The Spread-Option Offense In The NFL
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:44 pm
Long time lurker, first time poster.
Alright, this seems to be a major point of contention among SEC and Big 12 fans in particular, so let's try and put it to rest. I'm getting tired of hearing sports bloggers claim our system wouldn't work in the NFL, therefore our players aren't suited for the NFL (Ward, Ngata, or Rosario anyone? How many guys do you know who can actually catch Tebow's passes?), therefore our program is irrelevant.
The idea is that a speed option spread offense would be unsuccsessful in the NFL, and the reasons tend to vary. Some claim the defenses at the pro level are too good. I can see an argument here, as solid hat-on-hat cover zero type defensive schemes have proved an effective way of knocking the Oregon offense out of synch. If everyone on the defense executes their assingment correctly in a cover zero, you have the Cal game last year, and apart from one hell of a drive to end the game, there wasn't much offense that night from the duckies. LSU and USC this year showed that same thing; a big, fast, and disciplined defense can absolutely shut the spread option down. The next argument i've heard, and this one makes much more sense to me, is the 53 man roster in the NFL. You need a lot of those bodies to be fresh for defense and special teams plays, so it isn't feasable to have nearly as many guys in the rotation on the offensive side of the ball. The spread requires rotating not only skill positions often, but O-linemen too. It's hard enough to put together an offensive line in the pros that can stand up to the onslaught of an elite defense, never mind one that goes 8 bodies deep in the first string what with all the guards pulling and having to hustle up and down the field.
Glad to finally give my two cents on the best Duck forum out there.
Alright, this seems to be a major point of contention among SEC and Big 12 fans in particular, so let's try and put it to rest. I'm getting tired of hearing sports bloggers claim our system wouldn't work in the NFL, therefore our players aren't suited for the NFL (Ward, Ngata, or Rosario anyone? How many guys do you know who can actually catch Tebow's passes?), therefore our program is irrelevant.
The idea is that a speed option spread offense would be unsuccsessful in the NFL, and the reasons tend to vary. Some claim the defenses at the pro level are too good. I can see an argument here, as solid hat-on-hat cover zero type defensive schemes have proved an effective way of knocking the Oregon offense out of synch. If everyone on the defense executes their assingment correctly in a cover zero, you have the Cal game last year, and apart from one hell of a drive to end the game, there wasn't much offense that night from the duckies. LSU and USC this year showed that same thing; a big, fast, and disciplined defense can absolutely shut the spread option down. The next argument i've heard, and this one makes much more sense to me, is the 53 man roster in the NFL. You need a lot of those bodies to be fresh for defense and special teams plays, so it isn't feasable to have nearly as many guys in the rotation on the offensive side of the ball. The spread requires rotating not only skill positions often, but O-linemen too. It's hard enough to put together an offensive line in the pros that can stand up to the onslaught of an elite defense, never mind one that goes 8 bodies deep in the first string what with all the guards pulling and having to hustle up and down the field.
Glad to finally give my two cents on the best Duck forum out there.

