Big 12 defenses make stopping The Spread a priority

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the 1970s, Oklahoma unveiled a devastating force on the livelihood of defensive coordinators.

The Wishbone launched a dynasty that for 20 years bewildered even the savviest of defenses.

The 21st Century, however, has brought with it a new and improved scoring weapon:

The Spread — an offense that positions wide receivers, tight ends and running backs all over the field with the goal of creating wide-open running lanes and mismatches in speed.

"I was really taken aback seeing the offensive numbers that were happening in the Big 12,” said first-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who's returning to the league after a three year hiatus. "For a defensive guy, that woke me up a bit.”

Last season, seven of the nation's top 22 scoring offenses came from the Big 12.

And with big-time quarte