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

At least SirLK26 gets it!

:Smoker:

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.

What else can they do? I've already seen horrendous calls this pre season with the NFL over protecting the QB's. But I do think you're on to something. The minute a QB gets drilled and there's an injury off a read option fake, you can be assured that the league will come up w/ a new rule.

Regarding goonish attacks on RGIII, I expect a similar approach as old school Hockey players dealt with their start getting hit. Retribution.

I'd expect that the Redskins players unofficially designate a hit man, have them put a few blindside hits of the offending D personnel. Fullback or TE would be large enough.

Coach Williams, didn't you learn anything from what happened in New Orleans?

Coach Williams, didn't you learn anything from what happened in New Orleans?

Ahhhhh, but this would be unofficial. The coaches wouldn't know what was going on, and the only pay the "hit man" would get would be the satisfaction of putting the transgressing defender on the turf. :)

Read option only works with a certain set of skills from the QB, namely fantastic ball skills (hand-off, fake etc.) and the ability to keep/run the football. Of the 32 starting QBs right now I think 4 have the ability: RG, Wilson, Newton and Kaepernick. Aaron Rodgers could be argued but that franchise has (wisely) chosen to severely limit his keeps/runs.

There's two questions yet to be determined:

- Will (smart) D coordinators find creative ways to minimize the read option's effectiveness?

- Will a QB who keeps/runs the ball X number of plays per game/season also play at a high level long enough to make it worthwhile to build an offense around him?

The weight of evidence is probably yes to the first question and no to the second.

Read option only works with a certain set of skills from the QB, namely fantastic ball skills (hand-off, fake etc.) and the ability to keep/run the football. Of the 32 starting QBs right now I think 4 have the ability: RG, Wilson, Newton and Kaepernick. Aaron Rodgers could be argued but that franchise has (wisely) chosen to severely limit his keeps/runs.

There's two questions yet to be determined:

- Will (smart) D coordinators find creative ways to minimize the read option's effectiveness?

- Will a QB who keeps/runs the ball X number of plays per game/season also play at a high level long enough to make it worthwhile to build an offense around him?

The weight of evidence is probably yes to the first question and no to the second.

The problem is not stopping the read option. Any half decent Def. Coordinator can come up with a defense to stop it in about 3 minutes. The problem is that in order to stop it, you are selling out on it and leaving the passing game open. Its stopping the read option and the passing game at the same time that is the problem.

It will only work in the NFL if the QB can throw the ball. Which RG3, Wilson, Kaepernick, and Newton can do. RG3 rarely got touched when he kept it on the read option. He always had plenty of time to get some yards and get down to protect himself. Now if he is going to try and be a fullback when he keeps it, then there is a problem. The problem with QB's that can run is they seem to want to try and run people over. If they get down after they get their yards, they wont get hit much, if at all. If there is pressure coming at them, they just hand it off.

As long as RG3 has learned that its not all up to him and protects himself, then he will be fine. If he doesnt protect himself, the read option wont matter because he will scramble on a pass play when his receivers arent open and hurt himself there.

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.That's exactly what Griffin ended up doing last season, and it worked out pretty well. By the time he throws his hands up, Morris is already gashing the defense.

It's most likely been said already, but the biggest threat about our read option is we throw out of it. So the LB's bite up, and RG3 pin point accuracy hits our WR's all day. It was one of our biggest plays last year.

The problem is not stopping the read option. Any half decent Def. Coordinator can come up with a defense to stop it in about 3 minutes. The problem is that in order to stop it, you are selling out on it and leaving the passing game open. Its stopping the read option and the passing game at the same time that is the problem.

It will only work in the NFL if the QB can throw the ball. Which RG3, Wilson, Kaepernick, and Newton can do. RG3 rarely got touched when he kept it on the read option. He always had plenty of time to get some yards and get down to protect himself. Now if he is going to try and be a fullback when he keeps it, then there is a problem. The problem with QB's that can run is they seem to want to try and run people over. If they get down after they get their yards, they wont get hit much, if at all. If there is pressure coming at them, they just hand it off.

As long as RG3 has learned that its not all up to him and protects himself, then he will be fine. If he doesnt protect himself, the read option wont matter because he will scramble on a pass play when his receivers arent open and hurt himself there.

Well, if selling out stops it, then the pass shouldn't work.
Selling out DOESN'T stop the read option. It stops the RUN option. The threat of an intermediate passing game is an essential element of the read option.

I thought the Redskins showed in one play last year against Seattle, how to stop the read option. I didn't understand why they didn't play that defense more throughout the game, then it occurred to me, maybe the reason they don't want to show it, is because it'll show the entire league how to stop it..now to find that clip