme; teams can try to do it, but you need the right pieces for it, and most teams don't have that.

[gyldenlove]

Saying Denver runs spread is just wrong. We run 2 TE or 2 backs on more than 50% of all offensive plays, that is not exactly spreading the field. In the the spread you have at least 3 and often 4 people line up wide on almost every play.

New England used the K-gun if they used anything last year, they relied heavily on using no-huddle shutgun to keep the defenses in mismatches and using Tom Bradys natural skill in calling plays right then and there.

The team that currently runs the most spread like offense is Indy, they routinely run 3 WRs and often split a TE out wide as well.

I don't think the spread will really be a bit hit in the NFL unless a team with an abundance of riches at WR picks it up. Too often your 3rd and 4th WRs are just not good enough to be on the field for more than 50% of the snaps. Plus when you spread you can't run max protection schemes so it allows the D to play the pass rush extremely aggressively, press coverage is also much harder to beat in the NFL than in college ball, the cornerbacks are stronger and bigger.

We play an extremely bastard kind of WCO, our running game is not traditional and we use too many double moves. I would actually like us to try on the K-gun offense at some point, Cutler is clearly strong from the gun and he has a great connection with his recievers to just make up plays as they go along to avoid going in the huddle. Selvin Young is clearly a better runner in space and could benefit from running against a pass first defense in the gun where he can see the holes and has an easier time cutting back.

[Paladin]

Nice analysis.

Frankly, I really don't care what you call the Denver O at this point. It is scoring the football a great deal. Also, a lot of points.

Some time in the future, a DC of some team will "solve" Cutler's schtick. But I would expect that the shear number of options available in the O would allow the Broncos to game plan against their own tendencies which could belay the exploitation of Cutler's "tendencies". I contend that with Goodman calling plays, teams canot use last years' data to plan for the Broncos' "tendencies" they may have seen last year.

Bottom line is: it's all good and we are having a good time.....

[lex]

A three WR set with is actually a spread formation in theory. But the run & shoot used a lot of WR overloads and very rarely utilized a fullback. I dont see a huge difference between that and what was described as the spread in the initial post. More SG possibly? I think a lot of the distinction rests in the degree of dedication an offense has to a philosophy. But the run & shoot pretty much was always looking for a WR mismatch by overloading. Houston also often had a 1000 yard rusher (Gary Brown, Lo White,...) running out of formations with no fullback. Again, I think its a matter of degree. It seems like New England would more occasionally use a fullback. But the general idea of spreading a field and creating mismatches that way has been around for a long time and in fact that was a lot of what the run & shoot was about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_&_Shoot

A typical set includes (along with the four receivers) one halfback/running back and the five offensive linemen (one center, the left- and right-guards, and the left- and right-tackles). The types of running backs vary from smaller, pass-catching-type backs to big, bruising, power-type backs. The frequent passing formations spread out the defense's players, causing them to expect that the subsequent plays will also be passes. If the repeated pass plays work, the defense is spread thinly across the field; running the ball between the offensive tackles, or just off-tackle, is now possible, and preferred.

[loborugger]

As far back as I can remember, there have always been fad offenses that gain popularity in the NFL and then leave.

I remember the Run n' Shoot offense that four of five teams adopted.

Ok, that's all I remember, but that's besides the point.

Is the spread offense the next Run n' shoot?

The spread has been big for a while on the college level. Texas Tech is killing with it right now.

Last season, the Patroits use the spread to score an historic amount of points and now Denver is averaging 40 pts a game with it.

Is the offense a fad or something that will last stand the test of time like the West Coast Offense?

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/tvstn/graphics/buddy-ryan-feb-mug.jpg

Its the chuck and duck! Remember, its the chuck and duck. Offensive failings are never my fault!

[scorpio]

Saying Denver runs spread is just wrong. We run 2 TE or 2 backs on more than 50% of all offensive plays, that is not exactly spreading the field. In the the spread you have at least 3 and often 4 people line up wide on almost every play.

New England used the K-gun if they used anything last year, they relied heavily on using no-huddle shutgun to keep the defenses in mismatches and using Tom Bradys natural skill in calling plays right then and there.

The team that currently runs the most spread like offense is Indy, they routinely run 3 WRs and often split a TE out wide as well.

I don't think the spread will really be a bit hit in the NFL unless a team with an abundance of riches at WR picks it up. Too often your 3rd and 4th WRs are just not good enough to be on the field for more than 50% of the snaps. Plus when you spread you can't run max protection schemes so it allows the D to play the pass rush extremely aggressively, press coverage is also much harder to beat in the NFL than in college ball, the cornerbacks are stronger and bigger.

We play an extremely bastard kind of WCO, our running game is not traditional and we use too many double moves. I would actually like us to try on the K-gun offense at some point, Cutler is clearly strong from the gun and he has a great connection with his recievers to just make up plays as they go along to avoid going in the huddle. Selvin Young is clearly a better runner in space and could benefit from running against a pass first defense in the gun where he can see the holes and has an easier time cutting back.

Holy crap, I love you.

[Odysseus]

Saying Denver runs spread is just wrong. We run 2 TE or 2 backs on more than 50% of all offensive plays, that is not exactly spreading the field. In the the spread you have at least 3 and often 4 people line up wide on almost every play.

New England used the K-gun if they used anything last year, they relied heavily on using no-huddle shutgun to keep the defenses in mismatches and using Tom Bradys natural skill in calling plays right then and there.

The team that currently runs the most spread like offense is Indy, they routinely run 3 WRs and often split a TE out wide as well.

I don't think the spread will really be a bit hit in the NFL unless a team with an abundance of riches at WR picks it up. Too often your 3rd and 4th WRs are just not good enough to be on the field for more than 50% of the snaps. Plus when you spread you can't run max protection schemes so it allows the D to play the pass rush extremely aggressively, press coverage is also much harder to beat in the NFL than in college ball, the cornerbacks are stronger and bigger.

We play an extremely bastard kind of WCO, our running game is not traditional and we use too many double moves. I would actually like us to try on the K-gun offense at some point, Cutler is clearly strong from the gun and he has a great connection with his recievers to just make up plays as they go along to avoid going in the huddle. Selvin Young is clearly a better runner in space and could benefit from running against a pass first defense in the gun where he can see the holes and has an easier time cutting back.

Nice! I am not able to actually see the games the way I would like so this was very helpful. I was curious if the Broncos run more 2 TE sets.

[DeusExManning]

Saying Denver runs spread is just wrong. We run 2 TE or 2 backs on more than 50% of all offensive plays, that is not exactly spreading the field. In the the spread you have at least 3 and often 4 people line up wide on almost every play.

New England used the K-gun if they used anything last year, they relied heavily on using no-huddle shutgun to keep the defenses in mismatches and using Tom Bradys natural skill in calling plays right then and there.

The team that currently runs the most spread like offense is Indy, they routinely run 3 WRs and often split a TE out wide as well.

I don't think the spread will really be a bit hit in the NFL unless a team with an abundance of riches at WR picks it up. Too often your 3rd and 4th WRs are just not good enough to be on the field for more than 50% of the snaps. Plus when you spread you can't run max protection schemes so it allows the D to play the pass rush extremely aggressively, press coverage is also much harder to beat in the NFL than in college ball, the cornerbacks are stronger and bigger.

We play an extremely bastard kind of WCO, our running game is not traditional and we use too many double moves. I would actually like us to try on the K-gun offense at some point, Cutler is clearly strong from the gun and he has a great connection with his recievers to just make up plays as they go along to avoid going in the huddle. Selvin Young is clearly a better runner in space and could benefit from running against a pass first defense in the gun where he can see the holes and has an easier time cutting back.

Well said, it is annoying when a team passes a lot and you see people saying they are running the spread. Denver has a complex offense with tons of looks. It is definitely not the spread. I love it.

[cutthemdown]

It will work but you need a really good oline and role players like RB/FB/TE that can block from different formations.

I just worry it's not a good ball control offense and your defense will get worn out.

[Kaylore]

People need to understand that just because someone is in the shotgun, that doesn't mean they are running the spread offense.

[BigPlayShay]

Sure, until November when the weather is a factor...

[Fedaykin]

I'm just waiting for the 5 receiver sets that end up run plays...

[Premier-Ace55]

Sure, until November when the weather is a factor...

I think that the broncos offense will be versatile enough to adjust and run the ball when needed. Right now the Broncos are scoring based on the looks that they are getting from the defense. We'll will score points all year any way that is needed it is just the defense we need help with and our horrible special teams it seams like we have been dealing with kickoff coverage for like 4 years.

[Spider]

What makes you think the spread is so different than the run & shoot?

world of difference , in the spread you can still use a Tight end . even a 2 tight end formation

[Spider]

Saying Denver runs spread is just wrong. We run 2 TE or 2 backs on more than 50% of all offensive plays, that is not exactly spreading the field. In the the spread you have at least 3 and often 4 people line up wide on almost every play. not necessarily..... yocan run a spread with a 2 T.E. formation right now what Denver runs is a bastard child of a WCO and a 2 T.E. colt offense



We play an extremely bastard kind of WCO, our running game is not traditional and we use too many double moves. I would actually like us to try on the K-gun offense at some point, Cutler is clearly strong from the gun and he has a great connection with his recievers to just make up plays as they go along to avoid going in the huddle. Selvin Young is clearly a better runner in space and could benefit from running against a pass first defense in the gun where he can see the holes and has an easier time cutting back.

I think we need to stay away from the K gun , maybe when we had TD and Sharpe we could do the K gun ...... with the personal we have now , maybe a WCO / Max q ;D . i keed I keeed

[elsid13]

The spread like similar formations in the NFL is designed to make the defense defend the horizon and vertical part of the field. It work in college and high school because you rarely have the players at the 3rd/4th/5th and 6th CB spot able effectively defend it. Plus the oline can usually hold off the defense line long enough for QB to make a play. The Spread also helps the QB understand what the defense is committed to on that play - man, zone,

In the NFL were there is talent at all spots in the defense backfield to make it extremely hard to run.

I am sure that you will see some aspects of the spread work it way in to the NFL game, but like the option it will never be a base of NFL offense. See the Spurrier offense in Washington as an example why it doesn't work.

[Spider]

The spread like similar formations in the NFL is designed to make the defense defend the horizon and vertical part of the field. It work in college and high school because you rarely have the players at the 3rd/4th/5th and 6th CB spot able effectively defend it. Plus the oline can usually hold off the defense line long enough for QB to make a play. The Spread also helps the QB understand what the defense is committed to on that play - man, zone,

In the NFL were there is talent at all spots in the defense backfield to make it extremely hard to run.

I am sure that you will see some aspects of the spread work it way in to the NFL game, but like the option it will never be a base of NFL offense. See the Spurrier offense in Washington as an example why it doesn't work. Sid Gilman = make em defend every inch of the field ......
this is why i love the Tight end position in the NFL ...... you must control the hashmarks with a TE , or you got nothing , Spurrier offense had alot of problems , one of them being T.E. position .....

[watermock]

We have come out with The Shanahan Shake!

[footstepsfrom#27]

Bump.

You can argue whether the spread would be effective in the NFL or not, but both New England and the Colts play something pretty close to that if it's not the actual spread. Some things to consider:

1) We have a tight end capable of lining up as a WR.
2) We have a RB/FB hybrid back capable of catching a lot of passes or even lining up as a wingback or 3rd TE.
3) We have the best young pass blocking line in the NFL.
4) We have a QB who is mobile
5) We are 3, possibly 4 deep at WR if Chad Jackson develops.

If the Colts and NE can successfully work that kind of offense, why not Denver?

[2KBack]

Bump.

You can argue whether the spread would be effective in the NFL or not, but both New England and the Colts play something pretty close to that if it's not the actual spread. Some things to consider:

1) We have a tight end capable of lining up as a WR.
2) We have a RB/FB hybrid back capable of catching a lot of passes or even lining up as a wingback or 3rd TE.
3) We have the best young pass blocking line in the NFL.
4) We have a QB who is mobile
5) We are 3, possibly 4 deep at WR if Chad Jackson develops.

If the Colts and NE can successfully work that kind of offense, why not Denver?

It seems to fall apart the minute you come up against a decent enough pass rush. Versatility is the key, not one magic system.

[ColoradoDarin]

I'd still like to go with "running game and a good defense..." but maybe that's just me.

[Beantown Bronco]

Last season, the Patroits use the spread to score an historic amount of points and now Denver is averaging 40 pts a game with it.

Uhhhhh, more like half that (23 pts per game).

[Rohirrim]

The spread is the run and shoot.

[Peoples Champ]

As far back as I can remember, there have always been fad offenses that gain popularity in the NFL and then leave.

I remember the Run n' Shoot offense that four of five teams adopted.

Ok, that's all I remember, but that's besides the point.

Is the spread offense the next Run n' shoot?

The spread has been big for a while on the college level. Texas Tech is killing with it right now.

Last season, the Patroits use the spread to score an historic amount of points and now Denver is averaging 40 pts a game with it.

Is the offense a fad or something that will last stand the test of time like the West Coast Offense?

I think teams will put it out for a drive or two, but not run their entire offense out of it.

[supermanhr9]

worst decision ever, it doesn't work. You have to have a run game to be dominant in the NFL. I'm nto saying you have to have a premeir run game, but you have to at least have a threat to run the ball otherwise you will be gameplanned around and never win more than 8 games

[DarkHorse]

If it is the latest fad - gimme June Jones as HC :thumbs:

[watermock]

You have to have a great pass protecting line and a QB that moves well to run it, see Big Ben's concussion.

I don't like nintendo but tolerated it this year, 'cause it was all we had.