Spread Football Plays

Just as the name suggests, spread football plays are plays that are run with the offense being spread out on the field. As the offense spreads out, the defense if forced to spread out as well. And with the defense spread out, the offense is able to run plays without having too many defenders in one area to worry about.

For example, the normal offensive formation may have 2 running backs in the backfield, a tight end lining up right next to an offensive tackle (the lineman on the end of the offensive line), and a wide receiver flanked out on each end of the line of scrimmage.

The defense will be able to put a cornerback on each of the receivers, and then they can line-up their linebackers in what is known as "the box" (the area right around the line of scrimmage). The defense is free to have their safeties either playing back to help with the pass or they can bring one or both safeties up close to the line of scrimmage to help take away the run or to blitz the quarterback.

So, when the offense is going to run spread football plays, they'll line-up their tight end away from the line of scrimmage and they'll also put one or both of the running backs (or more wide receivers or tight ends) out wide as well. This forces the defensive players - linebackers and safeties - to play wider as well.

One of the first team's to use a spread offensive play effectively was the San Francisco 49ers back in the early 1990s. Whenever they needed to pick-up short yardage, they would spread the formation and leave no backs in the backfield. Then, with the defense spread out, the 49ers would run a quarterback sneak with Steve Young. The play always worked. There just weren't enough defensive players to stop Young before he got the necessary yardage.

The other advantage offenses get from spreading the field is they often get mismatches in coverage.

For example, if they line-up a fast running back on the outside, along with three other wide receivers, the defense will be forced to cover that running back with a linebacker. Or the defense will have to cover one of the wide receivers with a linebacker. This puts a slower defender on a faster receiver. So, that receiver will be able to get open easily.

The defense could counter with playing a zone, but with so many wide receivers going out on a play, chances are one of them will find a hole in the zone. In this case, the defense would have to hope for a good pass rush but if they're going to try to cover everyone then they probably won't be rushing enough players to get to the quarterback quickly.

There are many effective spread football plays that are in many teams' offensive playbook. We just discussed how the play can work for passing and for short yardage situations. The defense has begun to come-up with ways to counter these football spread plays but the defense hasn't completely caught-up yet.