I think this is completely wrong...or, missing the point. The spread option is heavily dependent on the QB, much moreso than the pro-style. Also, the QB in the spread needs to have a wider range of abilities. A bad QB can be "covered up" in the pro-style -- a bad QB in the spread option kills the team. Look at Michigan. John Navarre was a big stiff, but he excelled because he could hand off to Chris Perry whenever the game got tight. But in Dick Rod's spread, a guy like Threet or even Forcier has their weaknesses exposed.
Yeah I agree, that's why I figured I'd throw in at the end that the spread option can be harder in its own way. It's like apples and oranges between the two quarterbacks really... they're being asked to do different things.
I was speaking in terms of the quarterback's skill set in the passing game, but now that you bring it up, it does seem like a spread option quarterback has a lot more responsibility.
How again is every position other than QB harder to play in the spread than in the pro-style offense?
From an execution standpoint, options are very difficult to get perfected and require a ton of practice. The quarterback has to read the defender that the option is targetting, make the correct read, and deliver a good pitch if he chooses to do so. The running back has to keep good relationship with the quarterback so the pitch can be executed on a consistent basis. The lineman almost always pull and/or hook block, which can be difficult to execute consistently. Receivers, well, they're probably no more difficult in either system.
That has no absolutely no bearing on the difficulty of executing the play. The execution that I am referring to is based on reading the defense and executing the play itself based on what formation/scheme/coverage/blitz/etc. the defense is running.
And the execution that I'm referring to is running the play exactly how it's drawn up and getting the timing down for everything. Timing and motion are critical in most spread options. Reading the defense is critical in a spread option as well, it's just not the same read as a pro-style scheme. The pro-style might read if it's Cover 2 or Cover 3, and the option reads if the defensive end is playing the quarterback or the running back. You still have to read the defense, the linemen still have blocking assignments, it's just different. Execution is still vitally important.
In essence, every offense's goal is to create 1 on 1 matchups, but the spread offense allows the quarterback to identify 1v1 much quicker than in a pro-style offense.
How do you figure?
Obviously, I disagree that the spread offense is just as difficult to run as the pro-style offense.
First of all, the spread offense adds an additional weapon that the defense must account for at all times in the quarterback. This alone can change the entire face of a defense from front to back, especially an inferior defense.
Also, the spread offense puts an increased amount of pressure on the defensive line because defenses typically want to get more speed on the field to cover the increased amount of receiving options all over the field. This could force more defensive backs on the field instead of linebackers.
Not only that, but I'd also argue that the spread option puts more pressure on the safeties as well because they must be involved in run defense, especially on plays where the QB has the option of running.
I could just as easily call a naked bootleg in a pro-style system and the defense has to account for my quarterback as well. You see this all the time in the NFL, the QB will hand the ball off to the running back and run out the opposite way.. and 9 times out of 10 the defensive end on that side will run with him. He may not be as big of a threat, but you still better have a guy there to stop him.
I could just as easily put pressure on your defensive line by using trap plays, screens and draws that force you to read the field before you react and slow you down.
I could just as easily put pressure on your safeties by running over/under routes, combination patterns or establishing a running game of my own.
