Coaches are control freaks in one direction or another. Jim Caldwell's big accomplishment with the Colts in his short career as head coach has been to make grown men sit in assigned seats. When they win a Super Bowl, I'm sure Peyton Manning will get misty, look to his coach, and say "This all started with the nametags, Jim. Without that, I'm crying into my guacamole on Cabo right now." Then they'll hug and ride off on a flying unicorn together. [/starwipe, fade, theme, and credits.)
Sarcasm aside, coaches like to do things their own particular way, and rarely change in substantive, serious ways. There are very good reasons for this, but most prominently it is because getting any group of people numbering more than three to do anything effectively is like herding cats. Thus the lost sleep by coaches: they're up late watching film to keep the nightmares of one of their players tearing their ACL walking to the bathroom in the night from driving them completely mad, because it's something they cannot possibly control.
All of this explains why one shouldn't be to excited by the notion of Urban Meyer
scrapping the spread option altogether at Florida this year and beyond.
Meyer has won two national titles at Florida in the past four years with his system, one reliant on forcing defenses to defend the entire field at all times.
If he has someone like former Michigan qb coach and Detroit offensive coordinator Scott Loeffler on board, it is for the following reasons, and not because Florida is having trouble selling recruits on the idea that a pro qb could come from the spread system.
1. The Evolution of Tim Tebow. Having one of Tom Brady's formative influences on the staff can't be bad, but Loeffler's presence isn't just a matter of name-dropping association. Loeffler is a top flight qb coach who won't just
work on Tebow's reads and footwork, but will also build in some new pro-style patterns into the speread option. Tebow has to evolve as a qb, and that's not bad news, as it means he could possibly be better in 2009 with the right framework.
2. The Continuing Evolution of the Spread. The "spread" is a misleading term at best, encompassing a series of offense now morphing into their third, fourth, or fifth step beyond their forerunners. The spread you see at Michigan, the evolved run 'n shoot used by Mike Leach at Texas Tech, the New Hampshire school of the offense espoused by Chip Kelly and Dan Mullen...all use some of the same principles but in wildly different ways.
If Meyer doesn't evolve in a league like the SEC, his team dies. If throwing the I-formation in every three series keeps defensive coordinators from zeroing in on your tendencies, do it. It's the sort of variance and unpredictability pro coordinators are constantly crowing about in extolling the superiority of the pro game--using it at the college level is neither new, nor particularly innovative. it just may be what the moment calls for given the talent and the expectations of opposing defenses scouting spread teams like Florida. Bringing us to the third point...
3. It's just further proof that Urban Meyer is the Borg. Urban Meyer would be the first to admit this, but if it works, he'll assimilate it and add it to the arsenal. One possible vulnerability of running the spread is the critique that spread qbs don't adjust well to the pro game.
Never mind that most qbs period fail in the pro game, including those who play in staid, old-school offenses where the qb works from under center; perception is reality, as
Chris from Smart Football says, and the big numbers generated by college spread qbs mean any dropoff from the pros is going to be more noticeably spectacular than that of a pro-style qb coming into the NFL.
So rather than concede that on the trail, you add in some variance, build in some pro sets, and pick up recruits concerned about missing out the special experience of starting a certain percentage of snaps perched just inches from a large, sweaty man's ass.
It works for some teams, and will probably work for Florida when John Brantley, a strong-armed pocket passer, takes over next year in what will inevitably be a different offense. This move is as much about next year as it is about future recruiting, and will show that no matter the current crop of talent, Meyer will at least try to adjust to what he has.
Meyer, being the control freak all coaches are, will only change if it means he can make it a part of his own system. For instance, he'll only seriously and publicly clamp down on discipline if it affects recruiting, wins, or the balance sheets at Florida. Right now none of them have made a dent. When they do, he'll change. Until then, The Machine is fully operational, and resistance is futile.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Comments
Meyer will adapt and the Gators will continue to win. As far as the Spread being a system that gets players ready for the NFL: all evidence is to the contrary. Harvin will further illustrate this with the Vikings in the Fall. Tebow will have his chance, and whether he makes it or not (he probably will), the damage already has been done
- the championships, the Heisman(s). His college legend is assured. You don’t measure the success of a college program by the number of players a school has in the NFL -unless of course, that’s all you have. Florida has many players in the NFL as well as the championships, the latter being the more important to this college football fan. Peyton Manning is a great NFL quarterback, but what did UT football ever win when he was there? Nothing. No championships whatsoever. So, the bottom line is Florida, regardless of the offense it runs, will continue to be a factor on the national stage, its players will continue to be drafted by the pros, and the school will continue to pay Meyer what it needs to in order to keep the best current college football coach in Gainesville.by Hoggetowne L.A.M.F. on Jun 15, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions
The spread is a joke offense. When your QB is your leading rusher you got a problem. Its only a matter of time before one of these QB’s get killed by LB and injured for the season. Then it will be bye bye spread offense.Spread is the worst system for development of NFL players. Recievers don’t undertand how to run proper routes, QB’s don’t understand how to read defenses, and running backs don’t get enough touches. Add in the crazy bad habits of zone blocking by lineman and its the perfect system for developing crap.There is a reason USC gets guys to the NFL.
by SailorGabe on Jun 16, 2009 12:51 AM EDT reply actions
The spread a joke? Hmmm….two national championships at Florida and an undefeated season at Utah. All I can say is, I hope Meyer keeps the laughs coming.
Once again, there is no evidence to suggest that the spread doesn’t prepare players for the NFL. If an athelete is good and is willing to learn, they can adapt to any offense. The spread isn’t for everyone, but some players find it a fun offense and that’s why Florida keeps bringing in top talent. When and if it runs its couse as a viable system, I have no doubt Meyer will adapt.
"Receivers don’t understand how to run proper routes." WRONG. Not only do they learn how to run crisp routes, but they also learn to block.
"QB’s don’t understand how to read defenses." WRONG. Reading defenses is reading defenses; making the right call is where it counts. Intelligent QBs will learn to make the right call despite the offense they run.
"Running backs don’t get enough touches." Perhaps, but UF has only recently begun to develp RB talent under Meyer. Look for this trend to continue and the RBs play more of a role.
USC produces a lot of talent and that’s because they usually land more 5-star prospects than anyone else. The odds are with Carroll in that regard, but I would think all that talent should have resulted in more national championships for USC. Maybe Carroll should consider the spread.
by Hoggetowne L.A.M.F. on Jun 16, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions
From this point on the NCAA should pass out national titles to teams who have the most players drafted. Forget the BCS and a playoff system, its all about players getting drafted. So forget about the talent UF had on the field that beat a high powered OK team. Better yet, just get rid of college football all together. No need for it if the draft is what is important.
For all you GATOR haters out there deal with it. UF is on top of the world right now with the spread. The title will be defended and repeated. Go GATORS!!!
by archangeladidas on Jun 16, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions
I wouldn’t say the spread is a joke. It’s different and can be altered to the roster. Despite less touches, I think it benefits the skill players who can fun up the middle or run outside. I don’t think college coaches should worry about if they’re players are "NFL ready". If you’re good, the NFL will find you. College coaches whould worry about their college teams. Winning at Florida and USC should be their main concerns, not winning a Super Bowl…
by mrlundy1083 on Jun 16, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah I don’t think he’ll ever completely move away from the spread but adapting has been Meyer’s M.O. since he got to Florida. The offense has undergone substantial changes every year.
He never used a fullback before Billy Latsko showed he could be a playmaker. The offense he came in with operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun but Chris Leak was good handling duties under center so something like 30% of the plays in 2006 came from under center. In 2007 we had a great corp of receivers and not a lot of dependable running backs so we became a more passing-oriented team. The following year with a new RB coach and a couple of more bodies and the running backs (i.e. not Tebow or Harvin) tripled their production from the year before completing an offseason transition where we transformed into a run-oriented team. Because of 2006 and 2007 I still hear people bring up how much we depend on "Mickey Mouse" reverses and end arounds nevermind that we didn’t run a single reverse or end around at all last season.
Evolution is right. He’s tinkered with two tight end sets, the no huddle, the Pistol, the I-formation and the list coninues to grow. With each iteration it becomes more and more apparent that for the most part he doesn’t really have an offense. He merely tailors it to the strengths of the playmakers he has in order to give them the best chance to win. Even though it’ll definitely be a more adramatic change when Brantley takes over, you’re even going to see it evolve again this year as it always does.
by thejoyofsobe on Jun 16, 2009 9:08 PM EDT reply actions
It really does not matter what you run, if it is effective. Look at Georgia Tech. They were a 7 win team and were boring. Passed a lot, had some pro offense in there, but never won like GT did last year coming from 16 back to whip UGA. Now, LSU had time to get ready for GT and the players read too many stories about themselves, so they got beat in basically a home game for a bowl game. Look at Alabama. They run, they run, and then…they run some more. They pound you, keep the ball away from you and unless you score every time and get a lead, they win. Oklahoma ran a no huddle offense this past year and did well with it until they faced a superior defensive team. Then they lost, but if they could have scored from inside the five two times in the first half…different story altogether.My point is, Urban has won with his offense because it is effectively run and he has the players to run it. You look at teams that fared poorly last year and were boring offensively – lets use Tennessee as and example: they simply had poor schemes and did not execute the plays. They could have had the spread and still would have not scored any more points because they were not executing. Florida will win this year IF injuries do not cost them, or turnovers ( see Ole Miss game last year) but, by continually changing what they do, they stay ahead of the other teams trying to catch them.
by KennyRay on Jul 4, 2009 3:51 AM EDT reply actions
It really does not matter what you run, if it is effective. Look at Georgia Tech. They were a 7 win team and were boring. Passed a lot, had some pro offense in there, but never won like GT did last year coming from 16 back to whip UGA. Now, LSU had time to get ready for GT and the players read too many stories about themselves, so they got beat in basically a home game for a bowl game. Look at Alabama. They run, they run, and then…they run some more. They pound you, keep the ball away from you and unless you score every time and get a lead, they win. Oklahoma ran a no huddle offense this past year and did well with it until they faced a superior defensive team. Then they lost, but if they could have scored from inside the five two times in the first half…different story altogether.My point is, Urban has won with his offense because it is effectively run and he has the players to run it. You look at teams that fared poorly last year and were boring offensively – lets use Tennessee as and example: they simply had poor schemes and did not execute the plays. They could have had the spread and still would have not scored any more points because they were not executing. Florida will win this year IF injuries do not cost them, or turnovers ( see Ole Miss game last year) but, by continually changing what they do, they stay ahead of the other teams trying to catch them.
by KennyRay on Jul 4, 2009 3:52 AM EDT reply actions
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