Running the spread: Big Ten's quick fix

By Stephanie Offen

Daily Sports Editor

Oklahoma runs it and the Sooners are No. 1 in the nation. Purdue has a similar offensive attack and the Boilermakers are leading the Big Ten and control their own desiny on the way to the Rose Bowl.

Recently, the spread offense has become a "get good quick" solution for teams like Oklahoma and Northwestern who use college football's new trend to rise to the top of the ranks.

Michigan State coach Bobby Williams, who was not succesful against the Wildcats' offense this season, said the spread is hard to defend and creates tough 1-on-1 situations for cornerbacks who may be outmatched by better receivers.

Ohio State also faced the spread last weekend in the Buckeyes' 31-27 loss to Purdue. Ohio State coach John Cooper praised Drew Brees yesterday during the Big Ten teleconference as "the best quarterback we have faced since I've been in the league." But unlike Williams, Cooper was impressed with how his team handled the spread. The Buckeyes forced four turnovers but were not able to convert on those opportunities.

And Cooper agrees with other Big Ten coaches when he says that even though both run the spread, Purdue and Northwestern have very different offenses. And when the Big Ten's most talked about spread offenses met head-to-head, Purdue dominated the Wilcats, 41-28.

"Northwestern's offense is totally different than Purdue's," Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez said. "It's not the offense or the formations as much as how well you execute. If you want to throw the ball, you need someone that is not only accurate but a good manager. But if you want a quick fix and you have a good quarterback I guess that's the way to go."

And many say that a "quick fix" is exactly what Northwestern got from the team's unconventional style of play. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr says what the Wolverines saw in the Boilermakers' offense in their loss to Purdue will be nothing like what they will see this Saturday.

"I don't think they are similar offenses," Carr said. "Purdue used Drew to run more which was particularly successful against us. Northwestern uses the quarterback as an integral part of game ... They use the quarterback as a tailback and it creates problems that we haven't seen, then you have to add the fact that they don't huddle creates new problem."

Northwestern's no-huddle style of offense - which the Wildcats combine with the spread - creates a very different look from any other team in the conference.

"The tempo of the game also creates tremendous problems," Carr said. "You don't have an opportunity to simulate this offense because demonstration teams have to huddle up to us the plays that are written on the cards."

Coming off two shutouts, the confidence of Michigan's defense is high. But Carr said that this new style of offense may throw the Wolverines' confidence out the window.

While the last two games have been shutouts for the Wolverines, they were against offenses that Michigan was used to.

"We see Michigan States and Indiana's offense every year," Carr said. "But this is a completely different offense than we have ever seen."

And the nerves in Evanston are building as well. Northwestern coach Randy Walker is nervous that his spread offense won't hold up against what he calls "one of the best defenses in the country."

But Walker added that the Wildcats will not change anything on the offensive end just because they are facing a team that is coming off two shutouts.

"Quite frankly if you do something really well you don't change it from week to week," Walker said.

Smokin' in Columbus: Monday, Michigan State coach Bobby Williams announced that freshman quarterback Jeff Smoker will be the Spartans starter this Saturday in Columbus.

Ohio State coach John Cooper is familiar with Smoker since he tried to recruit him last year. Smoker may never have played in front of an opposing crowd as large or vocal as he will this Saturday, but he is familiar with both Columbus and a big stadium atmosphere.

"Jeff played at Missouri and here," Williams said. "I know Ohio State is tough environment and he will have to get acclimated to situation early."