Are College Offenses The Future of The NFL?

[john_bult]

Been thinking of Taylor and even EJ and their mobile ability. Those quarterbacks are perfect, and have succeeded in the college spread offense. Even Chip Kelly has brought the offense in the NFL and it was somewhat successful. But are the college offenses and the high scoring shootouts the future of the NFL?

[KD in CA]

High scoring shootouts are the future of the NFL as long as the league continues neutering defenses. I don't think it has anything to do with college offenses.

[Cynical]

Been thinking of Taylor and even EJ and their mobile ability. Those quarterbacks are perfect, and have succeeded in the college spread offense. Even Chip Kelly has brought the offense in the NFL and it was somewhat successful. But are the college offenses and the high scoring shootouts the future of the NFL?

 

Spread offenses in the NFL are not new. Option offenses in the NFL are not new. No huddles offense in the NFL are not new. Mobile QB's in the NFL are not new.

 

There is nothing new in the "college spread" offense that is not already being used or incorporated to some extent in the NFL.

 

Nothing.

 

Rules will have a far bigger impact in determining if the NFL becomes a bigger, full size version of arena football.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

nope, the spread doesn't work because its too simple with a lot one read and then run plays. Defenses figure it out and shout it down like chip Kelly. The only one capable to run the spread is Brady but their spread has multiple reads and audibles like a traditional offense.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Buffalo Barbarian

[PromoTheRobot]

College offenses work because 90% of the players defending it won't be playing football as pros.

[NoSaint]

nope, the spread doesn't work because its too simple with a lot one read and then run plays. Defenses figure it out and shout it down like chip Kelly. The only one capable to run the spread is Brady but their spread has multiple reads and audibles like a traditional offense.

inherently the spread doesnt have to be one read and run. it just so happens a lot of bad but athletic college qbs run it that way. nfl offenses incorporate elements of it, and as you mention brady runs it very well.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Was Tebow and all those 400 yards a game Texas Tech quarterbacks, none of whom made the NFL, the future of the league?

[GunnerBill]

College offenses work because 90% of the players defending it won't be playing football as pros.

 

This. It relies in many ways on being able to exploit speed and strength advantages to make the most of space. NFL defenders are stronger, quicker and cover space much better.

 

As others have already said there are NFL teams who incorporate a lot of typically college spread concepts but in the end the NFL will always be a game where eventually your Quarterback has to win you a game from the pocket.

[jr1]

plus you want to stall so your defense can rest

[8-8 Forever?]

The better question is: once Manning, Palmer, Brady and Ben are done, are athletic, mobile QBs like Smith, Newton, Wilson, Rodgers the future of the position? I say yes, because defenses attack the pocket now like never before and O Line talent is scarce and O Lines generally cannot stay healthy and coordinated for most of a season. You saw it in Bills v Patriots on Monday night. Take away McFumble, and we win that game and everyone's talking about how the QB position needs to be more mobile in the future, blah blah

[Mr. WEO]

Been thinking of Taylor and even EJ and their mobile ability. Those quarterbacks are perfect, and have succeeded in the college spread offense. Even Chip Kelly has brought the offense in the NFL and it was somewhat successful. But are the college offenses and the high scoring shootouts the future of the NFL?

 

 

Wait, what?

 

Anyway, shootouts in college occur because the defenses aren't very good and can be outmatched in a way they can't in the NFL. Look at how the Alabama D was shredded in the champ game.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Mr. WEO

[zonabb]

Nope. Spread works in college due to the ability to get mismatches all over the field due to superior athletes on offense taking advantage of weaknesses on the defense. In the NFL, a filter whereby only the best college players make it, the ability to get mismatches consistently is nearly nonexistent. This is why BRAINS matter in the NFL because you can't simply rely on athleticism.

 

I heard on the radio last night that the guy from GB who made the hail mary catch is one of these players GB fans constantly complain doesn't play enough. The host as speaking with a GB reporter who gets asked all the time why this guy doesn't see the field given his supposed great athletic abilities. His response, without calling the guy an idiot, was that they coaches can't be confident he runs the right routes since he makes so many mistakes in practice. So he's one of two things: lazy and doesn't study enough or practice well enough or dumb. Its why so many WR wash out. They simply run by players in college despite sloppy technique and poor route running. In the NFL, you need work ethic, brains, and athleticism.

 

Look at any draft bust list and it's littered with the two key positions: QB and WR. Mostly great athletes who couldn't hack the NFL likely because of combination of laziness and less than stellar smarts.

[NoSaint]

I feel like there are 2 side by side discussions going on here:

 

1) Can a spread offense work in the nfl? Yes, teams run the basic principals with success

 

2) Can a scheme, like in college, make up for lack of talent? No, not long term, you need a qb that can make multiple reads and all the throws or the scheme and talent on the other side of the ball will make you pay. might not catch up in a week, or a month, but you dont make a career as a QB, HC, and OC without being able to successfully exploit sideline to sideline, and about 40 yards from the LOS any given snap.

 

and then of course if you throw in the option plays that qbs that can do all that are so rare and valuable that its hard to justify risking their health.

[BackInDaDay]

from an economic perspective.. it makes no sense to tie up the largest chunk of your payroll in the only guy who can effectively run your offense.

designing an offense based on optioning the choices of a finite number of defenders, reduces each play to a finite set of reactions by your offensive players - including the QB. this allows the staff to teach and practice these 'reactions' to the backups at each position, and closes the execution gap between starters and bench players.

 

there are far more athletes who can read one or two options, react, run or throw - than there are less athletic pocket passers who can read, work through progressions, react, and throw.

the former can hit the ground running - literally - in a much shorter prep time than the latter. and the former can be replaced far easier than the latter - especially once the pocket passer masters his craft. how many seasons are lost with an injury to their pocket passing QB?

[boater]

No.

 

Think about it from the point of view of an HR Department (a good one) hiring people.

 

Pulling numbers from posterior for discussion sake: there are 2000 college football players. Only 200 will make the NFL.

 

The difference between 2000 and 200 populations: physical characteristics (speed, strength etc..) and football smarts.

 

So the NFL is getting a much more highly skilled workforce than the colleges. Therefore, these highly skilled employees are used in a different manner.

 

It's like comparing fast food to gourmet. (no offense intended to college football, because I like it also)

College offenses work because 90% of the players defending it won't be playing football as pros.

This.

Edited January 18, 2016 by boater

[papazoid]

running QB's don't live long in the NFL

[BackInDaDay]

who wouldn't prefer an offensive design that diminishes the gap between your starter and his backups?

one very large 'franchise QB' contract could finance 2 or 3 very capable athletic QBs who could be plugged in when injuries dictated.

 

let's llok at the Patriots designed short passing game - taken from collegiate spread attacks - which is in effect, their running game. on many of their plays, the defenders are spread out - and receivers who aren't receiving options block downfield. Brady can then option a particular defender(s) in choosing which of his 'targets' will receive the ball behind these blockers #12's experience is seen when manipulating the D with motion, to expose pre-snap keys that allows him to get the ball out quickly - or when the D shows it's hand too early on how it plans to bring pressure, and all he has to do is use a one-word call (thank you, coach Kelly) to either enhance, or replace the play..

 

the point is, Brady's experience makes up for his lack of athleticism. it enables him to create opportunities by recognizing how the D reacts to his personnel, his formation, and his motion. this and a diverse assortment of players, makes the Pats O very dangerous. BUT.. a less experienced athletic QB can also execute the first phase of what's described above - the "option a particular defender(s) in choosing which of his 'targets' will receive the ball behind these blockers " part. and if this QB has wheels, you can a new dimension to the offense - the ability to design the threat of s run option for the QB, into the same type of play.

 

you've now replaced the inherent threat of one QB's experience, with the explicit threat of another QB's ability to run. and although it' may be easier to disguise and confuse the less experienced athlete - to keep his O from reaching that 'very dangerous' level - i suspect a good number of talented young men.. who have been running this style of offense since high school... are quite capable of executing 'very effective' offenses in the NFL. the only thing stopping them, is the lack of commitment by teams to diminish the star power of the traditional 'franchise QB' in a QB-centric league. if QBs were as disposable as receivers and running backs, that might put a crimp in the leagues appeal, but i'm thinking that any HC and GM would prefer not to be dependent on a single player for the overall success or failure of their season.

[K-9]

College offenses work because 90% of the players defending it won't be playing football as pros.

Ding, ding, ding!

 

GO BILLS!!!

[QuoteTheRaven83]

Why don't u ask Chip Kelly.

[machine gun kelly]

I understand the question, but really it's more of colleges are not preparing QB's for the NFL. What top HS prospects should be asking themselves is what D1 programs run a pro style offense to better prepare me for a shot at the NFL. It's not a guarantee, but I bet Jim Harbaugh won't have a problem over the next five years attracting top HS QB prospects.