The Secrets of Urban Meyer’s Spread Option Offense
The legend lives on: From the flat lands of northern Ohio to the depths of Salt Lake City to the swamps of Florida, Urban Meyer, at the young age of 41, has already earned the moniker of legend. He has been called a football genius, an offensive innovator and is considered the architect behind an offense that even the best minds in college football can’t harness, let alone stop.
His spread option offense helped change the game and in turn brought respectability to Bowling Green, an undefeated season to Utah and renewed success for the Florida Gators. Meyer certainly brought with him plenty of impressive credentials, including a two-time National Coach of the Year. And with the help of Meyer, his Offensive Coordinator Dan Mullen and a few guys paid to try and stop this offense, we will take an inside look at the legend’s offense, how it works and why it works.
Defining Meyer’s spread option
It’s called a few different things, but essentially Urban Meyer’s offense is known in football circles as a spread option. The philosophy is quite simple. Meyer and company spread out the offense and force you to defend from sideline to sideline, using the entire width of the field to their advantage. The more space a defense has to cover, the more room it creates for Florida’s outstanding athletes. Once you’re spread out, they then let you decide what it is you are going to stop, the run or the pass, and they burn you with the other. “All things being equal, anybody can stop the run and anybody can stop the pass,” Meyer said. “But can you stop both?”
americanfootballmonthly.com
6/06
