Fanblogs.com - Latest Comments in Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

UofMSnowboarder — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:41:29 -0000

Ok, so... this is flag football with 11 players.

Put two good (read: college level) DEs in and cover the spread with a 2-1-8... I can't imagine this being anything other than a gimmick. Yes, it limits injuries when high school kids who lack either athleticism or weight/strength, but I can see a a 265 lb DE flattening a 160 lb slot type guy and the receiver just not getting up.

It would seem to force zone coverage or DBs learning to make VERY fast reads, so a smart QB could take advantage of that.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Kevin @ Fanblogs — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:10:20 -0000

It wouldn't be illegal in the NCAA, provided it was used on an "obvious kicking situation", otherwise it would be illegal procedure.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

JB — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:58:06 -0000

what is this about the freak.....i think that is Tim Lincecum

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Tigers318 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:36:56 -0000

Good point. I just do not want to see this go to the college level.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Gatorboy41 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:45:45 -0000

I can only see teams that are having a hard time moving the ball, or a team that is in overtime, trying to pull off a big win/upset. If a team used this full time, it's just a matter of time before their QB, gets busted up. There are alot of formations that work really well in High School, to include the (3 back wishbone set) Auburn was the only team that ever ran that with any sucess with Lineol James, and Bo Jackson, don't remember whoe the 3rd back was. My point is that, college players reaction time is so much faster, and the player are so much stronger. There are 275 pound defensive ends, that run 4.7-4.9 40 yard dash. Coming from the blind side, that wound not be Good for QB's.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Tigers318 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:58:42 -0000

It might work, it might not. I do not want any college team to pick this up full time, yes it exciting, but i love football just the way it is.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

-TE- — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:55:28 -0000

Yeah...I've tried to go back to the Fortress of Solitude for the most part over the offseason...I'm going to need to summon all my strength for this upcoming season...We have a tough task in front of us, but the West, & Atlanta, are within our grasp...

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

-TE- — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:40:19 -0000

I'm not so sure about that Tigers318 (and by the way, welcome to Fanblogs)...

You'll probably never have a team commit to it fulltime, but LSU threw a touchdown against tOSU in the BCSCG to Richard Dickson on a play where we had an "unbalanced line" that put Herman Johnson split out wide, yet still an eligible down lineman...So, you couple that with Florida's flirtation, and you see it already flowing upstream from the HS level...

I'd say that if you've got a QB who can throw a slant on a -3 and -5 step drop, then you are simply not going to get to the QB in time, no matter if you line up Trindon Holliday as a designated rusher to combat that offense.

I doubt it works, not because of defensive team speed, but simply because with the pass rush coming every play, you'd have to worry about split second reads...We're not talking about 3.4 seconds and out of the QB's hand, here...We're talking about perhaps half that time before the QB doesn't just feel the pocket, but feel the rush itself bearing down on him, forcing a decision.

Just too much pressure on the QB to go to it fulltime, but it will get assimilated into a lot more offensive packages this year, and-like the spread/spread option-you'll see it more and more amongst the teams that simply don't have the horses to hang with the big dogs. The big dogs themselves will simply throw about 3-5 plays from the set into the package...

Just my $0.02...

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Tigers318 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:15:52 -0000

The Freak = Trindon Holiday. I dont think this would work in against some of the top defenses, such as LSU, OSU, USC, etc. because everyone has speed.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Kevin @ Fanblogs — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:59:39 -0000

One point that has to be factored is that -- just like in rugby -- the ball is faster than the man. (With the possible exception of that freak at LSU.) If you watch the videos, you can see how difficult it is for the defense even though they have prepared for it for at least one week in advance. Imagine what would happen if it was a "trick". Most defenses would freak.

LSU retained their discipline/formation, but... most defeneses would burn a time out if you went nine wide.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Ben Prather — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:34:16 -0000

This will not work at the college level, and definitely not the NFL level.

Three or four BCS linebackers as the defensive line rushing the QB's every down unstopped would kill it.

If the offense removes the line and goes to speed relying on its ability to get the ball into someone else's hands before you get there, go to linebackers corner backs and safeties to defend against it.

I don't see giving linebackers free lanes to your key players as beneficial to reducing injuries in the long term.

I do agree this will have a place in special team formations, or possibly in third and long situation.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

A11CoachH — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:45:41 -0000

Kudos to the intelligent conversation on this bog. I love the fact Florida tried something different against LSU. Even though they failed, they might have had a play into the near wall.. There were shining examples of these types of formations all throughout college football last year. Rutgers has a great spread punt that they will undoubtedly run again this year. I hope florida runs more of these plays with the dream A-11 QB Tebow.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

aVoiceInSC — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:23:13 -0000

I'd love to see the blue and gold run it, most especially against the black and gold. It'd be the most exciting offense we've had since Summers was in the backfield.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Regan — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:21:44 -0000

If Lexington ran this thing, I would indeed make the trip. If we use it on Irmo and won, I'd make a few. :-)

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Porcine — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:36:03 -0000

It's alive, It's alive!

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

gatorhippy — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:30:32 -0000

Also...

If I remeber correctly, the play clock was about ticked out (TE?)...

I'm thinking UF wanted to send a guy in motion there but had no time to...

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

gatorhippy — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:24:01 -0000

It appears LSU didn't make an adjustment because they were probably already in a zone there considering it was first and ten...

As the play "develops", watch LSU Sr. Zenon (19) float back then in as Tebow attempts to move towards the far sideline to evade Dorsey and Co...

No doubt Zenon is still feeling that guy but still responds to the movement of the play...

Watching the Secondary on the far side they're similiar but tighten up as Tim moves to that line...

I think they had it covered...

I actually give LSU credit for standing pat in their scheme after seeing an odd formation...

A squad not so well coached panics and starts sending interior linemen out wide...

Credit to DC Pelini whose services the Tigers will be dearly missing this season as well as trying to figure out who is going to take the snaps...

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Kevin @ Fanblogs — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:55:59 -0000

That's the one. It's a good thing that LSU got the sack, because there were a couple of guys uncovered.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

gatorhippy — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:59:57 -0000

Actually I think this is the one...

First and ten in the first quarter with 3:48 to go...

Right?

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

gatorhippy — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:41:27 -0000

Roger that...

Thanks, Bro...

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

-TE- — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:34:15 -0000

between 7:30 of the 2nd quarter and halftime...It was a 3rd down.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

gatorhippy — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:16:04 -0000

I've been trying to find some tape of that play so I can look at the formation again...

Any suggestions without having to watch the entire playback again?

At least maybe the quarter and approx. game clock time at which it occurred...

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

-TE- — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:57:27 -0000

Kevin,

I'm happy to report that on the play in question, we sacked Tim Tebow...LOL!

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Kevin @ Fanblogs — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:37:23 -0000

That's a great point. It's just one more potential swing in the never-ending pendulum of football. New defensive schemes emerge that shut down the offense. And then new offenses emerge and we go back the other way.

And you're right... it's fun to watch. Ya gotta have some quicks in this one.

Re: Is the A-11 Pluto the spread offense of the future?

Cydonia — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:01:53 -0000

I remember when the "Run & Shoot" was the offense of the future. Just remember, with every great innovation, there will be another to offset it. I'm sure it has potential for some success in the beginning. But there are tremendous defensive minds out there that will figure out a way to stop it. That being said, it's awesome to watch.