As I sit in my chair reading Stewart Mandel's gripping description of Rich Rodriguez's struggles as an up and coming coach at a prestigous program, I wonder one thing. Is the spread option offense really that great? Is the option another wishbone? Programs like Michigan, Auburn, and Georgia Tech just hired spread option coaches. Teams like Mizzou (who runs a version of the spread offense), Oregon, and Illinois are basking in their spread option offenses' recent success, so there is something to this new-fangled concept which really isn't all that new to begin with, look up Roger Staubach or Fran Tarkenton. Even Utah and West Virginia are keeping their spread offenses that their respective coaches left them, and they have had relative success since. Even mighty mighty Tebow won a Heisman being a spread-option QB.
I'm sorry; I had to post it. Facebook says that's not his girlfriend, or at least one blog reports that. Any of you UF people might be able to clear that up for us.
Anyways, back to the matter at hand. Is the option really worth it? By 'worth it,' one woud have to look at whether the spread option will help a team win. I added up the win-loss total from WVU and UF from the past three years, and here it is: 64-13. That's an 83% win total for those two programs over that past three years. To be fair, UF was 31-8 and WVU was 33-5; I attribute this to Meyer instituting his O in '05 and UF playing in the SEC which is apparently tougher. So teams can have good winning percentages with the spread option, but those were the only two programs I could think of that had success with the spread option for a sustained period of time really. So not much can be said for the consistency of the spread-option in other programs.
Can a well-run spread option attack be stopped? Well... yes. Just ask USF's defensive coordinator how. Even in NCAA football the game, just put in the 3-3-5 defense or 4-2-5 scheme which is basically a nickel package, and you got yourself a spread option stopping machine.
I had to post this one too b/c of the USF reference. Jenn Sterger is the best looking genius I know... from the internet.
How about overall production of a pure spread-option? (I won't consider a version of the spread offense, just pure spread-option) Here are some interesting rankings of teams with a spread-option offense: 6 Oklahoma state, 9 Oregon, 14 UF, 15 Troy, 25 Illinois, 32 Air Force, 36 WVU, 37 Central Michigan, and 38 USF. Now here are some traditional pro-style offense rankings (I determined this by low rushing stats for a QB): 3 Tulsa, 4 Houston, 5 Louisville, 7 Nebraska (whom I was pleasantly surprised to see here), 11 Boise St., 12 Texas, 14 Kansas, 19 Kentucky, and 22 USC. I averaged the teams' average rankings and the spread-option's rank was 23.56 and pro-style's rank was 10.78. So obviosly a well-run pro-style offense produces more yards.
While the spread-option may be exciting, it probably isn't worth the investment over time (sorry Michigan fans). I attribute the recent success of the spread-option to the pure talent of players like Tim Tebow, Pat White, and Denis Dixon who would've thrived in an athletic setting regardless of their team's offensive scheme.
All in all, at least RichRod doesn't have to change his blue and yellow wardrobe.
Aces High: Best Pitching Seasons
Comments (16)
great blog! how about bringing your skill to the Big Ten Football Group!
Anthony E. | 04/07/08, 06:07 AM
Report Offensive CommentDamn, if that ain't Tebow's girlfriend I have to ask is he nuts? That's a girl you lockdown.
J. HOVA: MISTER UNTOUCHABLE | 04/07/08, 09:29 AM
Report Offensive CommentI just might Anthony, but I think 1Hawkeye1 can blog about the Hawks better than I.
It's a rumor that's his girlfriend, but I wouldn't doubt it if that were his girlfriend.
How 'bout 'em | 04/07/08, 10:21 AM
Report Offensive CommentIf that is his girlfriend, he better lock that one down. Can't let something that fine hit the free market.
DAMN!!
J. HOVA: MISTER UNTOUCHABLE | 04/07/08, 12:20 PM
Report Offensive CommentShe got breasts the size of cassava melons.
With the Coming to America icon, I couldn't resist.
J. HOVA: MISTER UNTOUCHABLE | 04/07/08, 12:20 PM
Report Offensive CommentHeheheheh, good stuff.
How 'bout 'em | 04/07/08, 01:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentThat second girl isn't as pretty as Tebow's girls but the melons are ripe.
J. HOVA: MISTER UNTOUCHABLE | 04/07/08, 04:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhy you keep calling Jenn Sterger a genius? Granted, she's kinda sports savvy, but plenty of hot chicks know their sports. You know that line from Knocked Up (the line in the trailer; didn't see the movie)," She looks.....smart.?"
Dude, I think what Tebow runs is called a "read-option" because the spread option demands you throw the ball more than play-actions-to-the-self.
DSS: Nothing Beats Home (3-4) | 04/07/08, 07:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment"Why you keep calling Jenn Sterger a genius?"
Just look at her. She would have my complete attention with every word she uttered... not to mention both photos are a testament to the marvel, strngth, and resiliance of modern fabrics...
The spread has become the most over used term in college football. There's a big difference between the WVU spread, the Central Michigan spread, and so on.
If you say a coach is great because of his XYZ system, you've already downgraded him. If you want success year in, year out you have to coach to best personnel you can recruit, modifying your play book as needed between seasons, not hope that you can find recruits to fit your system.
Last note - if UofM sticks with a primarily run offense, could he inadvertently boost in state rival Michigan State? Every spartan loss was by a TD or less. In state Pro style QBs and WRs might find them the more attractive option.
Prove It | 04/07/08, 08:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentI'm just not used to people actually reading my profile, so I repeat myself. She started a wonderful trend/group at FSU, so she ranks pretty highly on my list (what list that is, I couldn't say).
It's hard to know exactly what kind of spread teams run. There's really two kinds of spread offenses to me: one's where the QB rushes, e.g. Oregon, WVU, and Florida, and one where the QB mainly passes, e.g. Mizzou and Louisville.
Personnel is a big part of it Prove It, and I agree 100% with your stance. That's a good point about Michigan recruiting. MSU has been at the good but not great level so far, so this may help them get over that hump.
How 'bout 'em | 04/07/08, 11:30 PM
Report Offensive CommentJust install a 3-3-5 or a 4-2-5 defense and you have a run-stopping machine??? Are you crazy? I don't think it's quite that simple.
Also, installing a 3-3-5 or a 4-2-5 defense is somewhat tricky if you haven't practised it a lot already. It's not like the coaches can simply declare, "OK guys, this week it's 3-3-5. Now get to work!"
The best advantage an offense can have, I think, is to be an "odd-duck" offense. An offense which does something different from everyone else. NU had a power-I option and it was unstoppable. That was mainly because no one else was running it at the time, and NU was really good at it.
If you look at other successful offenses, I think you'll see something that the defense doesn't see very often, or just really talented athletes (like USC) who simply outplay the defense.
asdfgaeb | 04/10/08, 05:40 PM
Report Offensive CommentTebow's Heisman trophy is reaching for his GF's chest!
asdfgaeb | 04/10/08, 05:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentYeah, it's not that easy in real life just like stopping the option is not that easy, but it can be done. Once a coach has figured out how to stop the option, then it's all over for any option teams they face.
Very good point w/ the "odd-duck" offense. I was thinking along the same lines b/c I saw UGA do a couple read-option plays in the spring scrimmage and it'll work just so long as the defense doesn't know it's coming.
Talented athletes are the main reason the option has had success, and that is my last point basically. The spread-option just isn't worth the investment that teams like Michigan, Auburn, and Georgia Tech are putting into it.
How 'bout 'em | 04/11/08, 10:12 AM
Report Offensive Commentyeah when it all said and down, the west coast offense is the best ask pete caroll to teach rich a thing or 2, because itll take michigan a few years too learn it ala nebraska leaving the option for the west coast offense
trojan904 | 04/19/08, 12:01 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe west coast offense is basically just a backwards normal style offense, i.e. establish the pass first so you can run in the West Coast offense. I find that kind of offense the hardest to stop on video games b/c the QB cn pick any coverage apart if he knows what he is doing. As long as you have the right personnel, then you have a good offense.
How 'bout 'em | 05/05/08, 09:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentWatch Chip Kelly's brand of offence at Oregon. Jonathan Stewart's attack from the Duck backfield last year couldn't have offended your senses to much could it? LaGarrette Blount and a healthy Jeremiah Johnson this year will continue to provide Oregon with a strong run attack. With the call to Eugene growing ever louder in high schools and Jr.colleges nationwide(see Darron Thomas and JC QB Jeremiah Masoli), the ponds and mill races around Autzen will be full of healthy Drake's for years to come.
Mr Hayward Autzen McArthur | 05/12/08, 03:42 PM
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