Harbaugh vs the Spread Offense (Read Option)

Submitted by jsquigg on

So, I hope this isn't a waste of a thread topic, but in light of the travesty against OSU and the mailbag today which prompted me to look up Harbaugh at Stanford vs Oregon mainly, should we be worried long term against spread option teams with a running QB?  Before anyone jumps down my throat, I know this isn't just on Harbaugh but the staff as a whole.  With that said, pro style coaches have a history of poo pooing the spread and then not being able to stop it, which is maddening since you can find a library's worth of info on spread option football just by using Google.

So, will closing the talent gap, specifically the d-line, ultimately be more important than scheme?

Who should we worry/not worry about as a defensive coordinator against the spread option?

I know that great spread teams are hard to stop by anyone, but I fear an approach of "doing what we do" as opposed to adapting to your opponent, especially when the opponent is your biggest rival.  I'm hoping that last game is looked back on as the blemish of the Harbaugh era.  Urban ran his basic offense with little to no frills right down our throat and I hope that's the last time it happens, but I fear otherwise.  Talk me off the ledge (or push me off).

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RadioMuse

December 8th, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^

1. Offense: possess the ball for a long as possible and punch it in when you get into the red zone. The best way to do this is a Stanford-like run game that takes advantage of the types of players (smaller, faster) spread teams tend to recruit on both sides of the ball. Go heavy, block everyone but a safety and grind out 5-yards with constraint plays being primarily short passes to tight ends - especially if you can get them mismatched on a CB or safety. These possessions "shorten" the game and being a "strong" offense (rather than a "fast" offense) lends itself to this. 2. Defense: dominate the line of scrimmage by either getting players through to disrupt the plays in the backfield OR by eating up all the available blockers. This is why double A-gap blitzes or a 'Bear' defense is so effective. You have to rely on your corners holding up without support, and you will occasionally give up a big play downtrend, but this takes away the big run plays that spread to run thrives on. In theory a "fast" offense wants to score from outside the red zone on big plays. If you take away their preferred big play (the run) and get pressure to prevent long - developing plays to form downfield they'll be forced into dinking and dunking, which is usually unsustainable.

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