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

Good read by Matt Bowen.

Gee... I thought all defenses had to do was hit the QB? :doh:

[url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1750917-nfl-2013-why-stopping-the-read-option-isnt-as-easy-as-you-think]NFL 2013: Why Stopping the Read-Option Isn't as Easy as You Think | Bleacher Report[/url]

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

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

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

This might be a stupid question,I dont read a lot of the warpath in the offseason,but how much does our defense practice against the read-option?

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

Probably every day I'm guessing ^

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

[quote=Mattyk;1020951]Probably every day I'm guessing ^[/quote]

Since we only face 1 team this yr that ran it last yr I would think we would concentrate more on traditional type offenses,but since we run the read option it would only make sense our defense would have to practice against it :)

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

People underrate execution also, some guys are just better.

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

[quote=Mattyk;1020947]Good read by Matt Bowen.

Gee... I thought all defenses had to do was hit the QB? :doh:

[url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1750917-nfl-2013-why-stopping-the-read-option-isnt-as-easy-as-you-think]NFL 2013: Why Stopping the Read-Option Isn't as Easy as You Think | Bleacher Report[/url][/quote]

No they're all just gonna "scrape" and that will fix it.

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

[quote=Mattyk;1020947]Good read by Matt Bowen.

Gee... I thought all defenses had to do was hit the QB? :doh:

[url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1750917-nfl-2013-why-stopping-the-read-option-isnt-as-easy-as-you-think]NFL 2013: Why Stopping the Read-Option Isn't as Easy as You Think | Bleacher Report[/url][/quote]

Good read by Bowen. Alway like his articles at the National Football Post.

Re: 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.

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

[quote=Evilgrin;1020953]People underrate execution also, some guys are just better.[/quote]

That's what it comes down to. You can stress discipline forever but when an offense rolls off 4-6 yards gains out of the read option a couple times for first downs those safeties start having to double check their reads. If you have the personnel to take advantage of that tiny split second then its over. What made our offense work last year was the running game and Griffin's decision making. Morris' ability to make plays out of the read option and Bob's ability to get us into the right situation was it. The reads don't matter once the ball is snapped and Griff chooses to either let Morris do his thing, attack a voided run lane himself or pass off a bad read by the safety. To me the only way you beat it is to make the QB make bad decisions. Otherwise you cannot stop it. Disguise coverages, mix it up and hope the QB isn't good enough at reads to process and attack.

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

[quote=Lotus;1020969]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.[/quote]

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.

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

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.

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

[quote=Mattyk;1020978]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 [B]near flawless execution of the fake[/B].

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

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

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

[QUOTE=Monkeydad;998867]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.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Monkeydad;1005045]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.

[YT]_zujLGT5DQc[/YT][/QUOTE]





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

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

[quote=CRedskinsRule;1020981]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.[/quote]

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.

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

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."

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

[quote=RedskinRat;1020948]This is also a perfect answer to anyone (usually an angry spouse) who questions why Football is so interesting. Multi-dimentional Chess with muscles.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=scowan;1020985]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."[/quote]

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 [U]product[/U] the NFL has.

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

[quote=CRedskinsRule;1020981]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.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=over the mountain;1020987]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.[/quote]

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

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

[QUOTE=over the mountain;1020990]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.[/QUOTE]



This is how you fumble:
[yt]yHYts1BdClQ[/yt]

This is not:
[yt]rAp57G1hLn0[/yt]

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

[quote=Monkeydad;1020988]The league won't let that go on for long as a defensive strategy. <SNIP>[/quote]

I expect late hit on the QB's to be punished with ejections in the not-too-distant future.

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

[quote=RedskinRat;1020996]I expect late hit on the QB's to be punished with ejections in the not-too-distant future.[/quote]

Good. That will help our team more than hurt it. :D


New calls coming up: "Hitting a defenseless passer"

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

Every time I read about putting more pressure on a read-option quarterback is the answer to defending it, I think about the Redskins vs Ram game last year.

The Rams just kept knocking RGIII on his back, cheap shots to his head or a simple hand push in the face. Even after he got rid of the ball. It was the first time I saw RG lose his cool. Once it started to visibly show that it was effecting RG, we proceed to blow a 15 pt lead and eventually lose the game.

I really do hope MShanahan starts to utilize his arm more than his legs this year. I think RG has a fantastic touch on his passes. Something that was not as needed last year with so many wide open receivers created from the read-option.

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

That Rams game was completely out of hand and normally would not be tolerated by officials.

Fisher was taking advantage of the replacement refs who were either intimidated by his hot head or were just told be to conservative with the whistles. I was pretty angry with the things the refs let Fisher and his dirty players like Finnegan got away with. There were countless fights from the first play and cheap shots being thrown at us every chance they got.

That's not a gameplan we'll see working again. Those refs were never in control.

I still do not blame Morgan for losing his cool and throwing that ball that lost us the game. He was taking cheap shots all day without them being called. A man can only take so much. Even Griffin was visibly frustrated.

[url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/16/replacement-officials-lose-control-early-on-in-red/?page=all]Replacement officials lose control early on in Redskins-Rams game - Washington Times[/url]

[url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/25/last-nights-crew-also-presided-over-rams-redskins-mess/]Last night’s crew also presided over Rams-Redskins mess | ProFootballTalk[/url]

[url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8402278/washington-redskins-robert-griffin-iii-says-took-cheap-shots-st-louis-rams]Washington Redskins -- Robert Griffin III says he took cheap shots from St. Louis Rams - ESPN[/url]

[url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/09/17/deangelo-hall-replacement-officials-washington-redskins/70000518/1#.Uh5TmdKshcY]Hall leads chorus of Redskins unhappy with officials[/url]

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

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.

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

I think the answer to stopping any offense is putting more pressure on the quarterback. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rogers or Drew Brees don't always look great when the DLine is owning the line of scrimmage and hitting them repeatedly.

If you want to stop the read option you have to dominate the line of scrimmage. But that is true for any offense so I imagine if the read option runs into a good defense, it will be stopped, just like any other offense in the NFL.

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

[quote=ArcticRed;1021006]Every time I read about putting more pressure on a read-option quarterback is the answer to defending it, I think about the Redskins vs Ram game last year.

The Rams just kept knocking RGIII on his back, cheap shots to his head or a simple hand push in the face. Even after he got rid of the ball. It was the first time I saw RG lose his cool. Once it started to visibly show that it was effecting RG, we proceed to blow a 15 pt lead and eventually lose the game.

I really do hope MShanahan starts to utilize his arm more than his legs this year. I think RG has a fantastic touch on his passes. Something that was not as needed last year with so many wide open receivers created from the read-option.[/quote]
Look at the Post article from a while back that looks at how many hits Griffin took per game. After the Rams and Cinci games Griffin never took that many hits again. And the Rams game would have been called differently with the regular refs. Hitting the qb is not a defense against the Read Option in this NFL, the risk of penalties hurting your defense is greater than the risk to any effective qb. Baltimore tried it in the SB, and near the end CK was making some pretty effective plays. I go back to the Minnesota game when Jared Allen was so frustrated that he was going to switch from crashing down to aiming for the qb. As long as the DE has in mind what he is going to do before the play, the offense, and a good qb will effectively negate his actions.

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

[quote=RedskinRat;1021011]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.[/quote]

What?

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

[quote=Monkeydad;1021016]What?[/quote]

C'mon, Monkeydad, why the skepticism? It's a great idea! I can already see Paul or Young laying a beautiful hit on Ware, Pierre-Paul, or any other idiot who messes with our quarterback. :joecool:

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

At least SirLK26 gets it!

:Smoker:

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

[quote=Monkeydad;1020988]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 [U]product[/U] the NFL has.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=RedskinRat;1021011]Regarding goonish attacks on RGIII, I expect a similar approach as old school Hockey players dealt with their start getting hit. Retribution.

[B]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.[/B][/quote]

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

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

[quote=Ruhskins;1021039]Coach Williams, didn't you learn anything from what happened in New Orleans?[/quote]

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. :)

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

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.

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

[quote=The Goat;1021042]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.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=Monkeydad;1020988]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.[/quote]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.

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

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.

[QUOTE=Skinzman;1021045]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.[/QUOTE]

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.

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

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