Is power football now the path to contention for smaller programs?
With the spread now ubiquitous, is comparative advantage to be found in emphasizing toughness over skill and running the ball?
Back when I worked for SB Nation, I once got a preseason assignment to do some interviews and go back to tell the story of Appalachian State’s upset win over Michigan in 2007. At the time the Mountaineers were an FCS power, invited to come to the Big House for a shellacking to open the season and warm up their still somewhat new zone running scheme (adopted in 2006).
My interview for the article was with Scott Satterfield, now head coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats heading into year one in the Big 12, who threw in this nugget:
"The game has evolved since then," Satterfield says. "Most everyone is doing some version of the spread now. The defenses have tried to catch up, and to a certain extent, they have, by putting more speed on the field. We've kinda gone back to running the football and a little bit more slowing the game down and limiting the offensive possessions for the other team, and that's helped us since we moved up to the FBS level. But the game is always evolving."
Appalachian State ended up converting into a zone-option running scheme often using multiple tight ends. Last year at Louisville Satterfield had the same approach, running a lot of zone schemes from the pistol or 21 personnel groupings. They called it 12 personnel but all their tight ends were 6-foot-2 or shorter and weighed 240-255, essentially fullbacks.
His idea was interesting and stuck with me, particularly when paired with my study of what allowed Nebraska to build a dynasty in the 90s, or observing Iowa State’s methods in 2020 or the emerging trends around the game.
Is the smart play these days for the have-not, non blue bloods of college football to try and build offenses around smashmouth football and fullbacks rather than the spread offense?
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