Thoughts about today's game

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Zouk

I'm curious why you think this is true. I thought the story was that the spread can't be used as a base offense in the NFL because the rushers will overwhelm the protection and the DBs can sit on the short stuff behind pressure and force picks off hot throws.

In the spread, the QB is supposed to take the snap, take a 3 steps straight back and unload. The QB is deeper on a 3-step shotgun drop than a 7-step under center drop. The defender has to get 8 yards up field in a very short time period to get to the QB. This necessitates taking a relatively short path. A short path necessitates a more predictable path, thus leaving the OL less territory to protect.

In contrast with the QB under center, the distance between the QB and DE is shorter, which opens up additional pathways. Plus it is more likely that the interior push will provide pressure when the QB is under center, getting the QB to make a move that the DE can see, but the OL can't. In the spread, the OL knows where his QB is. Makes pass blocking a lot easier.

Finally if the DE breaks free from the OL there is more space for the QB to scramble. Fewer sacks happen, and the fans assume the pass blocking must be better.

I am not a proponent of too many short throws, but that is another subject.