Beware of Texas Ambush
Spread Offenses Can Cause Big Trouble in Big D

What do the Houston Sleepers, Scatbacks and OSU Raiders all have in common? They are all teams that primarily play screen flag (or teams with a lot of screen experience and screen-like offenses) winning major tournaments on the contact flag level.

The Houston Sleepers (TX) won the MCFFU $10k Tournament in July one of California's largest tournaments, while the Scatbacks (TX) won the Kansas City Classic averaging over 32 points per game in each win; and most recently the OSU Raiders (OH) won one of Cleveland's longest running 8-man contact tournaments going undefeated in the process.

Screen teams have recently experienced a lot of success moving into the contact styles with their wide-open, spread offenses. With less field space to operate and the lack of contact, these teams have developed quick striking offenses that are proving to be more than challenging for most traditional 8-man Eligible contact teams to say the least. This accompanied by defenses that miss very few flags, could spell big trouble for unsuspecting teams. Extremely elusive, quick-thinking accurate QB's that are capable of breaking an ankle or two are often at the helm; one missed flag by the D-line and a big play will soon follow.

Other notable screen-based teams that have dominated the screen game and have held more than their own in 8-man contact are the Ft. Worth Rams (TX), Dallas Primetime (TX), N.O. Hitmen (LA), Untouchables (GA), Mean Machine (TN) and the NX Level Devils from Arizona who made their name winning 4-on-4 National titles. The NX Level Devils gave contact teams all they could handle in their first ever 8-man eligible tournament.

What makes 8-Man Eligible (contact) one of the nations most popular styles of play is because of its diversity. No other style offers a wider variety of offenses and defenses, more strategy, along with the appeal of traditional football. Smaller teams can compete with larger teams, slower teams can compete with faster teams and finesse teams can effectively compete with power teams.

The old adage regarding screen teams is that you must play physical with them to keep their offenses from running loose in the secondary - they don't like contact. Well lately, they are doing more than dealing with physical play; they are winning the contact game with a screen approach.

The big concern for contact teams heading into Dallas has to be the possibility of facing multiple screen teams for the first time. With games only lasting an hour, it maybe too late before you can figure out what's really going on. No two spread-offenses are alike, however most can be extremely deadly if executed properly. So you had better bring your offense to this dance because it could literally be your best defense.

Mark my word, the Dallas Nationals will produce some huge upsets and surprises for a lot of 8-Man contact teams who don't face a variety of screen offenses on a regular who are not cautious of the unfamiliar waters that lie ahead. Just because they play screen does not mean they cannot run, catch and throw. It's still football when you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, and in order to be a true 8-man Eligible National Champion, you had better be ready to face any and everything and adjust quickly.