Do the Skins keep the read option with RG3 or scrap it?

[HLF]

Some of you are being so scary yo. U think they told Adrian Peterson to "tone it down a bit" lmao no way. This is football, people are going to get hurt, yes even your QB(see almost everyone except Brett Farve).

That being said it would be retarded to just revamp alot of the playbook cause we're "scared" our QB is gonna go down. The kid has to learn how to protect himself like the best QBs do and we'll be fine If we keep building with what we got with this offense.

[panel]

Throw the ball away, live to fight another play!

If it were not for that play, there is a good chance that we would not have made the playoffs.

[alanchais]

Robert is smart. It just seems like he wasn't too aware of how random injuries can be in the NFL. One could make the argument since he was 2nd overall pick, people have been targeting him more (when will it be time that someone blindsides Russel Wilson next time he's blocking for his RB?).

We've all experienced other QBs growing to become elites, and you can tell with Robert that if he just learns to avoid hard hits, he'll have an amazing career.

[Dannyc]

I say keep it, but only use it sparingly. RG3 has more potential as a pocket passer who occasionally runs than a pistol offense QB. He really has the potential to be the best passer in the league; great arm strength, accuracy, and decision making. Combine that with his running ability and he can be the best.

[MartinC]

Scrap it.

Running inside is dumb for any NFL QB and insane for one off two knee surgeries.

Learn to slide? His slide is so ugly that he's more likely to re-injure the knee that way than by contact.

I can't think of any runs off the top of my head when Robert ran inside the tackles even on scrambles. The read option is designed so that when the QB runs its outside the DE or OLB depending on if its a 4-3 or 3-4 front.

I would think we will retain the read option as part of our playbook but with more traditional stretch runs in the running game. Play action will still be a big part of our passing game along with QB movement but more in the way Kirk was used in the Cleveland game with some read option added in on top of that. Assuming RGIII is ready for the start of the season - which my gut tells me is still very much in doubt - I would expect to see less running yards from RGIII but more passing yards.

[BadKarma]

Run the option, run the option until teams have us figured out and then adapt. RG3 was the most exciting thing in the NFL to watch this year, if we want a pocket passer then we can go Cousins, until then or until RG3 is too old to run effectively lets let this kid become the benchmark for what a 2013 nfl qb should be.

Get well RG3 and bring it back even stronger next season.

[Oldfan]

I can't think of any runs off the top of my head when Robert ran inside the tackles even on scrambles. The read option is designed so that when the QB runs its outside the DE or OLB depending on if its a 4-3 or 3-4 front.

I wasn't clear. I meant the inside lane of the two available on option plays. I'm not not concerned when he runs to the sidelines.

I would think we will retain the read option as part of our playbook but with more traditional stretch runs in the running game. Play action will still be a big part of our passing game along with QB movement but more in the way Kirk was used in the Cleveland game with some read option added in on top of that. Assuming RGIII is ready for the start of the season - which my gut tells me is still very much in doubt - I would expect to see less running yards from RGIII but more passing yards.

I hope you are wrong about the read-option. That will make it hard for me to watch the games.

[MartinC]

I hope you are wrong about the read-option. That will make it hard for me to watch the games.

I think whatever offense we run I'm going to close my eyes every time he runs whether by design or on a scramble!

[Koolblue13]

Drafts fastest QB to ever play the position.



Doesn't let him run.

[Rypien1191]

Really, he was only running the option and keeping it himself like once a quarter. I'm sure if he's healthy enough to be back to play QB, he'll be healthy enough to keep one option a quarter.

[thomasroane]

Shame that RG3 is one of the best deep throwers in the league, but a concussion and a knee injury on a couple of runs in the read option in his rookie season is ominous. Hope and pray that he returns heathy, but it seems like the offense needs to change to keep him upright!

Thoughts?

Keep it.

First, the Zone-read part of their game was at the most ran 15% of the time. Jaws, Dilfer, Steve Young, and many others have plainly stated that most of what they ran out of the Pistol-Full house look was the old fashioned Mike Shannahan Stretch game. They just ran it out of the Pistol instead of a traditional I. And that's what gave defenses fits. They'd be expecting Zone-Read and then find themselves getting mashed with an inside or outside Zone run. (Where Robert would just pitch it or hand off to Alfred Morris).

The only play where Robert got hurt running the Zone-read was vs Atlanta. And he learned afterwards that he had to get down or out of bounds. Vs Baltimore he was dropping back. Couldn't find a receiver and scrambled out. He shoulda slid feet first; Wilson was an ex baseball player so he's comfortable with that. Vs Seattle, he was hurt dropping back or rolling out. In the zone-read he could control how or if he would be hit.

Mike's Zone Blocking System (ZBS) is run best with smaller, athletic linemen who can quickly get angles on defenders or get to the next to level on a combo block. (I've been running this for 10 years so I know the concepts well). The disadvantage with those smaller O-Linemen is that they struggle in traditional pass pro. Their Center (Montgomery) didn't have enough ass to stop Seattle's nose guard. Which is why he started struggling with his snaps. So if the Redskins (or Houston) are struggling with their running game or not running (which I blame Kyle for getting away from it after Morris was gashing Seattle in the first quarter) then their passing game will not be effective. Because it is usually based off play action. When Seattle respected RG III as a runner they were on their heels trying to guess what was coming next. Once they realized he couldn't move it was game over man!

The myth that a drop back passer is safer than a runner just isn't true. As a drop back passer you don't always have the option to choose when you're hit. Look at how many Pocket Passers that have been hurt. Brady and Cutler both blew out their ACL's as pocket passers. The Redskins broke Romo's ribs when he was in the pocket. Broke Foles hand; in the pocket. Peyton was jacked up; in the pocket. Being a pocket passer is more dangerous to a QB because you'll get blown up from a blind side. Big Ben may slide but he's not a runner. Look how often he's been hurt; in the pocket. That said, Robert will have to learn that skill if he wants to be elite; this injury could be a blessing in that regard. That's why they struggled on 3rd and long. You have to know how to get thru your progressions in 3 seconds or less. At 1.5 seconds check primary [usually deep], 2 seconds read route [something like a Dig or Post-corner], 3 seconds your short route [shallow, drive, or a check release from a back]. Once you get to 3 seconds then you better start moving! Step up, slide or escape looking for a receiver to break off and work towards you. Rogers and his receivers are the best at Ad libbing. But Rogers misses some open receivers early in their routes and if you can keep him bottled up you can sack him.

[Morneblade]

Throw the ball away, live to fight another play!

Diagree to a point. I think he needs to start stepping up in the pocket and stop running around as much. If you scramble, get what you can and then get down.

[gortiz]

I say yeah ... I'm under the contention that Robert is safer running designed run plays then he is staying in the pocket.

[Tay]

I think the injury risk with RG3 will decrease over time, as he studies defenses and is able to get a better read. Right now he holds on to the ball for a while when his first or second read isn't there. Once he is able to get the ball out quicker because he has a better understanding of what defenses are doing, he'll be fine.

[GhostRider]

I think the read option has been really effective. Honestly tho, I'm curious how Griffin would do in a traditional Shanny offense. I think just running a handful of qb keepers on bootlegs would be smarter long term. I think any planned runs should give him option to stretch it out of bounds.