Point Counterpoint - Stopping the Air Raid

Spread Stoppers - Defending the Zone Read, Bubble Screen and Four VerticalsTrying to defend the spread includes being creative and mixing defenses but pressure on the quarterback and aggressive open-field tackling are critical. The evolution of the spread offense has defensive coordinators longing for the good old days when defending the triple option meant accounting for the fullback, quarterback and a pitch man. But these days the third option might just as easily be a wide receiver on a quick bubble screen or even a slanting wide out that can really have your defense spinning.Welcome to the modern spread, an offense that has evolved to the point where defensive schemes are almost irrelevant. Instead, stopping a balanced, multi-faceted spread offense featuring a dynamic dual-threat quarterback is now more about versatile personnel and open-field tackling.    But it can