Will the read option be a fad or is it here to stay?

[Aso]

Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is confident that NFL defenses will stop the read-option offense in 2013.

"I look at that offense kind of like the wildcat," Fewell said. "The wildcat took us by storm and then until you can see it, understand it; then you can defend it." Stopping the read option is especially pertinent in the NFC East, where Robert Griffin III's Redskins dominated with it in 2012 and new Eagles coach Chip Kelly dominated with it as head coach of the Oregon Ducks.

- Rotoworld


What does VSN think? Will the Read Option end up like the wildcat? I wanna say no it won't and I'm rooting that it won't. I'm a big fan of the read option.

 

[dave]

Not here to stay.

Quarterbacks are too valuable to risk to injuries running this offence. Hell, year one of RG3 showed that. Yeah, it's exciting as hell, but I don't want my franchise QB exposing himself to injuries like that. OK, run when the lane is there ... but designed runs, other than QB sneaks, just expose your most important player to unnecessary injuries.

 

[JeremyHight]

It is the modern equivalent of a bootleg. The bootleg used to be a QB running after a fake handoff to the running back, but it is dangerous with turning your back to the defense. Now you just do a read option. If the DE crashes, you keep it and can either pass or run. If the DE plays the QB, you hand it off. Either way, it is really just a safer version of a very old football play.

 

[ram29jackson]

starting young QBs too early..they gave them something they were familiar with. But like you said, you cant be a career running QB. Learn to make reads and throw or you learn to play WR or CB. Theres no way 4/2nd year rookie QBs look that good without something being deficient league wide. They might be above average but no one really knows that yet and I doubt CK will be what you think he is this coming season.

it takes advantage of the pansy rules but a QB steps on a land mine too often carrying a ball in the pro's.

 

[Houston]

It is the modern equivalent of a bootleg. The bootleg used to be a QB running after a fake handoff to the running back, but it is dangerous with turning your back to the defense. Now you just do a read option. If the DE crashes, you keep it and can either pass or run. If the DE plays the QB, you hand it off. Either way, it is really just a safer version of a very old football play.

:tellmemore:

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

The read option has been around since forever...just in different variations.

NFL defenses are very quick at adapting to the game that is presented on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, it all comes down to assignment football and making your pre-snap reads...some film study will clamp down on the effectiveness of the read option going forward. It is why you are seeing these declarations by Mike Shanahan and Jim Harbaugh about their quarterbacks improving in the off-season...they don't want to have to resort to read option stuff...its a quick crutch for a young QB to get production out of them early, but in the NFL, it all comes down to what you can do in the pocket and what you can do with your arm.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Its just another tool. No huddle , shotgun , 5 wr etc. If its the only thing you can do you will eventually get someone killed. If you use it wisely you can seriously fuck up defenses for a long time.

 

[calgaryballer]

Defences might, I'm just not sure the Giants slow ass LB's will be the ones to do so

 

[Aso]

I agree with KOF. If it's a part of your offense and not your base offensive philosophy then I think it'll work. I didn't see a ton of Panthers game but isn't that why the Panthers offense struggled at the beginning of last season? I know they changed up their offense later in the year and had a lot more success.

 

[BigBucs]

Been saying it was a gimmick that wont have long term success but hey, Im just a hater.

 

[Tailback U]

Been saying it was a gimmick that wont have long term success but hey, Im just a hater.

What's your definition of long term success? It's been in football since the sport started.

The 49ers ran it a little bit differently last year out of the pistol.

As defenses adjust, so will offenses. It's a chess match like anything else and something that defenses need to spend time preparing for every week. No one formation or set works 100% of the time in the NFL anymore.

It's based on execution like anything else. Kind of a silly thread.

 

[ram29jackson]

What's your definition of long term success? It's been in football since the sport started.

The 49ers ran it a little bit differently last year out of the pistol.

As defenses adjust, so will offenses. It's a chess match like anything else and something that defenses need to spend time preparing for every week. No one formation or set works 100% of the time in the NFL anymore.

It's based on execution like anything else. Kind of a silly thread.

ultimately, its used when your QB isn't really good ( or good yet ) at being a QB in the modern PRO game.

being a running QB in college is great and all but doesn't really mean crap in the PRO's in the long run.

 

[BigBucs]

What's your definition of long term success? It's been in football since the sport started.

The 49ers ran it a little bit differently last year out of the pistol.

As defenses adjust, so will offenses. It's a chess match like anything else and something that defenses need to spend time preparing for every week. No one formation or set works 100% of the time in the NFL anymore.

It's based on execution like anything else. Kind of a silly thread.

U know what I mean. It will be in the wind like the wildcat. Its the hot thing right now but we all know all it takes is an offseason or 2 for these defenses to get that gimmicky shit the fuck out of here.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I don't like the Wildcat comparisons. The Wildcat was not an offense, it was a handful of plays teams would run to mix things up.

I think a better comparison is the run n shoot, which lasted half a decade or so as a base offense but eventually faded into a package that everybody used & continues to use.

I'm curious how the new 3-4 comeback will effect the spread. We will see more teams use a 3-4 base this year than we have in many years.

 

[Tailback U]

I don't like the Wildcat comparisons. The Wildcat was not an offense, it was a handful of plays teams would run to mix things up.

I think a better comparison is the run n shoot, which lasted half a decade or so as a base offense but eventually faded into a package that everybody used & continues to use.

I'm curious how the new 3-4 comeback will effect the spread. We will see more teams use a 3-4 base this year than we have in many years.

I may show my age here but I don't think the NFL has seen quarterbacks like Wilson, RG III, and Kaepernick before. The threat of the dual threat quarterback is stronger than ever before. These guys can run, take
hits, and throw the ball with pretty good accuracy while understanding their reads. So I agree with you in criticizing the Wildcat comparisons. That is a lazy and unintelligent way of watching football.

I was also under the impression that the 3-4 has been the most used base defense in the NFL for quite some time now. The Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens
have been the most successful franchises for over a decade and that's what they've run during their runs.

The 49ers, Texans, and Packers have also ran very good 3-4 defenses over the last 5 years. The Jets ran it and made the playoffs with Mark Sanchez.

Come to think of it, the Giants and now the Seawawks are the only teams that run a 43 that's scary.

The 3-4 makes sense with all the rule changes. More people on coverage, less people up front geared towards stopping the run.

This transition has been happening and will continue for a while until teams start to draft towards running the ball again.

The NFL is cyclicle. We all know this. It's a chess match. It's unfortunate that the rule changes are influencing the style of play so much, though.

 

[Aso]

And the Seahawks run a hybrid defense as it is.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I may show my age here but I don't think the NFL has seen quarterbacks like Wilson, RG III, and Kaepernick before. The threat of the dual threat quarterback is stronger than ever before. These guys can run, take
hits, and throw the ball with pretty good accuracy while understanding their reads. So I agree with you in criticizing the Wildcat comparisons. That is a lazy and unintelligent way of watching football.

I was also under the impression that the 3-4 has been the most used base defense in the NFL for quite some time now. The Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens
have been the most successful franchises for over a decade and that's what they've run during their runs.

The 49ers, Texans, and Packers have also ran very good 3-4 defenses over the last 5 years. The Jets ran it and made the playoffs with Mark Sanchez.

Come to think of it, the Giants and now the Seawawks are the only teams that run a 43 that's scary.

The 3-4 makes sense with all the rule changes. More people on coverage, less people up front geared towards stopping the run.

This transition has been happening and will continue for a while until teams start to draft towards running the ball again.

The NFL is cyclicle. We all know this. It's a chess match. It's unfortunate that the rule changes are influencing the style of play so much, though.

RE 3-4: It is. And more teams are converting. I don't think i've seen it used this widespread since probably close to 20 years ago, when it basically took over the league, then faded to the point that you had maybe one or two teams using it (Steelers come to mind) while everybody else went back to a 4-3.

And its because of the reasons you say, as the teams that are winning these days (aside from NYG) almost all use a 3-4. When the league went 4-3 heavy, it was because of the opposite. It really is a copycat league.

But back on topic, I think durability of the QB's will be a big key here. If teams see RGIII continue to get banged up or Wilson or whoever else end up on the IR, you'll see a trend where GM's will be scared to invest big money on spread QB's. Or maybe more accurately, coaches will stop exposing those QB's to an excessive number of hits.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

I may show my age here but I don't think the NFL has seen quarterbacks like Wilson, RG III, and Kaepernick before. The threat of the dual threat quarterback is stronger than ever before. These guys can run, take
hits, and throw the ball with pretty good accuracy while understanding their reads. So I agree with you in criticizing the Wildcat comparisons. That is a lazy and unintelligent way of watching football.

I was also under the impression that the 3-4 has been the most used base defense in the NFL for quite some time now. The Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens
have been the most successful franchises for over a decade and that's what they've run during their runs.

The 49ers, Texans, and Packers have also ran very good 3-4 defenses over the last 5 years. The Jets ran it and made the playoffs with Mark Sanchez.

Come to think of it, the Giants and now the Seawawks are the only teams that run a 43 that's scary.

The 3-4 makes sense with all the rule changes. More people on coverage, less people up front geared towards stopping the run.

This transition has been happening and will continue for a while until teams start to draft towards running the ball again.

The NFL is cyclicle. We all know this. It's a chess match. It's unfortunate that the rule changes are influencing the style of play so much, though.

RE 3-4: It is. And more teams are converting. I don't think i've seen it used this widespread since probably close to 20 years ago, when it basically took over the league, then faded to the point that you had maybe one or two teams using it (Steelers come to mind) while everybody else went back to a 4-3.

And its because of the reasons you say, as the teams that are winning these days (aside from NYG) almost all use a 3-4. When the league went 4-3 heavy, it was because of the opposite. It really is a copycat league.

But back on topic, I think durability of the QB's will be a big key here. If teams see RGIII continue to get banged up or Wilson or whoever else end up on the IR, you'll see a trend where GM's will be scared to invest big money on spread QB's. Or maybe more accurately, coaches will stop exposing those QB's to an excessive number of hits.

Just want to add that 4-3/3-4 compared to 20-30 years ago is really different. 3-4 actually allowed better run stoppage because it was easier to stock against common gaps and run plays. Teams today really don't have the personnel to run traditional 3-4 defenses. Theres nowhere near enough legit 2 gap NT let alone DE to cover that. Teams today play the 3-4 like the 4-3. They shoot one gap and one of the OLBs acts as a DE for most plays. The amount of nickel defense plays basically means are basically in hybrid most of the game.
Its much much easier to find tall fast OLBS and a few "stout" lineman than it is to find a true pass rushing DE and DT. At the end of the day a 3-4 today allows you to easily find as many humans to throw at a QB on any given play.

 

[NAHSTE]

I think the thing about the read option is that it's like any other post snap read-based system --- to use one example, option routes which are dependent on coverage -- these things will always be difficult for a defense to stop if the offense makes the correct read. Since it's reactionary to the defense's decisions, the offense is almost always going to be at an advantage simply because they are deciding with more information. Either answer could be correct on any given play.

The only real weapons the defense has against a read-based play are a. hope the offense executes it poorly or b. disguise your defense for as long as possible in the hopes of achieving item a. (Ie, combo coverage on one side of the field to hide man or zone and take away a receiver's read.)

I read somewhere that a lot of teams are just trying to counter this by confusing the blocking schemes on the edge with unconventional stuff like having ends stand up, or switch places with the tackle on a stunt, have safeties fly up to take contain, etc. Basically, since they know on any given play the offense wants to leave one man unblocked, normally the guy with contain or QB responsibility, defenses are hoping to be more deceptive and unpredictable about which position becomes that unblocked guy.

Gap responsibility and "assignment football" are obviously the keys to stopping it on a macro level, but on a micro level a lot of teams are going to try to do a lot of East Room line shifting and user audible cheese, which will at the very least delay the time it takes for the line and quarterback to identify the proper "read" man.

Is it a fad? No, not really, but it's something teams are actively trying to counter so it will see some ebbs and tides in effectiveness.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Just want to add that 4-3/3-4 compared to 20-30 years ago is really different. 3-4 actually allowed better run stoppage because it was easier to stock against common gaps and run plays. Teams today really don't have the personnel to run traditional 3-4 defenses. Theres nowhere near enough legit 2 gap NT let alone DE to cover that. Teams today play the 3-4 like the 4-3. They shoot one gap and one of the OLBs acts as a DE for most plays. The amount of nickel defense plays basically means are basically in hybrid most of the game.
Its much much easier to find tall fast OLBS and a few "stout" lineman than it is to find a true pass rushing DE and DT. At the end of the day a 3-4 today allows you to easily find as many humans to throw at a QB on any given play.

The big, bulky, slow, run stuffing ILB is a dinosaur and will likely remain extinct. You can't afford to not have speed anywhere in the back seven (or eight) anymore, or it will be identified & exploited.

Every team used to have one or two of those guys, complete with neck roll pads.