In this article, Mike Shanahan extols RG3's virtues, despite the acrimony of their separation. I pay close attention to this stuff.
After you read this, click on that link to read Shanahan's exact words, but I've got your cliff notes right here:
1: Per Shanahan, four read option quarterbacks have made it to recent Superbowls. He says that those who say the read option is obsolete are clueless.
2: It was RG3, and not Shanahan, who pushed for the conventional pocket-passing offense in year two.
Shanahan wanted to work it in gradually, but Griffin insisted on diving into it all at once.
Mike Shanahan believes that Griffin can (I say possibly has) become a viable pocket passer, but not yet. He needs to keep doing the read-option pistol stuff right now.
3: Shanahan likes that Griffin is going to have Hue Jackson as a Head Coach, because he knows that Hue will know how to use him.
4: Mike shed some light on the read option. It buys the quarterback extra time, because the defense is too concerned about the run.
He meant not only the running back, but the quarterback himself.
(My own comments here): On NFL Radio, the consensus among the real experts is the best answer to the read option is to beat the hell out of the quarterback whether he hands off or not.
That is, to close on him and the running back as they "mesh", or are side-by-side, and nail the quarterback regardless of who ends up with the ball.
But first, they have to get there. The only way to make sure is to blitze inside. And that is hazardous.
I can also hear the permabashers already: The Browns won't be able to run the ball anyway.
Run-blocking is not pass-blocking. It's very very different, Corky. Run-blockers are more common than pass-protectors because it requires less athleticism and thought.
Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz were good run-blockers, but what made them elite was their pass-blocking, Sherlock.
There is no pocket in the zone read, Einstein. The offensive line doesn't retreat. They hit people. Offensive linemen like that.
Crowell and Duke will like it too. The Browns should be able to run the ball just fine in whatever Hue's tweaked out, unique version of this scheme is. (It can't be a copy of another scheme. It has to have elements defenses haven't seen before).
The author of the linked article said that RG3 no longer had his blazing speed. That remains to be seen, because he hasn't had a chance to use it since he RECOVERED FROM HIS INJURIES DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Shanahan seems to know exactly what Hue Jackson is up to. Robert won't be pushing all-in for a conventional offense any more. Mike told him: If you do that, you'll struggle. I think RG3 knows that now. Half of Hue's work is done.
Bruce Ariens said that read option quarterbacks always get hurt, but he's wrong. RG3 himself wasn't hurt while running it.
He does need to get out of bounds, get rid of the ball, or take a dive sooner, though. Read option quarterbacks always get hurt if they're DUMB.
I'm starting to get optimistic. Terrell Pryor never had a chance to quarterback this scheme. I think Hue was talking about that a couple weeks ago. The dude is plotting and scheming. I can see the wheels turning.
Oh, but Goff or Wentz, for sure. Don't get stupid now! RG3 isn't very durable, and might flop. Pryor isn't as accurate; he's just not the same kind of passer. He's a wide receiver first now. You need a real quarterback, ok?
This is Hue trying to find a way to be competitive with a decimated offensive line and a so-so defense; it's not the long-term plan. Get the franchise guy while you can, and keep him in one piece.
...of course, this is a fairly simple scheme that's not hard for an inexperienced quarterback to run...
Yes, I'm getting excited. They could win as many as five games in 2016 if this works out! They play the Ravens twice, right?
No comments:
Post a Comment