Chiefs sticking with spread offense?

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Let's get this straight - no team in the NFL runs the "spread" as it's base offense.

The spread has nothing at all to do with the shotgun, and only indirectly does it have anything to do with the WR's.

The spread is defined by the number of blockers on the line and the SPACING between them. That's where the term "spread" came from.

4 WR's in a shotgun formation does not always equal the "spread" offense. A true spread offense is used to mask defeciencies in the OL, not only by moving LB's out of the box into coverage but also by forcing the DL to spread out, creating zone reads for the running game.

In the NFL, it's not an every-down system. The LB's are too fast and can cover too much ground, taking away the zone runs, and the difference between #1 CB and #3 CB isn't as great as it is in college.

No, but the Cards, Chiefs and Pats ran it as their primary passing offense.

Now, the spread offense doesn't 'require' the shotgun... however, every team that uses the spread uses the shotgun BECAUSE of the wider spacing between the blockers. The spacing gives defenders easier lanes to get to the QB.

Simply adding blockers to the backfield mask deficiencies in the line. Going max protect, or rolling the QB out of the pocket mask those deficiencies. The spread is designed to get spread the field to give the QB the best view of the field AND to allow him to read the defense more quickly without using motion.

Finally, you are correct about the run game being ineffective in the NFL because of the quicker defenders.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

No, but the Cards, Chiefs and Pats ran it as their primary passing offense.

I only watched the Cards in the playoffs because I don't watch FOX football, but they didn't run it as their base passing offense during the playoffs. They were running 3 and 4 WR out, but the offensive linemen weren't in the "spread".