My love with the spread offense started very simple. Spread the defense from sideline to sideline and vertically. By spreading the defense out we would be able to get more one on one match-ups and be able to create more explosive plays on offense.
Probably the play that all my programs have had the most success with running, and has always been a part of my playbook is the Inside Zone Read (IZ). Our program has ran the IZ over 1,000 times the last 4 years. Once the zone scheme has been taught properly to the players there are very few concepts that have the ability to exploit a defense more. Below in Figure 3 is our Zone Bubble concept and we like this because we have the ability to stretch the defense sideline to sideline with the bubble, and vertically with the run game. When you pair this play with a fast tempo you ended up creating issues for the defense. Because this play has more than one option you are able to run it over and over again until the defense can prove that they can stop it.
As we have evolved as a team, so has our run offense. We used to be primarily only a zone blocking team. TheSpartan Spread System has added gap schemes to its repertoire, and has made us go from a pass first team to a run to set-up the pass team. By adding gap schemes it has also helped us increase our explosive plays on play action pass (Figure 5).