Mankato West’s Spread Offensive Philosophy By Head Football Coach Mark Esch

In 2003, I was introduced to the spread seventh grade. offense by Tim Hermann, head football When identifying the spread offense coach at Austin High School. We were quarterback there are certain things I about 50 to 60 percent spread in Austin, like to see him do well. From a passing but the thing I liked most while serving as standpoint, the first thing I look for is the Offensive Line Coach under Tim was that slant route. If a quarterback can catch he was open to new ideas. This sparked the ball in the gun, step and throw a an offensive creativity that I tried to strike on a slant route I believe he can be carry over here at Mankato West when I taught to throw about any route or pass started as head coach three seasons ago. combination in our system. With the history of Mankato West, I knew Another key route we look at is the we would get good athletes that could bubble route. It sounds simple, but run and catch the football. The spread many quarterbacks struggle throwing offense took off right away and we have the bubble. With the zone/read/bubble never looked back. In this article, I want being a huge part of our offense, it is to paint a picture of some of the key imperative that our kid can throw the elements of the spread. bubble every time it is open. Many Many people think that to run the times you will see a kid with a great arm spread offense you must have a great struggle throwing a simple pass like the running Quarterback who can throw the bubble pass. If this is the case, it is usually ball extremely well. This is not entirely a simple footwork problem that can be true. Obviously, if you have a kid who easily remedied. can do both it creates a headache for the successful running the football. There A third important aspect of any defense. However, in my experience, you have also been years where our spread spread quarterback is the ability to read don’t need a kid who is great at both. I team has excelled at running the the defense. I understand that this is the was extremely fortunate my first year at football, which creates many one-on- case in most offenses, but the spread West to have a QB that excelled at both. one matchups outside allowing an they must understand both the coverage In my time at Austin and at Mankato West average passing team to throw the ball and the front to be effective. Many times we’ve proven that what is necessary from effectively. As a result of being able to we call our play at the line of scrimmage a spread QB is that they are excellent both throw and run effectively, it gives and any of our play calls could be paired at either one or the other, throwing or us the ability to spread a the field not with another play. Our QB must be able running. Our first year in Austin, we went just horizontally, but vertically. The goal to know which play is best, or which 6-2 in the Big 9 and lost to Farmington of our spread philosophy is to make the decision must be made with paired 16-7 in the section championship. Our defense cover every yard of the football plays. Quarterback was a very average passer, field. We stretch the field vertically with but was a phenomenal runner. In our Another aspect I like about the spread our speed. Our three-step or quick pass 2008 state championship season at West, is you can pinpoint strengths and build game can also stretch the field vertically, our QB was a great passer and a just upon them. As I mentioned in 2008 we but is imperative to our horizontal above average runner. There are a wide had a great passing Quarterback with stretch. The final aspect is our run game variety of Quarterbacks that fit into the excellent wide receivers. We identified which stretches the field horizontally spread offense. The key is finding the early on that our QB threw the 3 step, (but hopefully vertically too)! right guy at a young age. In our youth sprintout, and screen game very well One of my favorite aspects of the football program we now are identifying but did not excel at the 5 step game. spread is that the offense can create potential quarterbacks as young as fifth This outside threat of our passing game problems for any defense by formation. grade. These kids are running a shotgun forced a lot of teams to play a 5 man It is usually only a matter of time before a offense by the time they are in sixth and box, and as a result, we were extremely spread offense, if ran correctly, will find a

Minnesota Football Coaches Association - 47 “Th e Ke e p e r s o f t h e Ga m e ” weak spot in the defense. This may be the this game planning package. We can get down with our finesse as opposed to our case with any offense, but the spread— in , knowing we want to run 3-4 power. by its nature spreading the field— can simple plays out of that formation. We can In summary, there are many benefits create some explosive plays when the take a look at how the defense has lined to the spread offense and I believe most weaknesses in the defense are found. We up and make the appropriate call. We can teams are capable of running the offense. thoroughly look at every formation and try also adjust after a play is called if needed. It does require a total commitment and to identify how it is going to be defended This can take some of the stress off of the a willingness to learn. The benefits of each week. We will identify how teams Quarterback by allowing the Offensive the spread are numerous and I believe play trips, where they play their alley Coordinator to make key decisions. most teams in the state have the ability players, how we can get an advantage Our no huddle system also puts a great to achieve success in implementing this on run blocking angles, and several other deal of stress on the defense. Other types offense. items that will dictate what we think will of offense may wear down a defense by be successful. We have coaches assigned pounding the football. The spread offense to drawing up the defense against each wears the opposing defense down by formation on game night so we can also making them cover the entire field. This make game plan adjustments between forces all defensive players to run sideline possessions and at half. to sideline on almost every play. We have Our no-huddle adds a key element to had a great deal of success wearing teams

48 - Minnesota Football Coaches Association