Why Stopping the Read-Option Isn't as Easy as You Think

Excellent read Matty. Thanks for that.

There was a Warpath argument in the offseason about the read option disappearing. This article describes some reasons why 30Gut and I argued that the read option is here to stay in some form or another.

I agree. It's why the whole PW argument is irrelevant. The question about PW is whether he has the passing skill to threaten a defense(RGIII does) and the decision making abilities to get the team into the right situations post-snap. If we had some bizarro version of Griff who had all the physical ability but none of the mental ability we'd be screwed. It wouldn't work.

The read option is almost another form of play action when you think about it.

Like the read option, play action is difficult to defend when you have a strong running game and near flawless execution of the fake.

All you have to do is make defenders hesitate for a second, and it opens things up.

The read option is almost another form of play action when you think about it.

Like the read option, play action is difficult to defend when you have a strong running game and near flawless execution of the fake.

All you have to do is make defenders hesitate for a second, and it opens things up.
One of the "prettiest" things about Griffin's game is his exchange with RB's. The TV camera can be right on it, and still sometimes no one really knows where the ball ended up. I don't think his ACL took that ability away.

Here's how I addressed this last season...thought I had a good point so I dug it back up.

If we abandon it, we're not utilizing Griffin's talent to its fullest potential.

Until the league catches up and learns how to stop it, keep going pedal to the metal.

I do not believe the league's defenses CAN stop it. It's not a scheme that they have to figure out like Hideo Nomo's quirky wind-up or the Dolphin's Wildcat experiment...you can't really learn something that presents itself as completely unpredictable. Griffin's fake handoffs are like Houdini's tricks. He's so good at hiding the ball so well that no one knows where it is that you can't learn how to defend it. It will always freeze defenders and send them in the wrong directions. It's not something they can adjust to, they have to either hesitate until they know for sure who has the ball, or they have to gamble one way or the other. Maybe a new defensive alignment can be developed to try to cover the field better, but the offense is based on causing the defense to guess and react.

I don't see this being a fading trend. It works. We have changed the way the pro game is played.

Yes, because a gimmick gives you the #1 rushing offense in the NFL AND one of the highest-rated passers in the league, in his rookie year.

Get used to it, we're a powerhouse on offense and will be for years. This isn't a gimmick that defenses can figure out...RGIII's incredible ball skills on fake hand-offs and the option plays isn't something you figure out, it's something you just have to hope you guess the right way on as a defender. There's nothing complex to decipher, this offense just forces the defense to react and take a blind guess about where the ball is and is going.

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http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-locker-room/51303-to-read-option-or-not.html#post998867

One of the "prettiest" things about Griffin's game is his exchange with RB's. The TV camera can be right on it, and still sometimes no one really knows where the ball ended up. I don't think his ACL took that ability away.

Exactly. He has the best fake hand-offs I've ever seen. Often, he fools me, the commentators, the camera and of course the defense.

Not every team can have the success that we do with this scheme, because only we have Robert Griffin III running it. His can execute like no one else, he's faster and most impressively, he also has the skills and accuracy to be one of the best passers in the NFL even if he had to stand still in the pocket. This is where Kaepernick, Newton, Wilson and even Vick will fail to be as successful as Griffin. He's the whole package. The others can do everything, but only he can do everything at an elite level.

I love how all I have read this offseason about how Defenses are going to stop it are to "hit the QB". That is code for "we really dont know how to stop it."

This is also a perfect answer to anyone (usually an angry spouse) who questions why Football is so interesting. Multi-dimentional Chess with muscles.

rat - you should read chuck klostermann's sex, drugs and cocoa puffs. he goes on a long and detailed rant about football that i think you would enjoy.

I love how all I have read this offseason about how Defenses are going to stop it are to "hit the QB". That is code for "we really dont know how to stop it."

The league won't let that go on for long as a defensive strategy. QBs are the moneymakers for the NFL and they've proven they will do whatever they need to do rules-wise and penalty/fines/suspensions-wise to protect their income streams. The Commissioner's office made the suggestion last season that read-option QBs throw their hands up if they do not have the ball. That won't fly because it takes the element of deception away.

If we keep running this, I fully expect the NFL to come up with new restrictions on the defenses as far as hitting QBs. RGIII could be the most-popular player and product the NFL has.

One of the "prettiest" things about Griffin's game is his exchange with RB's. The TV camera can be right on it, and still sometimes no one really knows where the ball ended up. I don't think his ACL took that ability away.

i was amazed out how well he and morris worked together. sometimes rg3 keeps the ball in morris' bread basket until the very last second. i know one game last year they slowed it down and did repeat views of how long rg3 keep the ball in morris' stomach before keeping it himself.

amazed they had no problems/fumbles last year for 2 rookies.

rat - you should read chuck klostermann's sex, drugs and cocoa puffs. he goes on a long and detailed rant about football that i think you would enjoy.

Any man who can pen "The villain is the person who knows the most, but cares the least." is a worthwhile author. Thanks OTM!