RG3 cleared to play (update)

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Compare a season average to one game with a different quarterback and a poor pass defense? please. i could just as easily argue we run the play option offense we ran against New Orleans. We scored 40 that game vs 38 against the browns and an average of 27.4 the rest of the season, but that would be equally stupid.

The pistol and read option IS the reason our offense works, especially Alfred Morris. Contrary to popular belief, griffin rarely runs from the read option. He runs when he drops back to pass and our medicre o-line breaks down. Both of rg3s injuries this year occurred in those situations. Most of the "danger" rg3 is exposed to is the o-lines fault. The rest is rg3 not knowing how to slide. Bootlegs are great, but the pistol read option is the bread and butter of our offense. If we eliminated it, our offense would suffer and it would not protect rg3 in the least. It would actually put him at greater risk because defenses would be more likely to decipher the play and sack, hit, or tackle rg3 on a scramble.

The gameplan against Cleveland worked because it was just one game and Cleveland had no idea how to prepare. If we ran what we did against Cleveland every week, defenses would quickly catch on and snuff it out because its so similar to what a lot of other offenses run. The read option from the pistol is essentially unstoppable. The only thing that's stopped it all year is our own penalties, dropped passes, etc. and it's safer for rg3 than a traditional offense. Moving away from it would be completely stupid in every way.

It also worked because Cleveland didn't believe our rookie backup QB could beat them with his arm and decided they were going to focus heavily on shutting down the run game.

It worked early, but then KC stunned them and it was all she wrote. I believe Alf could be just as effective with that game plan once teams were forced to respect the pass.

That said, the pistol and read option present no more danger to RG3 than any other plays/formation. He's still a rookie and will learn, the hard way apparently, to slide and get out of bounds sooner. His desire to extend plays and drives is why he's gotten hurt. Nothing else.