Whose Offense is It--Meyer or Brandon?

[Salsa]

Who really "invented" the offense used by Utah and Bowling Green?

Did Urban Meyer do it? Did Coach Brandon do it? Did they "invent" it together?

I know there are coaches, for example, UTEP's Mike Price (formerly of Washington St. and Alabama) who credit Coach Brandon with being an offensive mastermind.

Anybody know the inside story?

Also, I'm predicting we'll see some interesting innovations in BG's offense for next year. The recruitment of so many Tight Ends is the clue. I'm betting we might see:

1-More passes thrown to our Tight Ends and

2-A power offensive set, especially in the Red Zone, where we have two tight ends or maybe two running backs one of whom will be a blocker.

I also agree with earlier posts that some of our tight end recruits will be converted to defensive positions. I'm thinking Coach Brandon has decided that the next phase in upgrading BG's program is to strengthen the defense.

[1987alum]

Salsa:

Toledo uses a spread offense, but they've introduced a number of multiple TE sets that create some variety.

I've always figured that Brandon would continue to expand and develop this offense. He had to get it implemented and, by the time he probably got everyone comfortable with it, he was the head coach. Now that he has two years under his belt, I'm guessing he feels comfortable enough to get back to the offense.

I just hope Beckman is doing something similar.

[Flipper]

I've heard some people credit current West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez as being the true innovator of the spread in college football. I've also heard the spread traced as far back as Sid Gilliam and the San Diego Chargers of the 1960's.

I'm pretty sure Gary Blackney had nothing to do with it...

[1987alum]

I've heard some people credit current West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez as being the true innovator of the spread in college football. I've also heard the spread traced as far back as Sid Gilliam and the San Diego Chargers of the 1960's.

I'm pretty sure Gary Blackney had nothing to do with it...

Blackney was offensive, all right.

[orangeandbrown]

Also, I'm predicting we'll see some interesting innovations in BG's offense for next year. The recruitment of so many Tight Ends is the clue. I'm betting we might see:

1-More passes thrown to our Tight Ends and

2-A power offensive set, especially in the Red Zone, where we have two tight ends or maybe two running backs one of whom will be a blocker.

I also agree with earlier posts that some of our tight end recruits will be converted to defensive positions. I'm thinking Coach Brandon has decided that the next phase in upgrading BG's program is to strengthen the defense.

Salsa, the power sets would be ala what UT actually runs, and would be a nice variation to add to the program, although I don't attribute too much to the signing of TE's. We may have plans to move them. I also don't attribute anything to them being told they were recruited as TE's...we told Benjy Kennedy he was going to be a QB, too.

As for the true mastermind in the offense, I think we have to alter our view a little. The consenus here at AZZ seems to have been that Brandon was the mastermind behind the attack, and I have no doubt he is a very brilliant offensive coach.

But given that Meyer transported the entire philosophy to Utah, and that Utah uses more trickery (like we used to, note the hook and ladder in the red zone against Pitt), I think we do have to concede that Urban Meyer is a very good offensive football coach in his own right.

One last thing. I heard someone on ESPN radio say that the Utah offense is a hodgpodge of other offenses. I hadn't heard that before. Does someone here with more knowledge of offenses understand that statement's truth/accuracy?

[Dayons_Den]

The "story" of the Meyer-Brandon spread was recorded somewhere, I just can't seem to find it now.

Someone said that when Meyer got the job him and his staff (most notably Brandon) had meeting of the minds where they sat down and took bits and pieces from offenses they liked and came up with the current scheme. . . Sort of a Philly Constitution Hall type meeting.

[hammb]

One last thing. I heard someone on ESPN radio say that the Utah offense is a hodgpodge of other offenses. I hadn't heard that before. Does someone here with more knowledge of offenses understand that statement's truth/accuracy?

It is absolutely truth. It is part Run'n'Shoot. Part Triple Option. Part whatever Joe Gibbs runs. Part West Coast.

My logic:

Similar to the Run 'n' Shoot it runs a lot of 4 & 5 WR formations out of the shotgun. Predicated on WRs & QBs being on the same page, with some quick passes. You often times leave your QB out to dry, forcing him to get rid of the ball quickly, as the defense can easily bring more than you can block.

Part triple option. You'll see a lot of option plays in Brandon/Meyer's offense. Not a ton, but they come at least 3-5 times per game. Unlike the triple option we generally run these plays from the shotgun formation instead of the wing-T.

Part Joe Gibbs' offense in that a lot of the runs are Counters. Gibbs designs his entire offense around the Counter Tre. Where the OL & RB show a run one direction, then you'll pull an OL and the RB will cut back the other direction. Our entire running game is built on this philosophy as well. Its misdirection at its finest. The twist in the Meyer/Brandon offense is that oftentimes the QB will go in the opposite direction of the RB. This is invaluable because the QBs in this offense need rushing ability, and it adds an extra element of misdirection. Now the defense cannot even be sure which of the two has the ball.

Finally it is similar to the west coast in its reliance on slants, Posts, and passes to the HB. These routes are crucial in order to get the ball out as quickly as you need to in the 4 wide formations we like to run. Like the west coast a lot is predicated on your QB making the quick read, and most importantly, hitting the guy in STRIDE. This allows for big YAC yards, which is where a bulk of our passing yards come from.

I'm no offensive genius, but I do think its pretty clear that our offense is a conglomeration of the above schemes. I'd bet there are bits & pieces of even more in there. That said, I'm not sure this is that great of a revelation. I'd bet nearly every offense, especially in college ball, combines pieces of the above mentioned schemes as well. Our offense just takes a lot more of its heritage from the Run'n'Shoot & the West Coast.

[OptionQB]

I think it would be very accurate to say the "spread" in general is a hodge-podge of offenses. Each coach brings a certain element to the spread formations to make each one unique . . .

Examples:

1. Florida Old School "Fun and Gun"- A lot of the same formations we use, but with "pro-style" motion and routes . . . Emphasis on passing

2. West Virginia- Rich Rodriguez emphasizes the power running game and a mobile quarterback.

3. Utah- Incorporates more of the old-school option feel as well as the shovel pass. This is probably the biggest hybrid incorporating many different offenses.

4. BG- Emphasis on the pass as well, but can run when necessary. Similar to Florida in that the emphasis is on the receiver running clean routes and making good reads.

The list goes on . . . Each one is a bit different and that's what makes the spread so unique is that there is no "base" model to strategize against.

[Flipper]

It's been fun to watch football progress over the past few decades. When I was a kid in the 70's, there was a lot of emphasis placed on controlling the ball and grinding it out from the good old I formation. Then there was more importance placed on getting the ball downfield because the defenses had gotten so adept at stopping the run by putting 8 or more guys in the box. Once the defenses adjusted to seeing the field vertically and could cover the short and long games equally well simultaneously, the horizontal components in the spread, run and shoot and WCO got a lot of play. Now that defenses are adjusting to seeing the field in that "third" horizontal dimension, teams are starting to blend approaches. The game has evolved from a struggle over the line of scrimmage to a battle of wits and athleticism that covers the whole field.


I think our sudden thirst for TE's has something to do with that. We need to keep evolving or teams will figure out a way to stop us. The defense always catches up eventually.

[Falconfreak90]

Don't forget after the 43-42 shootout at NW in 2001, the coaches went over to NW to study that offense.

Whatever the case, sure is fun to watch!

[1987alum]

I'm no offensive genius, but I do think its pretty clear that our offense is a conglomeration of the above schemes. I'd bet there are bits & pieces of even more in there. That said, I'm not sure this is that great of a revelation. I'd bet nearly every offense, especially in college ball, combines pieces of the above mentioned schemes as well. Our offense just takes a lot more of its heritage from the Run'n'Shoot & the West Coast.

Don't sell yourself short, hammb. Your post was rock solid.

[Blazer]

2. West Virginia- Rich Rodriguez emphasizes the power running game and a mobile quarterback.

Rich only uses the power running game now because that's what he has. You should see the film from when he was at Salem and Glenville State (Both small schools in West Virginia). He was throwing the ball all over the place back then.

If he had better receivers and a quarterback who can make all the throws (Rasheed Marshall admittedly can't throw the intermediate ball), WVU would be more of a passing team.

[Schadenfreude]

I'm no offensive genius, but I do think its pretty clear that our offense is a conglomeration of the above schemes. I'd bet there are bits & pieces of even more in there. That said, I'm not sure this is that great of a revelation. I'd bet nearly every offense, especially in college ball, combines pieces of the above mentioned schemes as well. Our offense just takes a lot more of its heritage from the Run'n'Shoot & the West Coast.

Don't sell yourself short, hammb. Your post was rock solid.

It was an awesome post.

[factman]

It is neither Brandon's or Meyer's........it is Bowling Green's offense!!!