NFL.com: Robert Griffin III triggers Washington Redskins' pistol offense

[Oldfan]

You might slow RG3 running wide with the safety out on each side but if you line the WR up further wide then RG3 can just cut quicker inside before he gets to the safeties.

I can't imagine that being possible.

Another point is that he is so quick in his reads and decisions on the option that he could take it and be upfield before the safety has a chance to get off the WR. If we notice that coverage the WR can then also jam the S. The CB is free but I assume he is a little off the LOS anyway and would not be able to prevent Grffin from picking up 5-6 yards a pop.

Your play depends on the WR blocking the safety?

Another counter would be going 3WR set out of the pistol with Moss in the slot. There is no safety to jam him and he is essentially one on one with a nickel corner. I would take those odds.

I think most defenses would take those odds also if they could take away the Skins strength on the outsides.

I also want to add that I do appreciate the idea and also your posts. They are always well reasoned and thought provoking.

I appreciate that.

[Jumbo]

And again..the offense with Garcon,AR and a healthy Fred Davis will eat the deep ball up if allowed. But as usually don't admit when your wrong.

Hint the reason it's difficult to stop the pistol is because RG3 can do almost anything he's asked.

The correct answer to stopping the offense is to get a healthy lead which takes away the run. Once again see GB vs Hou this year.

People who like advoiding a week ban will keep these kind of <highlighted> remarks out of these conversations.

When I'm the ref it isn't the guy who responds to a shove that is the only one who gets the flag. The first guy to start something will definitely gets it if anyone does, whether the second guy does or not.

[Oldfan]

The Inside zone is one of our staple plays. It's true we get bigger chunk plays wide with the power stretch, boots, and keepers but that's all setup by success running up the middle and vice versa. I wouldnt call our inside run game a weakness at all. The last play of the game was all setup by going wide earlier out of the same formation.

It might be a staple, but relatively speaking, defenses would rather we try to pound them up the middle with our lighter O-linemen. Not only is it easier to stop, but they don't have to run as much.

[skinzplay]

Give ol' Richie Petitbon two weeks to prepare, and he could shut it down. Fortunately, there are no Richie Petitbons in the NFL anymore - except maybe Dick LeBeau. Unfortunately, we don't have a defensive mind like Petitbon on our own staff.

[DaGoonie55]

You cannot stop the zone read AND the zone read PA. You have to be in two places at once.

There should be no question how to stop the zone read or option run- It's long been extablished how. DEs have to contain the edge. Period. It's up to the interior linemen and the LBs to stuff the middle. OLBs have the QB and the CB have the pitch man. Safeties play inside out and key on the inside run, then the QB, then the pitch man. That is the long standing philosophy to stopping the option. The issue with defenses is that for this week (or 2 if you're in the division) you must focus on those things you were told won't work in the NFL. Patience is not a defensive mindset in the NFL. We are excited to see the attacking styles of defenses like the Cowboys, Packers, and Bears. They simply won't work against the zone read, as they over pursue and get burnt out the backside with the QB keeper. Atheletes make plays, hence Almo gets tackled and RG3 doesn't have 23 rushing touchdowns and 5,000 yards rushing. The odds are in the offenses favor right now to make the decisions and force the defense to play more patient ball - which the last 4 games didn't happen. (also we remembered how to catch).

Speaking on the PA off of those plays - the defense is just screwed. Someone is open because to effectively stop the zone read the defense cannot focus on the receivers - lest they be skull drug by the run game. Safeties are keying on the inside run first, so their eyes are not where they should be. Your LBs are inside out so, again they are not where they should be, they cannot release in their flat or hook zone responsibility. Griff can hand the ball off to the RB on the playaction plays too....its sick when you think about it. You have to pick your poison. Do I, as the DC, stop the run and get burnt over the top or stop the pass and like novacaine does to your body - go numb from the body shots the running game delivers. I do not envy the DCs in the NFL that have to face us. I just got a headache trying to think of a way to shut it all down...and I can't.

[darrelgreenie]

Repeating myself -- the idea on defense is to stop what the opponent does best. The strength of our O is attacking wide, our relative weakness is attacking the middle. There are always trade-offs.

If you comfortable with potentially being gashed up the middle then bringing the SS/FS to press then contian seems like it would limit the edge runs. But it would have major problems with playaction.

[orlskinsfan]

The thing that keeps me excited is once the defense finally figures out how to slow us down we go no huddle, not allowing them to substitute or call defenses. I really hope this happens next year. RGIII was a beast in college when they ran the breakneck no huddle offense.

[Oldfan]

I'm an X and O kinda girl, and when OF speaks, I listen. Probably knows more than all of us together.

One of the reasons that I throw ideas like this out there is to see if they will hold up under fire. If someone comes up with something I haven't already considered, I'll fold my tent and trash the idea. If they can't then I grow more confident in them.

[skinsfan07]

You cannot stop the zone read AND the zone read PA. You have to be in two places at once.

There should be no question how to stop the zone read or option run- It's long been extablished how. DEs have to contain the edge. Period. It's up to the interior linemen and the LBs to stuff the middle. OLBs have the QB and the CB have the pitch man. Safeties play inside out and key on the inside run, then the QB, then the pitch man. That is the long standing philosophy to stopping the option. The issue with defenses is that for this week (or 2 if you're in the division) you must focus on those things you were told won't work in the NFL. Patience is not a defensive mindset in the NFL. We are excited to see the attacking styles of defenses like the Cowboys, Packers, and Bears. They simply won't work against the zone read, as they over pursue and get burnt out the backside with the QB keeper. Atheletes make plays, hence Almo gets tackled and RG3 doesn't have 23 rushing touchdowns and 5,000 yards rushing. The odds are in the offenses favor right now to make the decisions and force the defense to play more patient ball - which the last 4 games didn't happen. (also we remembered how to catch).

Speaking on the PA off of those plays - the defense is just screwed. Someone is open because to effectively stop the zone read the defense cannot focus on the receivers - lest they be skull drug by the run game. Safeties are keying on the inside run first, so their eyes are not where they should be. Your LBs are inside out so, again they are not where they should be, they cannot release in their flat or hook zone responsibility. Griff can hand the ball off to the RB on the playaction plays too....its sick when you think about it. You have to pick your poison. Do I, as the DC, stop the run and get burnt over the top or stop the pass and like novacaine does to your body - go numb from the body shots the running game delivers. I do not envy the DCs in the NFL that have to face us. I just got a headache trying to think of a way to shut it all down...and I can't.

Beautiful post. Very well said.

[Saqs]

You cannot stop the zone read AND the zone read PA. You have to be in two places at once.

There should be no question how to stop the zone read or option run- It's long been extablished how. DEs have to contain the edge. Period. It's up to the interior linemen and the LBs to stuff the middle. OLBs have the QB and the CB have the pitch man. Safeties play inside out and key on the inside run, then the QB, then the pitch man. That is the long standing philosophy to stopping the option. The issue with defenses is that for this week (or 2 if you're in the division) you must focus on those things you were told won't work in the NFL. Patience is not a defensive mindset in the NFL. We are excited to see the attacking styles of defenses like the Cowboys, Packers, and Bears. They simply won't work against the zone read, as they over pursue and get burnt out the backside with the QB keeper. Atheletes make plays, hence Almo gets tackled and RG3 doesn't have 23 rushing touchdowns and 5,000 yards rushing. The odds are in the offenses favor right now to make the decisions and force the defense to play more patient ball - which the last 4 games didn't happen. (also we remembered how to catch).

Speaking on the PA off of those plays - the defense is just screwed. Someone is open because to effectively stop the zone read the defense cannot focus on the receivers - lest they be skull drug by the run game. Safeties are keying on the inside run first, so their eyes are not where they should be. Your LBs are inside out so, again they are not where they should be, they cannot release in their flat or hook zone responsibility. Griff can hand the ball off to the RB on the playaction plays too....its sick when you think about it. You have to pick your poison. Do I, as the DC, stop the run and get burnt over the top or stop the pass and like novacaine does to your body - go numb from the body shots the running game delivers. I do not envy the DCs in the NFL that have to face us. I just got a headache trying to think of a way to shut it all down...and I can't.

And this is exactly what JPP was referring to when he says going after Brees is easier. Great post.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I'm very excited and anxious to see how our last 4 opponents do against us. We've had this pistol/zone offense as a major package for 12 games now. This isn't 1980...coordinators can usually catch up relatively quickly and shouldn't need an entire off-season to scheme against an offense.

If we continue to rack up yardage and get into position to score (in my opinion, despite the horrible TOP, we should have had 24 points against the Giants if not for 46's fumble), I think we have a legitimate long-term offense. That's my expectation, but if we are slowed down by defenses (not by turnovers or our own mistakes) then I'll concede that maybe we need another counter punch from Kyle.

[sjinhan]

I'm very excited and anxious to see how our last 4 opponents do against us. We've had this pistol/zone offense as a major package for 12 games now. This isn't 1980...coordinators can usually catch up relatively quickly and shouldn't need an entire off-season to scheme against an offense.

If we continue to rack up yardage and get into position to score (in my opinion, despite the horrible TOP, we should have had 24 points against the Giants if not for 46's fumble), I think we have a legitimate long-term offense. That's my expectation, but if we are slowed down by defenses (not by turnovers or our own mistakes) then I'll concede that maybe we need another counter punch from Kyle.

same here. why do people assuming that we cannot run this offense as the base offense for majority of RG3's career? This is Mike Vick's 10th year in the league (played). Mike Vick seems still pretty fast and quick. No reason to doubt that RG3 will be able to retain his athletic ability for most of his playing career.

Now RG3 can't try to act like superman like Vick who doesn't play smart and always take the punishment but I think we can already see that RG3 will be smart enough to manage the punishment that he will take throughout the game.

[Oldfan]

If you comfortable with potentially being gashed up the middle then bringing the SS/FS to press then contian seems like it would limit the edge runs.

It would limit the outside runs, flat passes, anything attacking the outside. Knowing there was already help on the outside would also allow the inside defenders on the D-line to hang back, close the gaps, and limit the RBs cutback -- which is our best chance for a long gain, IMO.

But it would have major problems with playaction.

What are you thinking -- more specifically?

[Robbnva]

That article and this thread were both great reads. Would definitely read again.

[sjinhan]

It would limit the outside runs, flat passes, anything attacking the outside. Knowing there was already help on the outside would also allow the inside defenders on the D-line to hang back, close the gaps, and limit the RBs cutback -- which is our best chance for a long gain, IMO.

What are you thinking -- more specifically?

So if the defense does this then how are they defending the pass? If Mike'e emphasis on obtaining the worldclass speed WRs on the outside, it seems like a very risky strategy for the defense to attempt as they would stop the Redskins from pounding away but would be very open to giving up some big passing plays...