A great coach once said that good football teams either do something different or they do it better. The spread formation gives teams a chance to do both. It is a hybrid formation, a combination of the Run and Shoot (even though no run and shoot base plays are employed) and the flexbone. This formation gives an offense the capability, by alignment, to stretch a defense both horizontally and vertically. The spread stretches the defense horizontally with the simultaneous threat of various double and triple options and vertically by placing four quick receivers at the line of scrimmage (LOS). The end result is that the spread formation dictates, by its alignment, a balanced response from the defense. They cannot afford to gang up on the running game. With four quick receivers at or near the LOS, the defense must also respect the pass or face the consequences.
