Speed-Freak Football–NYTimes

In 2007, Kelly was hired as offensive coordinator at Oregon by Coach Mike Bellotti, who barely knew him but understood that Kelly was a devotee of the wide-open “spread” offense that was becoming popular in college football — and that Oregon had installed but not yet mastered. Kelly stepped up to head coach in 2009, and this season has ascended to a loftier and even more improbable status: reigning genius of offensive football. (He does not like the word. “Jonas Salk was a genius” is his stock answer when the G-word is invoked.)

Through 10 games this season, Kelly’s team was unbeaten and top-ranked in the nation while averaging 50.7 points and overwhelming opponents by nearly five touchdowns a game. Already this season, Oregon has defeated New Mexico by a score of 72-0, Stanford, 52-31, and U.C.L.A., 60-13. With victories in its final two games of the season (Arizona and Oregon State), it would likely earn a berth in the national championship game in January, either against a traditional power like Auburn or Louisiana State, or perhaps an upstart like Boise State or Texas Christian University. An N.F.L. head coach, Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans, said he did not think even professional teams could stop Kelly’s fast-paced attack, which positions speedy skill players from sideline to sideline and gives the quarterback multiple options on each play, like a point guard in basketball. Kelly did not invent the spread offense. The nature of his innovation has to do with the speed with which he is able to communicate signals to his players from the sidelines — and their ability to quickly line up and run play after play at a pace that ultimately debilitates the opposition.