Why Every Team In The Big Ten Isn't Going To Run The Spread, Despite What You've Been Reading

According to Fanblog, the Big Ten is (once again) ready for the "speed" revolution that includes, of course, the spread offense. You know, because no one in the Big Ten has ever run the spread before:

Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore has been getting a lot of calls and hosting a lot of visitors during the off-season. And while that's to be expected after the Mountaineers knocked off Michigan last season, it may surprise some fans to hear that many of those calls & visits have been from Big 10 schools.
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"Since Rodriguez got the Michigan job," [App State Coach] Moore said, "I've had calls from every other school in the Big Ten."
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I'm damn curious to see if the entire Big 10 is about to undergo a complete offensive makeover.

For starters, people need to realize that the Big Ten is no stranger to the spread. Purdue has been running "Basketball on Grass" for years now, Northwestern is no stranger to the open offense either. Now Penn State will run it in HD. The list goes on...

The offense that Moore has been running is a direct descendant of the spread Rodriguez "invented" several years ago at Salem. Do you think, maybe, they are calling to learn how it works in order to defend it?

I'm pretty sure you can't stop Michigan's new spread by running the same thing your self, that doesn't seem to make any sense.

RichRod already making an impact?

The big question now that Rich Rodriguez has joined the Big Ten brotherhood is weather he will be able to successfully implement a true gimmick spread offense in a league that has traditionally rejected it. While is has shown some success at places like Purdue and Northwestern, weather it is because of lack of talent or lack of novelty, no one has been able to win consistently with that style of X&O's. People wonder that, if RichRod does pull it off, will the rest of the Big Ten be forced to follow suit? To make adjustments both of defense but also add a modern element of their own?

Well, the truth is this has already happened. No one expected JoePa to put Daryll Clark during the Alamo Bowl. I mean no one. Yet throughout the game Paterno sent in the mobile quarterback, who ended the night with 50 yards on the ground. Probably more important than the yards Clark gained, he forced A&M's defense to back off, and they were consistently caught off guard by our offense.

Michigan followed suit a couple days later. Carr, coaching the last gave of his career, used what many considered aspects of RichRod's offense, albeit in small doses, to keep the Gator defense from keying in on Hart.



Now, leading up to the MNC Game tonight, there is a lot of talk about Ohio Stat using mobile backup QB Antonio Henton in much the same way Clark was utilized. So much so that Miles actually commented on it during his press conference:

"We saw all of his early tape and we kind of got a decent feel for his abilities," said Miles. "I think we have a nice plan ready to go once he steps on the field."

It will be interesting for sure. This type of thing does not come naturally to Tressel, he has historically kept things very clear and efficient. Adding an entirely new aspect of offense, one that has not been used much at all during the season, is not his style. But then again, you can say the same thing about JoePa, ten fold.

Either way it will be interesting. And maybe RichRod will change the Big Ten. Then again, maybe this is all for Terrelle Pryor.

Terrelle Pryor Is Headed to Michigan*

EDIT: For the latest update, click here.

*Probably, that is. And by probably, I mean most sources are saying there is a 99.2% chance, leaving Ohio State, Penn State, Florida and Oregon to split the other .8%.



Most of this speculation is coming from info leaked by Ohio State, who have all but given up recruiting the kid.

This is really too bad, I thought a player like Pryor could turn around our backwards offense and actually make Penn State games fun to watch. What I simply don't get, though, is that Ohio State seemed like the front runner when RichRod was still at WVU, but now that he's at Michigan, with no Noel Devine in the backfield, he thinks playing in a gimmick offense is all the sudden a good idea. I had heard from several different places that this was the exact thing that was keeping him from WVU, but now it's the number one issue.

Pryor had also talked about playing basketball during the winters. So how is Michigan's basketball program better than WVU? When they aren't cheating I mean. In addition, RichRod has a history of being very much against dual sport athletes. None of this adds up, which is of course why I am starting to believe it, and until Kirk Herbstreit reports it, I have a feeling Pryor will be at Michigan next fall.

Pryor adds Michigan to list

I hate following recruiting. The incentives for the list-makers are all fucked up, and besides that, if NFL scouts can't accurately rank a limited number of college seniors with the help of vast video and in person combines, how the hell can a bunch of poorly paid internet loser rank every single 18 year old kid playing football with any kind of accuracy.

Despite all of that I think Pryor is a program changer for us. Of all the recruiting races Penn State has been involved in over the past five years, this one is probably the only one I will admit to truly caring about.

So before RR called his players, or even his bosses at WVU, he called Pryor and told him to come to Michigan with him. Michigan is now on the short list along with Florida, OSU, PSU and Oregon.

"He called me this morning and told me before he announced to anyone," said Pryor. "He said he's keeping the same offense that he had at West Virginia because it's all he knows. I love that offense. I told him I was very interested."

The only problem I have here is that I've heard he lowered WVU on his list because he didn't want to become a system QB in college and be underdeveloped for the NFL.

A couple things piss me off about this whole situation. One is that RR played the 'I am at home card' last year when Bama came calling and bailed the very next season. Then, instead of just jumping ship like a man, he goes and calls all his recruits, think of it as a second kick in the balls.

"My list is made up of some of the same teams," Pryor said. "Ohio State is in there, Florida is in there and Penn State is in there, but now Oregon is in the mix and now Michigan - so a lot has changed. Tennessee and West Virginia are now out."

While I guess it's great that, despite our mediocrity the past two years, we are being considered with OSU and UF, I don't like our chances now that both Michigan and Oregon are also on the list.

Rich Rod to Michigan?

Foolish, but possible. To be honest, and I mean this, I don't know why anyone at any major program would leave their post for the Michigan job. It's just not a good deal. The fans are brutal, you play well recruited ND every year, and unless you win a MNC in your first three seasons you are pretty much done. Oh, and you have to beat Ohio State every year. No exceptions.

This just in from the WWL, Paterno doesn't want a succession plan. Great fucking work ESPN, you guys are great.

UPDATE: By most message board accounts, Rich Rod (I love calling him that) is staying in Morgantown. This isn't an update as much as it is the natural progression of any candidate for the Michigan job (interest reported, ESPN story, report they are taking the job, report they are not taking the job). They are losing recruits by the way. This thing is getting comical.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: Michigan has a coach. Way to go guys, that's great news. Can't wait to see Mallet in the White/Slaton offense. After being turned down by the coaches of LSU and Rugers (ha) you landed your man. And by landed I mean stole a guy who had committed over and over again to staying at WVU. What's really interesting is what this does to the big east and, a little more close to home, how this affects Pryor's decision. Rumor is RR called him right before he officially bailed on his alma mater and that Michigan is now on the short list.