An Average Joe's Playbook: The Spread Option

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The college football season has begun, so why not tear out a page of the college playbook. This installment is on the Spread Option, a variant of the Spread Offense. A good amount of teams run it nation wide, with a few programs having it as their primary offensive scheme.

The Spread Option is one of those offenses that can be shutdown for a long time, and then begin to fire on all cylinders and be unstoppable. But what it all comes down to is getting the ball to playmakers on an offensive squad without a heavy amount of passing the ball. Running takes the initiative, but it is all done out of shotgun formations, stretching the defense from sideline to sideline.

There is no clear creator of the spread option. Dan Mullen and Urban Meyer have had the most success with it at Florida, first dabbing it in during and leading up to the Chris Leak national championship year, and even more in the Tim Tebow era the last few years. Rich Rodriquez popularized the system even more with Pat White and Steve Slaton at West Virginia. Many schools in the FBS division have found extended success, such as Kansas State, Wake Forest, Penn State, Texas, and Utah.

The system is even more popular at the high school level and lower level competition colleges. Appalachian State, who could be the best school at running the spread option outside of the BCS subdivision, shocked the world three years ago when they upset the then top ten Michigan... using the spread option. They set up the pass using a heavy does of the spread option early in the game. Armanti Edwards, the Mountaineers mobile and versatile quarterback, ran the ball with effectiveness, and began to string drives together. Late in the game they were able to gain the lead with the pass, and pull off a special teams play in the final seconds, blocking a last ditch field goal and returning it for a touchdown.

This upset made the college football world take the spread option more seriously, as it showed an out-manned team both numerically and talent wise can play with a team superior in both categories. Every system has a wow moment... it's safe to say that was the spread option's.

In the spread option system, everything begins with the quarterback. The quarterback must have good understanding of the running game, and must be a quick decision maker. Since the QB will very often be hit, sometimes when he doesn't even have the ball, grit and toughness is a major factor in deciding on a starter. Speed and elusiveness, or power, is needed. Both is just a bonus for the offensive play-caller, such as Dan Mullen had with Tim Tebow during their 2008 national championship run. Passing ability is needed as well. The system needs to pass as well, usually at least 20 times a game. Since a lot of the passing is off of a play-action, deep passing game, adequate arm strength is an attribute to hit open targets down field and keep the defense honest. Armanti Edwards of App State is the classic spread option quarterback for a D-IAA level team.

The running back in the spread option has to have good awareness, quickness, and the will to throw blocks. Good hands are good for catching pitches and passes. An advantage of this system is not having the need for a big back by any means. Jeff Demps, Steve Slaton, and Noel Divine are classic examples of undersized running backs who found extended success in the system.

Receivers and Tight Ends alike in the spread option need to be willing blockers down field. They need to have good hands to take advantage of favorable match ups when passing is necessary. They also need to be good ball carriers, especially the slot backs, and they will be given the ball in the backfield from time to time and be expected to advance it upfield.

The offensive line is generally smaller, squatter, and quicker to be able to support the systems zone type running scheme. However size can still be used, as the Florida Gators have done with their SEC sized line, as long as quickness is still an ability. 

The best way to defend the spread option is to man up across the board and play sound defense. You have to try to funnel everything inside, especially their playmakers, and keep things from getting to the perimeter. Physicality is another thing that can work in a defenses favor. Even when the quarterback has gotten rid of the ball, busting him while he stands straight up can wear him down over the course of the game; the same goes for the running back. Speed, when used correctly, can shut down any offensive system, the spread option is no different. This is the primary reason the system is rarely seen in any form in the NFL.

Above is the staple of the spread option, the zone read. This is the most common, and usually most effective(percentage wise) play in a spread option system. The zone read is an option play in which the quarterback will either feed the ball to the running back, or keep it himself. You see the right tackle pull and hit the left end(offensive perspective). The left tackle leaves his end(because help is on the way from the right) and goes for the Mike, and the center handles the Sam. The guards handle the DTs. Now everything depends on what the right defensive end does, as he is left unblocked. All while the tackle is pulling, the quarterback is "riding" the running back, with the ball stuck in the RB's gut, though the quarterback still has full control of the football. If the end breaks down and stays home, the quarterback makes the read and gives the ball to the tailback, letting him follow his blockers off-tackle. However, if the end crashes down the line, following the direction of the tailback, that is when the quarterback must make his decision. If the end hesitates, and then crashes, meaning he isn't past the center's starting position, the ball should still be given to the back. But if he chases the back, which an aggressive end in an aggressive defense will always do, the quarterback keeps the ball and advances up field. 

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Here is another very popular play in the spread option. This is the speed option. This is again another choice that has to be made by the quarterback. As you can see, the right tackle will line up with his wide line split. His first objective is to chip the end inside, enough to take him out of the play. He will then make a beeline to the second level to seal off the SAM linebacker. The center will double team the nose tackle along with the right guard, who will then get to the second level to pick off the Mike linebacker. The left guard and tackle will handle the under tackle. The left end is a non-factor. The quarterback's decision relies on the blocking. If the linebackers are successfully sealed, the QB can take it himself depending on how the receivers are doing down field. If the Sam breaks free, he must chose between the quarterback and the pitch man. As long as the line and receivers can keep no more than one defender away from the option, the play will be good for a nice gain every time. 

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Setting up the pass is a given if the spread option is being run with any success. Teams are more likely to bite on play-action and are focused on stopping the option. This is where passing comes into the system. This is a good example of a passing play that would be found in this system. When the quarterback steps up to the line, he will make his line call to roll left or right. Let's assume for all intents and purposes that he calls a roll right. At the snap, he and the halfback will simulate a speed option, hopefully freezing member(s) of the secondary. The HB will then break off, and run his fly. When stopping the run, teams usually man up across the board. We'll go with a two man under coverage, meaning everyone is manned up except for the two safeties, who play a cover two shell. The defense could be in base because they don't want to sacrifice a linebacker, but let's assume they are in nickel. The corners have the three receivers, the SAM has the tight end, and the MIKE has the running back. The flanker(right side receiver) will clear out is man and the deep safety with his fly. This should make the tight end the primary target. He just has to beat his man on the out... since the quarterback is already rolling that way, it should be an easy completion. Since the flanker has the safety and corner so far down field, the tight end should have some room to run after the catch. 

If for some reason the SAM shuts down the out, the HB should be open against the MIKE. Since he is running right down the middle of the field, he should be able to split the cover two shell right down the seam. All the quarterback has to do is get it there before either safety can get to the ball. And if neither of these are open, the next thing to do is run it. If you have a fast, mobile and shifty quarterback like Armanti, this is favorable, as he should have plenty of room to run with the tight end occupying the SAM, and the corner and safety at least thirty yards down field.

The spread option is now a common sight in college football. Some teams have implemented elements of it into their playbooks, while other teams fully commit to it, with great success. With no defensive mind able to find a reliable way to shut it down yet, it appears the spread option is here to stay... at least for a while.

-BJF