[NU Sports] The Spread Offense

[Roy Lamberton]

The who point of the spread was to open up running lanes in the middle of
the field while you picked the d-backs apart with short bullet passes. Every
so often you'd throw long to open up the short routes.

 

In the spread the QB becomes the 2nd tailback, with the feature back acting
as the fullback. You can put in a 2 back set with a flanker, TE and Slot
back on one side, and that can give you a power running play.

 

In the spread the RB usually has blocking assignments for pass plays, but if
the O-Line has the rush contained, he can go out as the safety valve recvr,
something Sutton is very good at playing. 

 

The key to running is the possibility that the QB can and will take off and
run. That holds the LBs with run responsibility inside and forces them to
watch for both backs. As with the option offenses, the QB has reads that
determine whether he gives or goes. 

 

The QB is almost the kind of guy who can run a triple option. They have to
be able to run the ball, pitch accurately, read the Tackle and DE and know
when to give the ball away or go himself. Watch Navy play some time - they
run the spread option to perfection when they're on. They'll be in the
Pointsettia bowl this year again.

 

If you run all the up front stuff right, you get a situation where the
Corner or Safety is making a lot of tackles and that usually means a gain of
5 yards.

 

Bacher was recruited originally because he ran a HS version of the spread,
AND could throw the ball down field. Dunbar and Walker both went to his
house to get him to change his mind to come to NU. The story was that Dunbar
gave him a copy of our playbook and he loved the idea of running the spread.
Bacher can also air it out, altho he may put a little too much air under the
long throws.

 

Kafka was recruited as one of the 3 QBs the next year after Bacher. He was
primarily recruited as an athlete who could run but had limited chops as a
passer. Peterman was a better passer, but he read the handwriting on the
wall and changed to WR right away. Chris Pool always said he would become a
safety and they tried him at CB too, but he's just too dangerous as the WR.

 

Brewer was another speedster recruited for his running ability.

 

After the 3 QB class, I asked RW about why they took 3 QBs and he
essentially said that they look for smart athletes and on most HS teams the
QB is the best and smartest athlete. For the record we have 10 guys playing
right now who QB'd in HS. I thing many other teams have the same kind of
setup.

 

If they let Kafka throw down field, he's definitely a major threat to both
score, and cut Bacher's starting a little short. I can see them both
playing, Bacher starting and if he's getting pressured, Kafka comes in to
pull everybody inside. In either case, you rotate a "spy" LB or DB on both
backs and try to hit them at the line every play. That's what Indy and Minny
tried to do, but whoever had Kafka missed the assignment too many times.

 

Both CJ and Mike seem to be close - CJ talked to Kafka almost every time he
came off the field. He was watching almost all the time and looked a bit
worried at times when Kafka was having trouble. The bottom line is both
these guys want to win out and they're willing to do whatever it takes -
even if it means standing on the sidelines.

 

Go Cats.

Befuddle dOSU

 

rsl

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.

Computer Applications & Support Associates

--------------- Also ---------------------------

Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]

Commissioner Delaware American Legion Baseball

Northwestern University - Sp 1974

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