the all encompassing 'discuss all things offseason' thread sponsored by Paintrain

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

He said 3-4 RO plays a game. Nothing crazy. Put away the jump to conclusions mat.

Well his quote that trying to make RGIII a pocket passer is foolish doesn't square with what RGIII has in mind. This is what I'm referring to, not that we'll be running the RO often. Look, I've been hearing tweets from LL/httr24-7 even from 2012 about how Robert wanted to be known as a pocket passer and he wasn't down with using him as a runner. Something doesn't give here between the quote and RGIII wishes.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Well his quote that trying to make RGIII a pocket passer is foolish doesn't square with what RGIII has in mind. This is what I'm referring to, not that we'll be running the RO often. Look, I've been hearing tweets from LL/httr24-7 even from 2012 about how Robert wanted to be known as a pocket passer and he wasn't down with using him as a runner. Something doesn't give here between the quote and RGIII wishes.

I don't think Griffin is against running. He scrambles enough on his own to tell you how he really feels about running. I think the plan in year 1 was to ease up on the read option as the season went on and develop him more in the pocket, but because of the crazy success they had that plan went out the window.

You did see Gruden's other quotes right?

"My goal in training camp is to see how much he can develop as a drop-back passer," Gruden said. "Obviously he can do the rollouts and the naked bootlegs and all that. But let's see what he can do from the pocket, and if he can run from there, that's when he'll really get a lot of yards."

"There comes a point in a season, in a game, when you have to do some dropback passing," he said. "You are going to have third-and-12 where you can run read option or a bubble screen. If you are down two touchdowns late in the third quarter, you have to be able to be a dropback passing team. You have to have that part established. So we really want to focus on that, teach him some concepts we like and have at it."

"It's a long season," Gruden said. "It's a 16-game grind. You don't want him getting hit 15, 20 times a game on read options. You have to keep your stars healthy. You don't want to put him at risk too much. But that's who he is. It's what he is as a quarterback. He's very effective in that regard."

"I don't anticipate running a lot of read option," he said. "I think if you use it three or four times a game, you'll have more success than if you try to feature your whole offense around it. It's not just tough on the quarterback taking hits, it's tough on the tackles with their aiming points, where are they going. It's something you have to practice a lot to get very good at."

"From a talent standpoint as far as throwing the ball I don't see a lot of weaknesses," Gruden said. "It's just that he hasn't been asked to do a lot of different things as far as the drop-back passing game is concerned. I don't know if he is going to have any limitations. He might not have any. We'll wait and see."

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I don't think Griffin is against running. He scrambles enough on his own to tell you how he really feels about running. I think the plan in year 1 was to ease up on the read option as the season went on and develop him more in the pocket, but because of the crazy success they had that plan went out the window.

You did see Gruden's other quotes right?

"My goal in training camp is to see how much he can develop as a drop-back passer," Gruden said. "Obviously he can do the rollouts and the naked bootlegs and all that. But let's see what he can do from the pocket, and if he can run from there, that's when he'll really get a lot of yards."

"There comes a point in a season, in a game, when you have to do some dropback passing," he said. "You are going to have third-and-12 where you can run read option or a bubble screen. If you are down two touchdowns late in the third quarter, you have to be able to be a dropback passing team. You have to have that part established. So we really want to focus on that, teach him some concepts we like and have at it."

"It's a long season," Gruden said. "It's a 16-game grind. You don't want him getting hit 15, 20 times a game on read options. You have to keep your stars healthy. You don't want to put him at risk too much. But that's who he is. It's what he is as a quarterback. He's very effective in that regard."

"I don't anticipate running a lot of read option," he said. "I think if you use it three or four times a game, you'll have more success than if you try to feature your whole offense around it. It's not just tough on the quarterback taking hits, it's tough on the tackles with their aiming points, where are they going. It's something you have to practice a lot to get very good at."

"From a talent standpoint as far as throwing the ball I don't see a lot of weaknesses," Gruden said. "It's just that he hasn't been asked to do a lot of different things as far as the drop-back passing game is concerned. I don't know if he is going to have any limitations. He might not have any. We'll wait and see."

I understand this. It just solidifies my notion that the comment about it being "foolish to make RGIII a pocker passer" is indeed foolish itself.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

I understand this. It just solidifies my notion that the comment about it being "foolish to make RGIII a pocker passer" is indeed foolish itself.

It would be foolish to make him operate like a Manning or Brady is what I believe he meant.

You're getting way too caught up in one liners.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Well his quote that trying to make RGIII a pocket passer is foolish doesn't square with what RGIII has in mind. This is what I'm referring to, not that we'll be running the RO often. Look, I've been hearing tweets from LL/httr24-7 even from 2012 about how Robert wanted to be known as a pocket passer and he wasn't down with using him as a runner. Something doesn't give here between the quote and RGIII wishes.

Griffin hated how limited the offense was under Kyle Shanahan, and didn't want to get hit because the offense wasn't going to evolve with those players/coaches. Every quarterback everywhere would gladly get plastered if it meant he would throw the game winning touchdown pass. Robert would gladly run/take hits as part of a dynamic offense that featured great talent. I don't think that makes him unique or a frontrunner.

What no quarterback wants to do is get beat to a pulp because an offense lacks creativity or aspiration. You can lose without putting your health on the line. It's not going to be some great undertaking to get Griffin to buy into modern offense under Gruden/McVay. You just have to show him competence. He'll run aggressively and passionately if he thinks there's a purpose beyond just getting hit. Under Kyle Shanahan, that wasn't the case. The read option wasn't being used as a means to an end. It was the featured, defining play of the rushing attack on a team that couldn't throw the ball.