The Spread Is Here To Stay...For Now

Four years ago, the spread offense was only used in smaller circles of college football. Now, a majority of teams run this fast-paced offense and defenses are taking a long time to pick up the pace.

Although there are dozens of variations of the spread, the idea is the same: open up the field and make the defense play sideline to sideline.

Now it's tough to find a top team in the country that doesn't run the spread offense. The few powerhouses that don't run it are USC and Ohio State, at least not yet. Other powers such as Texas and Florida run pure spread attacks, while other teams like Oklahoma and Penn State run hybrid offenses with some spread principles.

Among the masterminds of the spread, Urban Meyer and Mike Leach, have revolutionized the game in a way never done since the advent of the forward pass.

Leach's high-passing offense at Texas Tech made the Red Raiders a fun team to watch. It was only a matter of finding good receivers and a capable defense that made them among the best in football.

Meyer's spread is more of an option spread, with Tim Tebow running options with Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey.

Other teams have adapted either the spread or at least a form of it. Most notably this year is Penn State's Spread HD, featuring underrated back Evan Royster and three talented senior wideouts.

The spread also helped two players win the Heisman recently: Tebow in 2007 and Ohio State's Troy Smith in 2006.

Today, the spread is most prevalent in the Big XII and the Big Ten. Powerhouses such as Michigan and Texas have taken to the spread, and it has changed the culture of these programs.

The reason the spread has worked so well is that defenses have not been able to match up with it. The offense forces multiple mismatches defensively, which opens the receivers up to make plays.

Defenses with great tacklers and an overwheming front four have the best success against spread offenses. Even still, if the triggerman is a guy who protects the football or has tremendous running ability, there is little a defense can do.

This is where speed is so crucial. The adage of the era is that speed kills. And if a defense can match the speed of the offense, they might have a chance. In addition, proper schemes need to be in place. If a defense sits back and plays large zone coverage, they will be picked apart all day. Being aggressive and getting pressure with the front four poses a great challenge to the offense.

Unfortuately, few defenses are up to the challenge. And until that happens, the spread will continue to spread. It may be the new revolution, but so far the spread has shown it is here to stay. But it's widespread use may be its downfall.

Teams that daily practice against the spread have an advantage over other spread teams. As it becomes more widespread, teams will have a better chance of stopping the spread. Those that can execute their offense best and use their playmakers best can be virtually unstoppable.

Even today, teams that run pro-style attacks are adapting to a core philosophy of the spread: utilize the playmakers available. For example, USC ran the wildcat several times in the season with Joe McKnight taking shotgun snaps. In addition, Jim Tressel has been known to alter his offensive schemes based on his quarterback situation.

When Smith started his senior year, the Buckeyes ran predominantly a spread-type offense. It remains to be seen what will happen with the offense under Terrelle Pryor, but that possiblity remains an option for the Vest.

The spread came in to the 2000s as a gimmicky-type offense. But as the end of the decade nears, it has become one of the most revolutionary systems in the history of college football.

And as players evolve, football will continue to evolve. But who knows if the spread will last forever or fade to obscurity as the "three yards and a cloud of dust offense" did.