Steelers @ Redskins (Pre season game 2)

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

I am not saying PW is the next thing since sliced bread but ....
- He's younger then Grossman
- Healthier then Grossman
- Faster then Grossman

He can run for yards if need be which Grossman can't do and knows the option scheme better then Grossman due to having it in college.

Which all boils down to not having to change the scheme much when you need to stick the 3rd stringer in the game.

The only salient truth to your assertions is that White is faster and more mobile than Grossman. The underlying fallacy in your argument, however, is that our “scheme” is not a college based option run game supplemented by a short passing game (as White ran at WVU).

Rather, as many more knowledgeable than I have set forth ad nauseum, our “scheme” is Shanahan’s traditional play-action game reliant a strong zone run game with deep crossing routes in the passing game and that utilizes boots and roll-outs to supplement the play action with a deep sideline passing game. The pistol/read option is simply a wrinkle that further exploits the deep middle of the field in the passing game while simultaneously threatening the outside zone in the run game. Although White can threaten the outside zone as a runner, to be effective in Shanny's option scheme, White must simultaneously and consistently threaten the deep middle and deep sideline in the passing game. White is simply incapable of doing so.

White’s greater mobility (1) does not make up for his candy-ass arm and other shortcomings as a passer and (2) does not, in and of itself, make him a better “scheme-fit” for our offense. On the other hand, even lacking mobility, Rex is better able to exploit the deep middle opened up by play action and has enough functional mobility to execute the roll-out off the play action and complete the deep sideline patterns that PW simply cannot throw.

As for the rest of your arguments, yes … Sexy Rexy is a known and flawed entity. Regardless, Rex creates opportunities to win from any point on the field that White does not. It’s just that simple.