Spread Offense

Many of the top college football programs thrive with a version of the spread offense. At Florida, it's the spread-option. It's the shotgun-spread at Purdue. Georgia Tech employs the triple-option spread. The popularity of the spread has reached high schools, too, making the game faster and more wide-open than ever. "It has filtered down from the colleges," La Salle coach Drew Gordon said. The premise of the spread is as the word suggests: The offense wants to spread the defense out, forcing it to cover more space.

All the rage in college football, the spread offense has become somewhat of a scourge for NFL talent evaluators. "It gets more difficult with the evolution of the spread offense because the things they're doing in college, most of it won't transfer to the NFL," Kevin Colbert, director of football operations for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, said at the NFL scouting combine in February. "So you're really looking for physical characteristics. Like the footwork, even though you don't see a lot of footwork in the shotgun and the spread.

Pennsville visits Gloucester Catholic Nov. 6 in a West Jersey Football League interdivision clash of two of South Jersey's pass-happiest teams. "That game could take six hours," Pennsville coach Ryan Wood said. Pennsville and Gloucester Catholic have smart, strong-armed senior quarterbacks. Both teams run spread offenses that feature three or four wide receivers and showcase running backs in the passing game as much as the ground game. The same goes for Washington Township and Winslow Township, perennial playoff teams that will meet in the season opener on Saturday afternoon.

While waiting for his turn in a drill yesterday at Temple's Geasey Field, Owls defensive back Terrance Leftwich was moved to exhort his teammates. "We have to get this thing working!" the senior shouted. It was the first day at spring practice at Temple, and Leftwich and the other Owls seemed to be on the same page with their enthusiasm. New offensive coordinator David Brock and defensive coordinator Ray Monica put their units through a spirited seven-on-seven session toward the end of the 2 1/2-hour practice.

Big Ten coaches are still fighting the perception that their conference is stuck in the dark ages of college football - all run and no pass - and, thus, one of the lesser weights among BCS conferences. They argue that they've been a bunch of sissies for years, passing as much as any league. Eight of 11 teams seem intent on running the pass-oriented spread offense. Purdue's Joe Tiller was among the first. He recalled the first time his team played Penn State in 1997 and the conversation with his old friend, Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno, on the field before the contest.

When the Temple football team unveils its new spread offense tonight at Franklin Field against Richmond in the season opener for both teams, one thing will remain the same. The Owls, whose defensive leader is all-Big East tackle Dan Klecko, will again be counting on tailback Tanardo Sharps to carry the ball. Sharps, a 5-foot-11, 193-pound senior, is on the Doak Walker watch list as one of the nation's top runners. A 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore, Sharps will be the featured back behind quarterback Mike McGann in Temple's no-huddle, no-fullback scheme.

Backup quarterback Mike Kafka may have surprised many observers with his poise and play Sunday night for the Eagles, but not one of the coaches who knows him best. "Maybe it surprised everybody else or some other people how he played the other night. It didn't surprise me, because he's always been there, ready," said Mick McCall, the Northwestern offensive coordinator who coached Kafka in college. Kafka may have to be ready this week. With Michael Vick recovering from a concussion, it might be the second-year quarterback under center when the Eagles resume practice Wednesday - and perhaps on Sunday, too, against the Giants in the Eagles' home opener.

  Matt Cookson Cookson, a three-year starter, directs the Bulldogs' spread offense working from a no-huddle, shotgun formation. He passed for more than 1,500 yards and ran for 700 more last year as Class A Morrisville finished 7-5. Coach Jim Gober said Cookson looked right at home playing in a 7-on-7 league earlier this summer at West Chester University. The schools in the league were usually much larger than Morrisville. "He's good academically, and he also plays baseball - he's a pitcher and outfielder," Gober said.

Former Penn State quarterback Kevin Newsome has given Temple a verbal commitment that he intends to transfer, sources told the Daily News . Newsome took part in spring practice last year with the Nittany Lions but left the program in August. He will have 2 years of eligibility remaining and can play immediately because he did not play last season. The Owls' starter is Chris Coyer, who also has 2 years left on North Broad Street. He took over late in the season and looked impressive running a similar spread offense to the one Steve Addazio ran as the coordinator at Florida.

The newest innovation in high school football is the A-11 offense. But don't expect to see it here, at least not right away. The A-11 offense, devised by a couple of coaches in California - Kurt Bryan and Steve Humphries - makes all 11 players (wearing numbers 1-49 or 80-99) eligible receivers. It features two quarterbacks in the shotgun formation with no one under center, thereby meeting the criteria for a scrimmage kick formation under National Federation rules. Spreading the offense across the field forces the defense to account for every possible receiver on each play, although only five players can go downfield to catch a pass and at least seven players must be up on the line of scrimmage.

IF ANYONE cares, Donovan McNabb says the Redskins shouldn't select quarterback Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 pick in next month's NFL draft. "I say that because a lot of times ego gets too involved when it comes to being in Washington," McNabb told ESPN's First Take on Thursday. "Here's a guy coming out who's very talented, mobile, strong arm, we've already heard he's intelligent - football mind. Are you going to cater the offense around his talents and what he's able to do?

FORMER PENN STATE quarterback Kevin Newsome has given Temple a verbal commitment that he intends to transfer, sources told the Daily News . Newsome took part in spring practice with the Nittany Lions last year but left the program in August. He will have 2 years of eligiblity, and can play immediately because he did not play last season. The Owls' starter is Chris Coyer, who also has 2 years left on North Broad Street. He took over late in the season and looked impressive running a similar spread offense to the one Steve Addazio ran as the coordinator at Florida.

Former Penn State quarterback Kevin Newsome has given Temple a verbal commitment that he intends to transfer, sources told the Daily News . Newsome took part in spring practice last year with the Nittany Lions but left the program in August. He will have 2 years of eligibility remaining and can play immediately because he did not play last season. The Owls' starter is Chris Coyer, who also has 2 years left on North Broad Street. He took over late in the season and looked impressive running a similar spread offense to the one Steve Addazio ran as the coordinator at Florida.

Pete Lancetta has one thing to say about the spread offense. "I hate it," the Hammonton coach said. "I think they should outlaw it. " Lancetta was smiling when he said that. He was just kidding. He doesn't really think the pass-happy offensive approach should be banned from the sport. "Maybe they can let them use it one time a series," Lancetta said. That's not just a lament by a wing-T guy who loves to run the football. That's also a respectful complaint by a coach who spent the last week trying to figure out a way to defend against that speedy, sophisticated offense.

Hurry up. That's one way to describe Moorestown's offense. That's also one way to describe the Quakers' approach to the last moments of the football season. Moorestown (6-4) will visit Hammonton (8-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 3 tournament. The host Blue Devils are the No. 2 seed and the favorites, based on the consistently strong play this season by coach Pete Lancetta's team. "Hammonton is Hammonton," Moorestown coach Russ Horton said.

Pete Lancetta has one thing to say about the spread offense. "I hate it," the Hammonton coach said. "I think they should outlaw it. " Lancetta was smiling when he said that. He was just kidding. He doesn't really think the pass-happy offensive approach should be banned from the sport. "Maybe they can let them use it one time a series," Lancetta said. That's not just a lament by a wing-T guy who loves to run the football. That's also a respectful complaint by a coach who spent the last week trying to figure out a way to defend that speedy, sophisticated offense.

Hurry up. That's one way to describe Moorestown's offense. That's also one way to describe the Quakers' approach to the last moments of the football season. Moorestown (6-4) will visit Hammonton (8-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 3 tournament. The host Blue Devils are the No. 2 seed and the favorites, based on the consistently strong play this season by coach Pete Lancetta's team. "Hammonton is Hammonton," Moorestown coach Russ Horton said.

At the very least, the Academy Park football team has fared better than most anticipated. The Knights, who were expected to endure some rebuilding pains after going 6-5 last season, are 8-3 and two wins away from a District 1 Class AAA championship. "The kids are determined to keep this going," seventh-year coach Jason Vosheski said. "They don't want it to end. " In a district semifinal Friday night, Academy Park, seeded No. 7, will visit No. 3 Phoenixville (8-3). The victor will take on either No. 1 Pottsgrove (9-2)

At the very least, the Academy Park football team has fared better than most anticipated. The Knights, who were expected to endure some rebuilding pains after going 6-5 last season, are 8-3 and two wins away from a District 1 Class AAA championship. "The kids are determined to keep this going," seventh-year coach Jason Vosheski said. "They don't want it to end. " In a district semifinal Friday night, Academy Park, seeded No. 7, will visit No. 3 Phoenixville (8-3). The victor will take on either No. 1 Pottsgrove (9-2)