Aaron Rodgers: Read-option a fad

[Pickle20]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/88...ventually-pass

[Ravens2006]

He's right. Being athletic, being able to move, avoid pressure, etc. those are great qualities that won't ever lose value. But building an offense so much around the run from the QB position... you'll get what you got with Griffin this year. Some incredible highlights, some periods of "This is the new NFL!" hype, and then inevitably... concussions, tired legs, short and/or high passes in crunch time because of those tired legs, and knee injuries. Over the decades, defenses have always adjusted to gimmicks and fads rather quickly... but to this day they still struggle most consistently against guys who can pick the right target and throw accurately. Once the legs start to go, you have to be able to fall back on that ability. Your targets aren't going to be as wide open then, because LBs and DBs aren't peeking at the edges and hesitating in coverage in case the QB takes off. Kaepernick put up some record all-around numbers in that game. As long as he can move like he can now, maybe he keeps it up. But give him a bad knee, put a defense on the other side that isn't worried about him running, and take a look at how well he does with that long wind-up, trying to get passes in to coverage.

[Far from home]

It is.
QBs can't hold up for many years.
It's like the Run and Gun - a great offense until someone figures out how to deal with it, then you just have a pummeled QB.

[Pickle20]

It definitely is something that doesn't usually produce long term results. The mobile QB's eventually have to become more of a pocket passer to avoid injury and because they've slowed down.

I still think it can work with the right personnel but it may not necessarily maximize the value of a player. However, if Kaepernick wins a SB this year, or RGIII or Wilson within the next few years, thats all that matters, and people will try to copy off of that.

[Fang]

I think the best QBs will always be the ones that can read a defense, manage the game and deliver the ball. The two best QBs today can't run very fast nor are they quick. But they are the best at the other attributes I mentioned.

I'll take Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan over RG3 or Cam Newton any day. However, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick look they have the ability to be pure pocket passers. The running ability is just gravy.

[Baltimore Ravens Lets Go!]

Aaron Rogers is spot on correct in stating this is a fad. For the very reasons already stated on this thread by the astute posters who have already commented. One thing I might add, as was discussed on Sirius Radion NFL channell 88 the other morning by Ross Tucker and LaDanian Tomlinson, the QB becomes fair game in this offense and you are allowed to hit him even when he doesn't have the ball. This allows you free reign to hammer the QB with additional shots that he would normally be protected from as a pocket passer.

Both Tucker and Tomlinson were saying this is what Atlanta should immediately do to Caepernick to discourage him from running and possibly even take him out of the game. John Madden said that is exactly what he would do in making the QB "uncomfortable" so that he really doesn't want to run the ball.

[HAIL2BNG]

I think the best QBs will always be the ones that can read a defense, manage the game and deliver the ball. The two best QBs today can't run very fast nor are they quick. But they are the best at the other attributes I mentioned.

I'll take Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan over RG3 or Cam Newton any day. However, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick look they have the ability to be pure pocket passers. The running ability is just gravy.

So you wouldn't take the most accurate of those mobile quarterbacks? Odd. Russell Wilson is 5'11". He isn't built to be a pocket passer.

Also, one of the two best quarterbacks is quite mobile. He is the subject of this thread.

[Pickle20]

Mobility is not the issue, and not what Rodgers was talking about. It's the option.

[HAIL2BNG]

Mobility is not the issue, and not what Rodgers was talking about. It's the option.

He also said it could be ten years.

[jonsensback]

It's not really a fad, it just thAt last years draft featured QB's that are a fit for the read. And cionsidering what happened to RG, the numbers of QB's than run it will be down at least by one.

[Baltimore Ravens Lets Go!]

He also said it could be ten years.

Since I noticed it didn't take you long to jump into this thread, I refer you to post #2 by Ravens2006. Please read it and my post #6 above to learn something correct for a change.

[HAIL2BNG]

Since I noticed it didn't take you long to jump into this thread, I refer you to post #2 by Ravens2006. Please read it and my post #6 above to learn something correct for a change.

Does Ross Tucker give you knee pads at least?

[ivanbalt]

Remember when the Wildcat was all the rage? Defenses adjusted...

[Ravens2006]

...I still think it can work with the right personnel but it may not necessarily maximize the value of a player. However, if Kaepernick wins a SB this year, or RGIII or Wilson within the next few years, thats all that matters, and people will try to copy off of that.

Wilson impresses me the most out of the group in terms of throwing the ball. Kaepernick has that "long wind-up" that scares you a little bit if he's on your side. He finishes with a rocket of a throw to compensate for it, but I think it remains to be seen how that works out going forward, especially next year when teams / coordinators have had a lot more time to break down film. Wilson seems to look to throw first even when he pulls it down and starts to move.

[Baltimore Ravens Lets Go!]

Does Ross Tucker give you knee pads at least?

Since you brought up the subject, you better hope Shanahan abandons the read option next season or Bob III is going to be the one truly needing knee pads to protect him from getting his further smashed. That is, if he is even healthy enough to play.

[Pickle20]

I haven't seen much of Kaepernick this year. Looking forward to the SF/ATL game...I am glad it is the first one because if the Ravens were the first game, and they lost, I'd watch Die Hard. It's what I did last year.