Will Tyler Thigpen be a Spread-Only QB for the Kansas City Chiefs?

by Joel Thorman on Jun 28, 2009 1:04 PM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason

When the Chiefs pulled the trigger on the trade that brought Matt Cassel and his $14.651 million franchise tender to Kansas City, it was a foregone conclusion that there was a new starting quarterback in town. Tyler Thigpen's rise to the position in 2008 triggered a change in offensive philosophy from Herm Edwards' conservative, run-first approach to a college feel spread-it-out passing attack. The idea behind it was to capitalize on Thigpen's strengths as a spread passer and further utilize his biggest asset - his legs.

The Chiefs use of the spread offense last season wasn't the first of it's kind. Bill Belichick has been making trips down to Gainesville, FL the last three years to talk offense with Gators head coach Urban Meyer. The NFL head coach has been trying to glean as much information from the college coach in attempting to give the college spread an NFL feel.

"Everyone knows how I feel about Bill Belichick," Meyer said. "How is it that Tom Brady and this guy [Cassel] who never even started a game in college can make it work? Because Bill Belichick adapts. ... And the Miami Dolphins were 0-and-whatever [in '07] and they adapted to what they had. All of a sudden, the running back was taking snaps and they were winning games."

Meyer also said at least three NFL teams have contacted him regarding the spread offense. Are the Chiefs one of those three teams?

Chris Harry of the Orlanda-Sentinel writes an in-depth article on the spread offense, Meyer's influence and how it will translate to the NFL. It's really worth a read. Check it out.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Jim Bates said having a player on the roster designated as a "spread-only" quarterback presents a real "double jeopardy" and cites Larry Johnson and Percy Harvin among others as players that have lined up at quarterback.

But the real threat, Harry supposes, are the Pat Whites and Tim Tebows of the world. NFL teams wouldn't dare put their franchise quarterback in harm's way, but what about running the 240 pound Tebow straight up on a 240 pound middle linebacker? It's an interesting thought that would only happen if a team had A) a traditional quarterback and B) a "spread-only" quarterback. Meyer referenced the season-ending injuries of Carson Palmer and Tom Brady and said when they're in the pocket throwing the ball is the only time their knee is ever locked and presents the potential for these types of injuries.

Definitely check out the article. The whole time I was thinking, 'This IS Tyler Thigpen.' With Chan Gailey's innovative offense, Todd Haley's background with passers and Scott Pioli's history with Belichick, I'm feeling more and more the Chiefs were one of the teams that contacted Meyer about the offense and that Thigpen could be one of the best 'spread-only' quarterbacks in the NFL.

I'll leave you with a couple interesting quotes on the topic.

Bucs head coach Raheem Morris

"We draft guys into this league that play in the spread offense. I don't know why the offense can't get drafted, too."

Gators head coach Urban Meyer

"If you know me, you know I think any offense can work if you put the right personnel back there. Offenses are overrated. People are not."

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Comments

I would think we wouldnt need Meyer's input...

With Chan Gailey on staff. He showed last year that he has a pretty good handle on it and as far as offensive minds/creativity I would probably rank Gailey and Haley way ahead of Meyer.

by GenericBrand on Jun 28, 2009 1:20 PM CDT reply actions

I think great coaches aren't afraid to get help from other places

if it will make their team better.

Herm is gone things are better with that one move!!

by bringbacktheglory on Jun 28, 2009 2:21 PM CDT reply actions

Question???

Is the spread offense of today really that different than the run & shoot of the early 90s, Houston Oilers with Warren Moon, a single back, and receivers all over the place?

by chrisclark_dfw on Jun 28, 2009 2:38 PM CDT reply actions

I could try to answer your question

Or you could check out this great FanPost by KCSatchMO on a brief history of NFL offenses.

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jun 28, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

Thanks for the link

by chrisclark_dfw on Jun 28, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Similar in some ways

The pre-snap pass reads and route adjustments for the Spread and Run and Shoot are virtually identical. The running game and run reads are completely different. The Run and Shoot only uses the pre-snap read to determine what routes the receivers will run and how pass blocking will be assigned. The Spread is far more complex. The reads determine if the play is a run or pass, what route the receivers run on a pass, where the RB will go on a run and if the QB will be looking to run early on a pass play.

The Run and Shoot owes most of it’s philosphy to the West Coast offense. Short passes to control the ball and move the chains. It just evolved to move the QB away from the center and pass far more frequently with more WRs in the set. The Spread is really a beast all it’s own. It’s a very old offense that has employed some new complexities (run and shoot reads) in it’s latest incarnation. With that said, the personel you need to makes these Os works are completely different.

by KCSatchmo on Jun 28, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions

A Question

Would the O-Lineman developed in a Spread college game have to be smarter than an average Pro style college O-lineman?

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 28, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Id say it’s an easier transition to go from prostyle to spread then vice versa. Theres a huge learning curve going to a prostyle olineman in the NFL which is part of the reason, according to Haley, that the Chiefs didn’t consider going with the Baylor OT.

by GenericBrand on Jun 28, 2009 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I shouldve been clearer as my comments were based on physical technique only as thats how I interpreted the question.

by GenericBrand on Jun 29, 2009 2:20 AM CDT up reply actions

There's more than one type of pro-style.

You have to be smart (at least football smart) in any system. The Spread reads are complex by any standard, but they are just so different from anything employed in the traditional pro-style Os. The Spread read is keyed off the DE and schemes/lanes are adjusted according to where he lines up in relation to interior linemen and OLB. Most pro sets key off the LBs and what motion they show pre-snap.

The real difficulty and learning curve comes in the differences in technique and the ability to block on the 2nd level of the D. What you describe as playing in space below is really more similar to a zone blocking scheme. Footwork is a premium, but mobility to the 2nd teir of the D is not.

Hope this helps.

by KCSatchmo on Jun 28, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 28, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes! Thigphen would be a great spread only QB and defenses may have a difficult time adjusting to it. It could bring us some success.

by zbschiefs on Jun 28, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions

Okay...

I’m ready for the Thigpen infatuation to be over. I feel there is a deep and underlying issue with Chiefs fans right now. Yes of course we all are happy to have Matt Casel take the reigns so we can perform in 09. But by the looks of it, I cant help but think I’m the only guy who is is ready to move on emotionally from our prized back-up of ‘08 who managed to show a big league performance for more than one week without looking like a pop warner. Listen, I like the guy too. But its time to be realistic with whats going on in the new era of Kansas City football. There is a new sherriff in town and that sherriff is Scott Pioli…and he came to clean house. And honestly I don’t see Tyler Thigpen touching the field unless Cassel is unjured or needs a one-downer to talk to Gailey on the sideline horn for a play…but then again they can just do all that through his helmet/earpiece so..

by chiefnyc on Jun 28, 2009 10:27 PM CDT reply actions

+1

Simple and true

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 28, 2009 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree, to some extent

There is a certain worship-Thiggy mindset with Chiefs fans, like he is a second-coming, and for that we must be cautious. However, I don’t see what makes this kid playing a new system any worse option than those IDIOTS (sarcasm) who lined up a running back as the quarterback to take snaps. Sounded like a dumb idea at the time, but it helped a pretty weak team (Phins) overthrow a great team (Pats). Running that system 100% would be idiotic, but to toss it in as a wrench a couple times a game can’t hurt.

-cw

Watching the 2009-2010 Chiefs via the Slingbox, 12 hours delayed, in Taiwan.
Twittering my every move. Don't act like you're not even slightly interested.

by webby37 on Jun 29, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions