I’m so biased and in love with the spread system, but I also think that, realistically, NFL defenses are too damn fast, and spread QBs aren’t generally sturdy enough. Hate to be cliched, but the little spark plug guys like Jeremiah Masoli, no matter how durable, are just too tiny. And the taller, lankier guys like Dennis and Vince Young and Pat White, the jury’s still out on that type of build. Guys like Joey, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco… all too pocket passer types.

If it can be run by the right personnel and coaches, it could succeed. But NFL defenders get low, and go hard. Better have some strong knees.

At this point, no, the spread run-option (similar to what Oregon, WVU, Michigan, among others) run would not work in the NFL. The big reasons, butthol touched on above (durability, size, etc). HOWEVER, the “SPREAD” is often too generalized. There are many different variations of the spread. As it is, the “spread” is just spreading out the defense by putting as many skill players out on the field as possible: a.k.a. only 5 offensive linemen, no tight end, either 5 WRs or 4 WR/1 RB, etc

There are types of the spread that are in the NFL, and it appears that it is becoming more popular. Example, fullbacks are rarely used in the NFL anymore. The west coast offense was revolutionary in that it go the ball in the hands of playmakers (like Jerry Rice) in short, quick passes, and let them do what they do. Essentially, that is what Oregon does, just out of a shotgun, and with a lot more pre-snap motion.

Basically, the spread can work in the NFL, and in many ways, is already there (see: Colts, Patriots). As long as sports as been around, there is a constant cycle that is constantly in motion. Offense evolves to beat a defense (see, triple option running moving to the spread offenses, etc) and when an offense has taken over a sport, then the defensive minds begin to game plan around that offense (i.e. you see defenses getting smaller and faster…Safeties are now linebackers, linebackers are now defensive ends). Before the early 2000s, when was the last time you saw a defensive end successfully fall back into passing coverage? Now, it is something that is as normal as the forward pass. Once defenses have found ways to stop it, then the offense begins its evolution again. Eventually, you will see this in the NFL, but it will be a few years down the road.

One thing that is interesting, if you look at the QB’s being recruited now, the top ones can usually run a sub 4.6 40. I don’t want to make this a racial thing, but you are seeing black QBs almost as often as white ones now, because of the use of their natural athletic abilities. Not saying every black QB can run a 4.4 40, or that all white QBs are slow, but when before have you seen this many black QBs? It’s due to the evolution of the offense. And eventually, there will be a breaking point in the NFL.

But for the record, I voted no.

I just think the defensive speed on most NFL teams would negate the spread – as run by Oregon, West Virginia, Utah. Like the Wildcat plays we saw this season, elements of the spread will find their way to the NFL fields more and more, to VD’s point, that’s the natural process of evolution.

It will become more than simply a “gadget”, but I can’t imagine an NFL team adopting a true full-time spread offense where the QB may carry the ball 15 times a game. If that was going to happen – and/or be successful – in the NFL, the more classic Nebraska/Oklahoma wishbone or triple option might been adopted years ago.

because as effective as the spread offense has been in college, eventually every college team will be running it and scouting qb’s will become so hard that teams will just forget the whole process and switch to a spread so they can plug in any great athlete with at least a decent arm into their system to have offensive success. Also the spread makes it easier to develop a qb(see dennis dixon) so they don’t have to worry about finding the right qb more of just a qb.

My KC Chiefs ran a version of the spread with Tyler Thigpen and had some success with it. Tony G, D. Bowe, and Jamal Charles flourisher in the system. I think the spread is the next wave in the NFL, sort of like how the West Coast offense swept through the league a few years back.