The UF Spread, or Why It Takes Time to Learn Our Offense

There are many different versions of the spread. There are some coaches (as you might have heard in remember the Titans) who run only a handful of plays, but out of multiple formations and that is enough to show the variety.

In most offenses there is a fairly simple numbering system. Something like each gap gets a number (usually 1-8) and each ball carrier gets a number and you put those together to get the play.

Something like this:
the 2 back (usually the HB) through the 1 hole (usually off the hip of the center) is called a "21". But the play sounds a lot more complex when you add in the formation.

I (as in I-formation) right (as in strong right).

now the play is "I-Right 21".

If there is a variety in the way the HB steps before the handoff you add that in.

Now the play is "I-right-21-counter".

If there is a special blocking instruction you add that in:
Now the play is "I-right-21-counter-trap".

All of these instructions basically are for different people, so a player need only know what 1 or 2 of them mean.

A Guard might need to know that the play is running to the left and is a trap, so he knows that he is pulling that direction.

The HB needs to know that he will take a counter step to the right before taking the hand-off and running through the 1 hole and where to line up.

Not that complicated really.

And you can run these plays out of almost any formation just by changing these elements around.

So if you run the Halfback trap play to the 4 hole, (outside shoulder of the guard), you could do that as a delay, a counter, or a traditional handoff, out of any formation that has a HB.

I-right 24 counter trap. Pro set-left 24 delay. Pistol right 24. All the same play, with minor variations, out of different formations. All look very different to the defense.

I said ALL of that (and I apologize for the length) to say this.

This is the type of offense that Alabama runs. This is the type of offense that Oregon, Michigan, and Auburn run, except they run it mostly out of the spread and include the option more.

This is not really the way our offensive play calls work. We have a different blocking scheme. We do a lot more reading and making decisions mid-play. Generally, almost every play our offense runs can be one of 3 plays. There is almost always a 2nd or 3rd option.

We don't line up and say, "HB sweep on 1", although that might be the end result. The QB steps up to the line, sees what the defense gives him and adjusts the entire play accordingly. He hikes the ball and then reads the DE, or the OLB or the S and chooses whether to pitch it or keep it or throw it or hand it off. This isn't something that is as easy to learn as other systems.

Many teams are set up to run a play unless one thing is shown by the defense. For instance, if you see them blitzing the 4 gap flip the play. If they are blitzing everyone audible to a quick slant. Otherwise run the play as called.

In our offense it often keys on what multiple defenders are doing and leaves several potential end results.



The reason this has been as effective as it has been over the past five years, (and winning games = effective) is because a defense can "know" exactly what you're doing and still be unable to stop it.

Why? Because generally, we don't truly know what we are doing until the defense has committed to what it is doing.

They see that we are running the ball with demps to the left, and we start out in that direction with Demps, so they attack Demps, then we see that happening and don't give it to Demps, but to Hines on a reverse for instance, or pitch it to whomever else.

The play is basically called by the defense.

There are some positions that are easier. These are mostly on Defense. The skill positions on the offense in our system will take time to learn every time.

The reason for this is because it is very different from what they've learned previously.
Last edited Today 7:10 PM by UFGuy88