Here's Will Muschamp's comments on defending the spread. I found this comment most interesting. If true then it's easy to see why a well coached spread team with supposedly inferior (based on recruit rankings) can be successfull against the big boys. If you look at Texas Tech they rarely have any body who is highly recruited, although Graham Harrell I believe was a pretty well thought of HS QB, yet they can give a lot of good teams fits. So if you have a more conventional offense you need to recruit better players at all positions to achieve your goals, while a spread team doesn't necessarily need 5* athletes....although I'm sure they help! Terry Defense the Spread?
I think that the key is to disguise your defense. The spread relies on the QB to make reads. A defense needs more speed and less bulk to stop the spread. The backs playing the LB spots have to know their specific drops.
I'm a believer in the spread. Only thing with the Gators is that we have yet to come up with a running back that performs consistently week in and week out since Meyer has been at Florida. I think it's a bit more difficult to get some of the top running backs if you run the spread. Maybe it's just a Gator thing though.
I think the Gators don't have a good back because Meyer doesn't emphasize the running game. That's also the reason, IMO, that Drayton left UF to become UT's RB coach. Florida has really good backs but a traditional RB does not thrive in that offense, IMO. It's not the spread but Meyer's version of the spread. Same thing with Texas Tech who probably doesn't have a talented stable of backs but they don't really need on either. Percy Harvin is all the Gators need at RB. I wonder how he translates to the NFL. That's another subject. I think also the reason that Meyer is often seen as running up the score is because the offense does not accommodate salting away games. I was a little offended at the 59-20 beatdown the Gators put on the Vols last year but in hindsight that offense forces you to keep throwing the ball, IMO. If the opposing defense is loaded up to stop the run as they would be in most other cases when the other team has a comfortable lead then the gimmick running plays that Meyer runs aren't going to be very effective. So, that forces the coach's hand to pass at some point. I don't think you have to throw 40 yard bombs but they have to keep the chains moving.
I don't like Myers' offense, especially in a league that has fast physical defenses. (Not trying to get you Gators riled, I think he's a very good coach otherwise) Franchione bacame enamoured with that offense after the Aggies played Utah, and I've seen it destroy/ruin two QB's already. (Of course the Fran version skewed more to the option side since he is an idiot!) I think it places too much pressure/risk on the QB running it. Watching the first half of the UF/Miami game just confirmed it for me. What will UF do when Tebow leaves, and your next QB isn't quite as "durable"???