Well it seems like the name of the game in APF was the spread offense. Lobby players seem to build a spread based team only. This lead to the issue of the much debated "Defense is broken" threads. Which were mainly pointed towards the dreaded "out routes and Corner routes". Some of us still hold firm that anything in the game can stopped. That the defense is not broken by any means.
STOPPING THE SPREAD
Goals of the spread
1) Spreading the defense thin
2) Takes away secondary blitz
3) Empty the box, easier to run
4) Take what the defense throws at it. Deep or dink & dunk
5) Easy to see defense alignment
Weakness of the Spread
1) Less blocking for the QB & run game.
2) Clock control
3) INT prone
4) Big points or go home
5) Alot of pressure on the O-line
The whole goal of the spread is to allow their QB to have a easier time reading the defense and allow him to take what is thrown at him. If the defense presses at the line, he can easily hit a man up fade route. If the defense shows zone, he can pick the zone apart all game.
So how do we go about stopping the spread???? You don't!! You can only hope to contain it, force turnovers, and maintain the ball with clock management to give their offense as few downs as possible.
The spread is designed on speed. So matching Speed vs Speed is your first goal. If you can match their playmakers in the speed department you have just gave yourself a fighting chance. Next, you HAVE to win in the trenchs. If the QB does not get pressured, it will be a very long game. You have to have Gap Responsibility and Pursuit Discipline. Having a stud D-line to put pressure on the QB and force him out of rhythm. Force him to make throws early and give your corners and safties a chance at the pick. The one area the spread can really be brought to its knees, is with the D-line. Forcing the QB out the pocket, releasing the ball early, and sacking the QB are goals all spread stopping defenses should key on.
Next is sure tacklers. Most people are like, "what you mean sure tacklers?" Well most offensive schemes have taught defense to play "gang tackling" football. The spread removes this. From now on you need solid open field tackling. Defenders who can bring down that playmaker in the open field are HUGE! Without these guys you will see small dink and dunks turned into huge big plays. Building a team with a core of solid tacklers will greatly help in yards after the catch. The spread will force your defense to spread over the field with much more open space, so the chance of big plays after a missed tackle are that much greater.
I mentioned Gap Responsibility and Pursuit Discipline earlier. This also applies in the Zone run game. You might see a few spread teams coming out and using the zone run game to get the defense to over pursuit and cut it back for big games in the open field caused by the spread. You need a D-line who can completely shut down the run game. Forcing the ball in the air as much as possible. This makes clock management for them tougher.
On to clock management, I stated how you can't hope to STOP the spread. You can only hope to contain it. This is where the spread offense can be very weak against a "pound the rock" team. Clock control is going to be a big key of your designed offense to stop the spread. Wait, offense designed to stop the spread? Yup, thats right. Having a power back who can pick up those 3-4 yards per carry, slowly pounding the defense into a pulp and milking the clock. Will go a long way in giving that spread offense as few touchs as possible and giving you a much greater chance at limiting its chance of beating you.
So what kind of builds are we talking about? There is many many different builds one could come up with. I am going to give a few ideas. They won't be indepth, but will give you a idea of what you are shooting for in a build.
Air control
4 star corners - Playing Dime all game
2 Star DE's - Designed to get after the QB
2 star Safeties - Over the top help
1 Star HB - Big power back
1 Star FB - Big blocker for your back
1 Star MLB - Stopping the dink & dunk middle of field + run stopper
Clock Control
1 Star HB - Power back
1 Star FB - Big blocker for back
1 star TE - Good short yardage converter + blocker for HB
2 Star Guards - Open up those DT's and give holes for that HB
1 Star Center - Same as above
2 Star Corners - Stopping the star wideouts
2 Star safeties - Helping out with 4 WR's + over the top
1 Star MLB - Controlling middle of field
Additions welcome. I did not go in schemes, plays, fronts, adjustments, etc, etc. There is a wealth of info that can be thrown around. I am going to leave this area open, since all coachs have their own ideaology of what to do to stop this and that.
Example of this would be something I like to do. Press the short side of the field WR on his inside shoulder, forcing him outside with much less field to play with. Then the far side WR, press on his outside shoulder forcing him towards the safety. Also shifting the backers over to the strong side of the field can also cut down on the open slant with the outside press. Thus limiting their WR's to as few open field areas as possible.
Later guys
PHOBIA
STOPPING THE SPREAD
Goals of the spread
1) Spreading the defense thin
2) Takes away secondary blitz
3) Empty the box, easier to run
4) Take what the defense throws at it. Deep or dink & dunk
5) Easy to see defense alignment
Weakness of the Spread
1) Less blocking for the QB & run game.
2) Clock control
3) INT prone
4) Big points or go home
5) Alot of pressure on the O-line
The whole goal of the spread is to allow their QB to have a easier time reading the defense and allow him to take what is thrown at him. If the defense presses at the line, he can easily hit a man up fade route. If the defense shows zone, he can pick the zone apart all game.
So how do we go about stopping the spread???? You don't!! You can only hope to contain it, force turnovers, and maintain the ball with clock management to give their offense as few downs as possible.
The spread is designed on speed. So matching Speed vs Speed is your first goal. If you can match their playmakers in the speed department you have just gave yourself a fighting chance. Next, you HAVE to win in the trenchs. If the QB does not get pressured, it will be a very long game. You have to have Gap Responsibility and Pursuit Discipline. Having a stud D-line to put pressure on the QB and force him out of rhythm. Force him to make throws early and give your corners and safties a chance at the pick. The one area the spread can really be brought to its knees, is with the D-line. Forcing the QB out the pocket, releasing the ball early, and sacking the QB are goals all spread stopping defenses should key on.
Next is sure tacklers. Most people are like, "what you mean sure tacklers?" Well most offensive schemes have taught defense to play "gang tackling" football. The spread removes this. From now on you need solid open field tackling. Defenders who can bring down that playmaker in the open field are HUGE! Without these guys you will see small dink and dunks turned into huge big plays. Building a team with a core of solid tacklers will greatly help in yards after the catch. The spread will force your defense to spread over the field with much more open space, so the chance of big plays after a missed tackle are that much greater.
I mentioned Gap Responsibility and Pursuit Discipline earlier. This also applies in the Zone run game. You might see a few spread teams coming out and using the zone run game to get the defense to over pursuit and cut it back for big games in the open field caused by the spread. You need a D-line who can completely shut down the run game. Forcing the ball in the air as much as possible. This makes clock management for them tougher.
On to clock management, I stated how you can't hope to STOP the spread. You can only hope to contain it. This is where the spread offense can be very weak against a "pound the rock" team. Clock control is going to be a big key of your designed offense to stop the spread. Wait, offense designed to stop the spread? Yup, thats right. Having a power back who can pick up those 3-4 yards per carry, slowly pounding the defense into a pulp and milking the clock. Will go a long way in giving that spread offense as few touchs as possible and giving you a much greater chance at limiting its chance of beating you.
So what kind of builds are we talking about? There is many many different builds one could come up with. I am going to give a few ideas. They won't be indepth, but will give you a idea of what you are shooting for in a build.
Air control
4 star corners - Playing Dime all game
2 Star DE's - Designed to get after the QB
2 star Safeties - Over the top help
1 Star HB - Big power back
1 Star FB - Big blocker for your back
1 Star MLB - Stopping the dink & dunk middle of field + run stopper
Clock Control
1 Star HB - Power back
1 Star FB - Big blocker for back
1 star TE - Good short yardage converter + blocker for HB
2 Star Guards - Open up those DT's and give holes for that HB
1 Star Center - Same as above
2 Star Corners - Stopping the star wideouts
2 Star safeties - Helping out with 4 WR's + over the top
1 Star MLB - Controlling middle of field
Additions welcome. I did not go in schemes, plays, fronts, adjustments, etc, etc. There is a wealth of info that can be thrown around. I am going to leave this area open, since all coachs have their own ideaology of what to do to stop this and that.
Example of this would be something I like to do. Press the short side of the field WR on his inside shoulder, forcing him outside with much less field to play with. Then the far side WR, press on his outside shoulder forcing him towards the safety. Also shifting the backers over to the strong side of the field can also cut down on the open slant with the outside press. Thus limiting their WR's to as few open field areas as possible.
Later guys
PHOBIA
). I came out in my spread/run stopping team. Which is broken down like this.
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