Why is the offense trying to be so gimmicky? And why is the 2 minute drill so non-urgent?

[redskins4ever28]

I'm sure this will be taken as sacrilege but here goes. From my perspective the weaknesses in rg's game right now are all relative to the drop back passing game and there's a reason why almost all plays where the ball travels more than 10 yards in the air come off well sold play action. His timing with his eyes, use of eyes to look defenders off and trust in his reads to put balls into tight windows with anticipation are a work in progress and that is NOT a slight to him at all, he's been absolutely amazing. You can't change the fact, however that this is the first season of his life he's been asked to do a lot of this stuff. Right now he's most efficient and effective when his reads are limited, we max protect and he's given either or passing plays. The shanys, who I'm frustrated with from a roster standpoint like everyone else, have really done a masterful job of putting him in positions to be successful and limiting his exposure to the particulars of the NFL passing game he's not quite ready for. I think it will all come in time and I think we all know he's smart enough, dedicated enough and a quick enough learner/thinker that it will come. We are, however, seeing what people talked about when they said luck was more NFL ready. Even with that said, because of his mental acuity, the coaches plan and his raw ability he's still been as effective a qb as we've seen around here in God knows how long.

Additionally, if we had any legitimate passing options for him or anything other than the worst defense in the league we wouldn't even be having this conversation and we'd be comfortably above .500.

I dont disagree with what your saying, but honestly, what plays have you seen this? Hes BARELY ever under center, and we rarely see him throw in a pro style. If hes rusty at it, we need to get him practice. Let him run it, let him throw a few INTs, who cares, at least he will get practice. I still think hes a lot better than you think at it. He looks off targets I think extremely well. He doenst telegraph or stare down receivers and I think hes done a great job fitting balls into tight windows (look at the moss TD in the Steelers game). I think they are scared to unleah a pro style offense on him. And yes, Luck is great, but hes throwing 50 times a game, and has a HOF receiver, and hes played TERRIBLE defenses. Luck has thrown 3 times more the interceptions then Grif.

[Warhead36]

RG3 can play in a pro offense. The coaches are just too obsessed over the Tebow option offense crap.

[jivelikenice]

Going "gimmicky" and letting RG3 settle into a game was a good idea in his first few starts to settle him into a game. It also masked defficiencies on our o-line. That being said, at this point in the season then horizontal passes on 3rd downs and going triple option in obvious passing situations is getting absolutely moronic. Other terrible examples of playcalling recently include the pass to RG3, the flea flicker in the rain when we're down big in the 4th Q. the QB sweep on 4th and goal and ROYSTER lead blocking, and the toss sweeps in in short yardage. Time to blend in a little more traditional. RG3 is certainly capabale of it.....

[RandyHolt]

I thought an OL was supposed to get better with continuity.

Yet as we try to get away from a gimmicky offense, the OL gets blown up anytime we try to let RG3 pass from the pocket.

A novel idea, why not let him be in full shotgun in obvious passing downs, down 15 with 6 minutes left? I have long hated a QB under center in passing downs, on days when the OL is getting blown up. He is literally side/back pedaling as they are running at him at full speed, trying to go through his progressions. Give the guy a chance to make a play without having to ****ing back peddle.

[redskins4ever28]

The line is bad, and I still dont know why we cant get that right side of the line fixxed. Everyone said give Jamaal Brown another chance, hell, that worked out well. We paid him a ton to sit at home and nurse his hip. When he comes back he will be bad, just like he has been. His replacements have been epicly bad. Im so tired of this team being cursed.

[justice98]

I think it we had 2 studs on the outside, Davis, and better pass protection, we'd see more dropback, traditional passing. I think they do what they have to to get by under the circumstances, and RG3 allows them to compensate.

[pjfootballer]

Thats possible, but still a terrible reason. Everyone has given Kyle credit for how hes put Rg3 in good plays, but I think the opposite. I think if Rg3 was running, for example, the offense last year, we would be looking at an amazing player. I think the Gimmick crap is killing him. They are always expecting run because of the designed runs. Let him drop back and pass a lot so that way when he drops back and sees no one open, he takes off for a 25 yd gain, instead of a designed run for 5 yards. I just dont get it. I will say this, I love Griffins heart. That 4th down play Sunday where he jumped and got hit for the first down, was just awesome. Hes got more heart than anyone.

I wanted to emphasize this is the part of your post that I most agree with. I would much rather see this.

[redskins4ever28]

I wanted to emphasize this is the part of your post that I most agree with. I would much rather see this.

Thanks. I think with the bye week, they will start practicing back on the Shanahan roll out/PA/WCO offense, and hopefully vs the Eagles, we will see a normal NFL set. REgardless of how Griffs played in this offense the past 9 weeks, and whether you think it will work in the NFL or not, it just wont cut it. Theres a reason why everyone runs a pro style offense.

[ADF]

Kyle Shanahan has always been a bit gimmicky and has tried to be too cute with plays since he's been here. That's always been a complaint here since he was hired. They have always been a bit slow with getting plays in as well. Over the past couple years, I've often wondered if it is because father and son have to debate with each other on what to call. This is especially true on 3rd down.

Also, I'm so tired of toss plays within 5 yards of the goal line. The entire defense is at the line of scrimmage and the defense sees the ball leave the QB's hand. There is nothing to hold them back. With a traditional hand off, the defense has to at least respect the fact that the QB might still have the ball. If they just HAVE to run a toss play down there, then how about giving a little toss-action every now and then over the course of a drive to fool the defenders. So far, they've given the defense nothing else to respect when they see the toss developing.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I dont disagree with what your saying, but honestly, what plays have you seen this? Hes BARELY ever under center, and we rarely see him throw in a pro style. If hes rusty at it, we need to get him practice. Let him run it, let him throw a few INTs, who cares, at least he will get practice. I still think hes a lot better than you think at it. He looks off targets I think extremely well. He doenst telegraph or stare down receivers and I think hes done a great job fitting balls into tight windows (look at the moss TD in the Steelers game). I think they are scared to unleah a pro style offense on him. And yes, Luck is great, but hes throwing 50 times a game, and has a HOF receiver, and hes played TERRIBLE defenses. Luck has thrown 3 times more the interceptions then Grif.

All rookies are going to throw interceptions if they throw it enough. My guess is that Luck's interception numbers start going down by something like 50 percent a year going forward. In some ways, I think we are hurting RGIII by tailoring this offense so specifically to what the coaches think he can do. He's not developing into a completel NFL QB, just a ramped up college QB.

And, like everyone else, I think he can easily make the transition to traditional drop back passer. He is not Michale Vick or Vince Young. He has incredible accuracy and touch. He'll make mistakes in reading defenses, but that's why you have rookie seasons. We're 3-6. If he throws 4 interceptions next week, who cares? It might mean that he does not not throw 4 interceptions next year when we are 6-3.

The Colts have Luck in a graduate level NFL program right now.

[Byebye]

Gimmick plays tend to have more limited reads. Maybe they don't think RG3 is ready for more yet

[beachboy757]

I really agree with DCSportsfan's post. The "gimmick" offense is just bring used to make Robert comfortable. I have made this point before... if the coaches told RG3 to run the exact offense that we ran with Rex last year then he will be pummeled and as much as we view him as our Superman, his confidence can be crushed.

The coaches are doing a good job bringing him along. We will see more and more traditional offense as the season comes along. I am not sure it's going to look how some are expecting. This offense is built to run and use a lot of moving pockets, misdirection, etc. If anyone is expecting to see an offense like the Patriots, then you will be disappointed.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

Gimmick plays tend to have more limited reads. Maybe they don't think RG3 is ready for more yet

We spent 3 firsts on him...his ass better be ready

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I really agree with DCSportsfan's post. The "gimmick" offense is just bring used to make Robert comfortable. I have made this point before... if the coaches told RG3 to run the exact offense that we ran with Rex last year then he will be pummeled and as much as we view him as our Superman, his confidence can be crushed.

Is that true?

I feel like this line is better than last year's line. I know that RGIII has more pocket presence than Rex. And Rex has the athleticism of a coat rack.

I find it hard to believe that RGIII is going to turn into Patrick Ramsey.

[ADF]

At the end of the day, we can whine and moan about gimmicks or whatever, but the biggest problem on offense are all of the penalties. Everything should stop or end there. I'm so tired of seeing this offense in 1st and 15 or 2nd and 13 or 3rd and 17. You can' win that way. If there was a stat for downs with over 10 yards to go, then we'd surely lead the league. Where's the discipline? Guys don't even know how to line up correctly. Are our guys so out matched physically that they are committing penalties?