Read-Option QBs

[Cheesehead Craig]

Its a new day and age, you have young rising stars in RGIII, Luck, Wilson, Kapernick, and Newton who can all run the ball. I believe more teams are looking more at QBs who are mobile out of the pocket as evidence in this years draft with EJ Manuel being the only QB taken in the 1st round.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2014QB.php - List of the top QB prospects for next years draft, it you notice a lot of them are dual threats including the top 3 prospects.

Mobile QBs are great, no doubt about it. I think there's a big difference in a mobile QB and one who will run the read-option. I don't believe Luck or Wilson could or would want to do that offense. Kap and RGIII are more suited for it. I'm not sure how successful Cam would be with a read-option. He's got size but doesn't have the speed and agility that Kap and RGIII have. I don't see him play enough (other than highlights) so I really can't say.

[Brandon494]

Mobile QBs are great, no doubt about it. I think there's a big difference in a mobile QB and one who will run the read-option. I don't believe Luck or Wilson could or would want to do that offense. Kap and RGIII are more suited for it. I'm not sure how successful Cam would be with a read-option. He's got size but doesn't have the speed and agility that Kap and RGIII have. I don't see him play enough (other than highlights) so I really can't say.

Cam Newton imo would be the best at it because of his size and he has the speed/agility running a 4.5 40. I don't think RGIII should run it, hes just too injury prone, plus he is a hell of a passer which some people don't give him credit for. I live in Richmond, VA so unfortunately I'm forced to watch every single Redskins game. I hated the way Mike Shananhan used RGIII last season, image us running the option with Rodgers . Yes RGIII is that good and after what happened last season I guarantee you won't see Shanahan using him that way again. Honestly I don't believe teams are going to start using the read option, I think the 49ers just did it last season because Kapernick is young and still learning how to read defenses. I do believe teams are leaning more towards mobile QBs though over pocket passers.

[ThunderDan]

I thought RGIII got hurt on a regular drop back pass not on the read option. He got hit by Ngata after he got flushed from the pocket and was running down field. Maybe I am not remembering it corretly.

[Zool]

I thought RGIII got hurt on a regular drop back pass not on the read option. He got hit by Ngata after he got flushed from the pocket and was running down field. Maybe I am not remembering it corretly.

The first injury late in the season was on a run when his leg whipped weird off a body during a hit.

[Brandon494]

I thought RGIII got hurt on a regular drop back pass not on the read option. He got hit by Ngata after he got flushed from the pocket and was running down field. Maybe I am not remembering it corretly.

The Ngata hit was the main hit that injured his knee but he also took a lot of big hits running the read option which isn't smart when you have a guy with that much talent who is injury prone. I don't mind him running out of the pocket if no one is open but no need to draw up plays when you know hes going to take a big hit.

[ThunderDan]

The first injury late in the season was on a run when his leg whipped weird off a body during a hit.

Just watched on youtube. Washington was in a shotgun trying to tie the game late against Balt. RGIII scrambled left ran down the field cut back toward the middle, was tackled and bounced into Ngata.

[Cleft Crusty]

RO QBs are just not going to last that long if they are asked to run it a lot.

[MadScientist]

Why are the naysayers not responding with gimmick offense, fad, defenses will figure it out, etc. etc.

Very strange (minus big font)

It is not nearly the gimmick that the wildcat was. That said, defenses will get better at dealing with it, with the whole off season to prepare. That combined with more risk to the most important player on the team will make the use of the read-option decline. It will be featured here and there on a team that has a young and very athletic QB that they are not convinced will be a true franchise QB. If the guy looks like he can succeed in a more standard offense they will switch, otherwise they will use him up and draft someone else.

[bobblehead]

Its a new day and age, you have young rising stars in RGIII, Luck, Wilson, Kapernick, and Newton who can all run the ball. I believe more teams are looking more at QBs who are mobile out of the pocket as evidence in this years draft with EJ Manuel being the only QB taken in the 1st round.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2014QB.php - List of the top QB prospects for next years draft, it you notice a lot of them are dual threats including the top 3 prospects.

Just a few years ago a very good friend of mine (who is black) declared that the era of the pocket passer was over. Jamarcus Russell had just been drafted first and guys like Vick were getting major props. I pointed out to him who the final four were that year and he said "things are about to change".

I know we desperately want a new era of athletic QB's (who are black except for Tebow and Crouch), but pocket passers rule the day. McNabb was a scrambler young and didn't win. He became a passer later and made 4 NFCC and a superbowl.

Don't misunderstand me, its not about black and white. Kapernick has a GUN. He needs to learn to play QB in the NFL as a pocket passer who runs when he needs to. Lotta good young athletic QB's have potential, but at the end of the day, the recipe for success hasn't really changed all that much.

[bobblehead]

Cam Newton imo would be the best at it because of his size and he has the speed/agility running a 4.5 40..

Cam did not run a 4.5. I watched it live on ESPN (at the combines anyway)

[bobblehead]

I don't think RGIII should run it, hes just too injury prone, plus he is a hell of a passer which some people don't give him credit for. I live in Richmond, VA so unfortunately I'm forced to watch every single Redskins game. I hated the way Mike Shananhan used RGIII last season, image us running the option with Rodgers . Yes RGIII is that good and after what happened last season I guarantee you won't see Shanahan using him that way again. Honestly I don't believe teams are going to start using the read option, I think the 49ers just did it last season because Kapernick is young and still learning how to read defenses. I do believe teams are leaning more towards mobile QBs though over pocket passers.

But the rest of your post was spot on.

[Brandon494]

Cam did not run a 4.5. I watched it live on ESPN (at the combines anyway)

My bad, 4.59 40 time

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/cam-newton?id=2495455

[rbaloha1]

Its a fad. The final 4 teams this season will be at least 3 pocket passers (Manning, Brady, Rodgers and Ryan). Last season the final 4 were Manning, Flacco, Ryan, Kapernick.

Maybe a gimmick guy surprises this year again and makes it, but long term success in the NFL is done through a pocket passer and running effectively.

This is what i was waiting for.

Running effectively is possible from the read option. Throwing from the pocket is also possible.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Cam Newton imo would be the best at it because of his size and he has the speed/agility running a 4.5 40. I don't think RGIII should run it, hes just too injury prone, plus he is a hell of a passer which some people don't give him credit for. I live in Richmond, VA so unfortunately I'm forced to watch every single Redskins game. I hated the way Mike Shananhan used RGIII last season, image us running the option with Rodgers . Yes RGIII is that good and after what happened last season I guarantee you won't see Shanahan using him that way again. Honestly I don't believe teams are going to start using the read option, I think the 49ers just did it last season because Kapernick is young and still learning how to read defenses. I do believe teams are leaning more towards mobile QBs though over pocket passers.

Good point on RGIII with the size. Wholeheartedly agree on the mobile QB thought as well.

[3irty1]

I think its the talent, not the read-option that is revolutionary here. We've never seen athletes like Cam Newton, RGIII, Kap, and Wilson that were this talented as passers. All of a sudden there are 4 young guys better than Mike Vick ever was. If College keeps churning out these kinds of guys, of course coaches will find ways to use them.