Chiefs The Spread Offense Won't Work in the NFL

Pitt Gorilla · 09-22-2008, 07:45 PM

Except that it did yesterday.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fo...ry/695909.html

BY JUSTIN A. RICE

The New England Patriots went back to school Sunday afternoon.The franchise that prides itself on preparation, in-game adjustments and overall football scholarship got schooled by the type of option offense NFL players normally only see their collegian counterparts run.
The result: A 38-13 trashing at Gillette Stadium that ended New England's NFL-record, 21-game regular-season win streak.

''That's something you usually see in college,'' defensive lineman Ty Warren said of the Dolphins' spread offense that featured running back Ronnie Brown taking direct snaps while quarterback Chad Pennington lined up as a wide receiver.

FANTASY GAME

Brown ripped the Patriots for 113 yards rushing on 17 attempts, including two short touchdowns off direct snaps in the first half and throwing another direct snap to Anthony Fasano for a third-quarter touchdown.

For an encore, Brown ripped a 62-yard TD run off a direct snap in the final quarter to break the franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a game.

Overall, Brown took six direct shotgun snaps, even handing off two to fellow running back Ricky Williams, who was often running in motion.

''We had trouble with a lot of things. That was one of them,'' Pats coach Bill Belichick said of defending the spread offense. ``We had trouble a lot.''

The head master refused to detail how Brown and the Dolphins befuddled New England's defense, which heading into Sunday ranked ninth in the NFL, allowing 270 yards per game. But safety Rodney Harrison shed a little more light.

''Unfortunately, we had no idea they were going to come out and run those kind of plays,'' said Harrison, who had a combined 12 tackles.

EARLY TROUBLE

The Patriots' first glimpse of the option came with 2:32 left in the first quarter. Brown took the snap and faked to Williams. Circling back right to left, he ran 2 yards for the game's first score. Miami used a similar play near the end of the half, this time resulting in a 5-yard Brown touchdown and 21-6 advantage.

But what the Pats saw next proved to defensive end Richard Seymour that this wasn't a fluke, rather a calculated trend. Taking his first direct snap of the second half, Brown, a lefty, rolled left and threw a 19-yard TD to Fasano halfway through the third.

''I thought that was a game-plan scheme, where they game-schemed us, as far as what they were trying to do,'' Seymour said of Brown's TD pass, which put Miami up 28-6.

``They ran some passes off of it, some different runs, some outside runs, some inside runs. They moved their offensive linemen around and did some things we weren't prepared for. We made some adjustments, and we didn't get the job done. They were always a step ahead of what we were trying to do. Even in our base defense, we didn't wrap up and tackle. It was just a bad day all around.

``We'll probably get the corrections from this film and then bury the film -- bury the tape out on the field somewhere.''

WELKER IMPRESSED

Even former Dolphin Wes Welker, who had 55 yards receiving on six catches Sunday for New England and has been the beneficiary of diverse offensive schemes, marveled at Brown's performance.

''He's got a lot of talent, and he definitely showed how versatile he is and why he was the No. 2 overall [draft] pick,'' Welker said. ``I don't think you ever see a loss like this coming. It's one of those deals where they wanted it more, and they played a lot better than we did.''

Mecca · 09-22-2008, 07:46 PM

It worked for a few plays with Brown running with the ball, as a complete offense it wouldn't work.

As a trick play it works.

Pitt Gorilla · 09-22-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

It worked for a few plays with Brown running with the ball, as a complete offense it wouldn't work.

As a trick play it works.

I think it has/will. Elements of the spread are used in the NFL quite a bit. You don't have to employ the read option to run the spread.

Mecca · 09-22-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I think it has/will. Elements of the spread are used in the NFL quite a bit. You don't have to employ the read option to run the spread.

The only part of the spread that consistently works is the run and shoot elements which have worked in the NFL before, what NE was doing with Brady was a form of a modernized run and shoot.

You just can't do it constantly, there are portions of it that will work but you can't build your whole playbook around it.

Deberg_1990 · 09-22-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

The only part of the spread that consistently works is the run and shoot elements which have worked in the NFL before, what NE was doing with Brady was a form of a modernized run and shoot.

You just can't do it constantly, there are portions of it that will work but you can't build your whole playbook around it.

The Run and Shoot worked for a few years back in the early 90's with Warren Moon, Jeff George etc...

But then teams started blitzing the crap out of the QB because there was no TE or fullback to help block.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-22-2008, 07:59 PM

There is too much speed in the NFL for the spread option to work. You can run a strong nickel and put everyone in a short zone and you'll take away the QBs throwing lanes.

Ebolapox · 09-22-2008, 08:21 PM

heh, don't post this. please. it'll give all of us mizzou fans reason to crow for drafting chase daniel (we're delusional) and installing the spread option.

j/k. I agree, as a wrinkle it works on occaison. as an every down offense, nada.

09-22-2008, 07:45 PM
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $-179806	The Spread Offense Won't Work in the NFL Except that it did yesterday. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fo...ry/695909.html BY JUSTIN A. RICE The New England Patriots went back to school Sunday afternoon.The franchise that prides itself on preparation, in-game adjustments and overall football scholarship got schooled by the type of option offense NFL players normally only see their collegian counterparts run. The result: A 38-13 trashing at Gillette Stadium that ended New England's NFL-record, 21-game regular-season win streak. ''That's something you usually see in college,'' defensive lineman Ty Warren said of the Dolphins' spread offense that featured running back Ronnie Brown taking direct snaps while quarterback Chad Pennington lined up as a wide receiver. FANTASY GAME Brown ripped the Patriots for 113 yards rushing on 17 attempts, including two short touchdowns off direct snaps in the first half and throwing another direct snap to Anthony Fasano for a third-quarter touchdown. For an encore, Brown ripped a 62-yard TD run off a direct snap in the final quarter to break the franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a game. Overall, Brown took six direct shotgun snaps, even handing off two to fellow running back Ricky Williams, who was often running in motion. ''We had trouble with a lot of things. That was one of them,'' Pats coach Bill Belichick said of defending the spread offense. ``We had trouble a lot.'' The head master refused to detail how Brown and the Dolphins befuddled New England's defense, which heading into Sunday ranked ninth in the NFL, allowing 270 yards per game. But safety Rodney Harrison shed a little more light. ''Unfortunately, we had no idea they were going to come out and run those kind of plays,'' said Harrison, who had a combined 12 tackles. EARLY TROUBLE The Patriots' first glimpse of the option came with 2:32 left in the first quarter. Brown took the snap and faked to Williams. Circling back right to left, he ran 2 yards for the game's first score. Miami used a similar play near the end of the half, this time resulting in a 5-yard Brown touchdown and 21-6 advantage. But what the Pats saw next proved to defensive end Richard Seymour that this wasn't a fluke, rather a calculated trend. Taking his first direct snap of the second half, Brown, a lefty, rolled left and threw a 19-yard TD to Fasano halfway through the third. ''I thought that was a game-plan scheme, where they game-schemed us, as far as what they were trying to do,'' Seymour said of Brown's TD pass, which put Miami up 28-6. ``They ran some passes off of it, some different runs, some outside runs, some inside runs. They moved their offensive linemen around and did some things we weren't prepared for. We made some adjustments, and we didn't get the job done. They were always a step ahead of what we were trying to do. Even in our base defense, we didn't wrap up and tackle. It was just a bad day all around. ``We'll probably get the corrections from this film and then bury the film -- bury the tape out on the field somewhere.'' WELKER IMPRESSED Even former Dolphin Wes Welker, who had 55 yards receiving on six catches Sunday for New England and has been the beneficiary of diverse offensive schemes, marveled at Brown's performance. ''He's got a lot of talent, and he definitely showed how versatile he is and why he was the No. 2 overall [draft] pick,'' Welker said. ``I don't think you ever see a loss like this coming. It's one of those deals where they wanted it more, and they played a lot better than we did.''
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09-22-2008, 07:46 PM	#2
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-782950	It worked for a few plays with Brown running with the ball, as a complete offense it wouldn't work. As a trick play it works.
Posts: 115,406

09-22-2008, 07:59 PM	#6
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7129572	There is too much speed in the NFL for the spread option to work. You can run a strong nickel and put everyone in a short zone and you'll take away the QBs throwing lanes. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
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09-22-2008, 08:21 PM	#7
Ebolapox remember, remember Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: como Casino cash: $-1860097	heh, don't post this. please. it'll give all of us mizzou fans reason to crow for drafting chase daniel (we're delusional) and installing the spread option. j/k. I agree, as a wrinkle it works on occaison. as an every down offense, nada.
Posts: 26,523