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The Spread Offense - Running Game

When folks hear"spread" they think of the death game. The reality is that the spread running game can be deadly. A few years ago I coached at a school that made a run to the Texas high school state championship game. We put the spread rather than because we thought we'd predominate in the passing game but since we knew the team would be a good running team.
The spread is now the fastest growing crime at the high school level. I wonder how many truly understand all facets of the crime. When done properly it can be similar to a complete court run4 in basketball and it is going to gradually wear another team down. The running game is an essential component of becoming a complete crime. Coaches will need to rep running just as much or more than the passing game and few understand this.
Photo of the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown, New Zealand.

There are 3 standard schemes for the offense line to learn inside zone, outside zone, and also the counter trey. On some level this may appear simple. Unfortunately all three concepts are tremendously distinct and often offense lines will fight to be good at all three.
The running back is usually put away from playside. So for instance if your team is running"2-Base" then the rear is going to be adapting into the quarterback's left and will crossover and attack the 2 hole and is always looking for a cutback lane. The back should be thinking bang or bend and must read on the run. Frequently the hole will grow backside and consequently no player should believe they can take a playoff. Many times a back might wind up backside and if the inside receiver is not performing his job his man will earn a touchdown saving tackle!
The basis of the spread's running game is that the zone read. As the back crosses across the quarterback's eyes are on the bottom end. In case the end closes the quarterback will pull the ball and run out the back door. If the end stays slow or preoccupied plays then it is an automatic supply. In this column I will focus on the duties of the quarterback and Trainers and I will discuss lineup play in a subsequent article.
Again repetition is critical. Many quarterbacks will suppose. They must read on the conduct and react to what the defense is giving the crime. 2/3 foundation is the base running drama for the spread offense. The quarterback counter trey works off of foundation and needs to be learned with 2/3 base.

Quarterback counter trey will look like 2/3 foundation but there's not any read. The quarterback does not need to ride the ball to rear, only let him cross. Backside guard and tackle will tug. The guard will kick the playside end along with the handle will seal onto the linebacker. Let me say here that head up"4" techniques are hard to counter because it's hard to execute a down block.

One of the most frequent mistakes by the quarterback will be for him to attempt to run wide. This play is tight and will be from backside B difference to play side B gap. I guarantee this drama won't work if the QB isn't disciplined. If 2/3 base have powerful the QB counter will be successful too.
Today 4/5 counter could be run by the trunk too. The QB can read this like he can 2/3 base. Frequently when the buttocks defensive end sees backside linemen pulling he will close along with the QB is going to have an opportunity to pull on the ball. If a team would like to be successful from the spread running game they need to become efficient at the counter. It is a miss direction play which keeps the buttocks honest.

Often inside linebackers will cross vital. Tendencies for many spread teams show that a vast majority of time if the back is off the running play is coming to you. Align the back playside on counter a few. This takes away the QB's read but break's the crossover tendency. But if your group runs counter well this will damage them keying crossover trends.
The next running scheme is outside zone. Outside zone keeps defensive ends honest. And equally as indoors counter and zone work together so can counter and out zone. Some groups won't extend the end but will use an outside linebacker to split the difference between an inside receiver along with the tackle. (This is the place where the bubble is significant ).

Having run4 games running outside zone may cause defensive ends to expand which makes them prime targets to be kicked by pulling guards when running counter. The most difficult type of outside zone play and the toughest to time is that the jet sweep.
The QB will start the inside receiver in motion and just before he arrives at the QB ball is going to be snapped and handed to him running full rate. After this play is perfected it opens up several different possibilities in both racing game and passing game. Offensive linemen will reduce back and stretch playside. It is easy for offensive line coaches to over coach this. Teach your linemen to work to the playside arm pit and keep participated! It's a fast drama and penetration is about the only thing that may result in issues. Playside receivers play a massive part in the success of the play.
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