KT2000
07-12-2010, 01:02 PM
Spacing used to be created more through play design than alignment before spread formations took over the football landscape.
Horizontal space was exploited with the quarterback and pitchback moving down the line in tandem back in the days when option football reigned supreme.
It was exploited when I formation teams ran the toss sweep. Bill Walsh changed the game forever with the West Coast system that made horizontal quarterback movement (rollouts, boots) and stretch run action such a big part of offense.
Now, we see the field stretched more by alignment as offenses attempt to isolate weak spots in defense and make improved pre-snap reads.
I'm a former receiver, but I must admit my favorite play in football is a good toss sweep. I miss it. We don't see as much of it these days as zone blocking has moved to the forefront. Even with under center based teams, I see more stretch plays than pitches.
I like watching Georgia Tech because of the toss sweep they run from the flexbone. It is a great play in itself fundamentally, but I think its greatness goes to another level out of that set. It can really catch a defense on its heels because they get so used to reading that initial pause between the quarterback and bigback.
The spread schemes replaced the traditional toss or stretch sweep with the bubble screen/hitch. The jet sweep has risen to prominence in recent years as spread teams needed to find another way to exploit horizontal space aside from base alignments and screens if they don't have the mobility to run a speed option game. The Wildcat teams, college and pro, are all using the jet as a change-up.
Urban Meyer's Florida is the only team I've seen run pitches to the RB from the Gun currently. I'm sure there are a few others. Nevada maintains this ability out of their pistol sets.
Horizontal space was exploited with the quarterback and pitchback moving down the line in tandem back in the days when option football reigned supreme.
It was exploited when I formation teams ran the toss sweep. Bill Walsh changed the game forever with the West Coast system that made horizontal quarterback movement (rollouts, boots) and stretch run action such a big part of offense.
Now, we see the field stretched more by alignment as offenses attempt to isolate weak spots in defense and make improved pre-snap reads.
I'm a former receiver, but I must admit my favorite play in football is a good toss sweep. I miss it. We don't see as much of it these days as zone blocking has moved to the forefront. Even with under center based teams, I see more stretch plays than pitches.
I like watching Georgia Tech because of the toss sweep they run from the flexbone. It is a great play in itself fundamentally, but I think its greatness goes to another level out of that set. It can really catch a defense on its heels because they get so used to reading that initial pause between the quarterback and bigback.
The spread schemes replaced the traditional toss or stretch sweep with the bubble screen/hitch. The jet sweep has risen to prominence in recent years as spread teams needed to find another way to exploit horizontal space aside from base alignments and screens if they don't have the mobility to run a speed option game. The Wildcat teams, college and pro, are all using the jet as a change-up.
Urban Meyer's Florida is the only team I've seen run pitches to the RB from the Gun currently. I'm sure there are a few others. Nevada maintains this ability out of their pistol sets.