Graziano: DeMarcus Ware versus the read-option

[Apollo Creed]

When RGIII is making the read and is staring down this guy...

He better...

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

When RGIII is making the read and is staring down this guy...

He better...

Sort of like this?



Now part of this TD is just incredible execution, as you see how quickly the Commanders o-line gets to the 2nd level, and Garcon gets a great block on Claiborne.

Ware is simply hung out to dry on this play

 

[Apollo Creed]

Sort of like this?

That was when he had two relatively functional legs.

Kid is one hit away from never playing again.

I love RGIII, he's a great dude, incredible talent - but you're kidding yourself if you think he's going to be the same player coming back from that injury. He's had 2 ACL tears now, you gave up the farm to get him, your coach jeopardized his entire career, and you have no foundation for bettering your team for years to come with what you gave away for him. All your hopes are tied to that knee. Remember that.

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

That was when he had two relatively functional legs.

Kid is one hit away from never playing again.

I love RGIII, he's a great dude, incredible talent - but you're kidding yourself if you think he's going to be the same player coming back from that injury. He's had 2 ACL tears now, you gave up the farm to get him, your coach jeopardized his entire career, and you have no foundation for bettering your team for years to come with what you gave away for him. All your hopes are tied to that knee. Remember that.

Well that was as non-sequitor as you can get with this discussion. Every QB is 1 hit from never playing again. Manning is an example. Happened to Aikman

I'll let the most recent film do the talking. Looks like RG3 is on track to be ready for training camp. The miracles of stem cells and modern science



http://www.csnwashington.com/footba...talk/rg3-says-he-remains-target-training-camp

Now lets stay on topic and talk about the read option play shall we?

 

[jobberone]

Ware wasn't hesitant because he was injured...he was hesitant because he was confused. Many times he couldn't locate the ball or the ball carrier. You could see this on the Skins' first two TDs by Morris and especially by RG3.

Without reading the Insider piece, I'm pretty sure Bowen doesn't base those comments about Ware simply on game stats. There were plenty of excellent defensive players who got equally confused last season.

Worse play I've ever seen from him. Made me wonder if he had been coached properly and/or he was just screwing it up.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Well that was as non-sequitor as you can get with this discussion. Every QB is 1 hit from never playing again. Manning is an example. Happened to Aikman

I'll let the most recent film do the talking. Looks like RG3 is on track to be ready for training camp. The miracles of stem cells and modern science



http://www.csnwashington.com/footba...talk/rg3-says-he-remains-target-training-camp

Now lets stay on topic and talk about the read option play shall we?

Of course it can happen to anyone on any given play. But the probability is much higher in the case of RG3, considering his style of play, injury history, and the exact nature of his injury last year - can't argue that.

As for Ware, even the greats LT, Reggie White, etc have had bad plays. He's one of the best defensive players in NFL history 95% of the time, he can't be perfect. In those situations you're told to stay disciplined and react. He was going for the big play right there, had Griffin handed the ball off and Ware blew the play up and the ball came loose - he woulda looked like a genius and it woulda been one of the biggest plays of the year.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Ware wasn't hesitant because he was injured...he was hesitant because he was confused. Many times he couldn't locate the ball or the ball carrier. You could see this on the Skins' first two TDs by Morris and especially by RG3.

Without reading the Insider piece, I'm pretty sure Bowen doesn't base those comments about Ware simply on game stats. There were plenty of excellent defensive players who got equally confused last season.

Keep speaking the truth. I don't doubt that he was injured. But he simply looked like a high school player. He looked like a kid at a birthday party trying to hit a pinata. And as much as I don't care for Rob Ryan...I am SURE...he gave each player an assignment...and Ware just blew it. Even with one arm...he should have attacked somone...the pitch guy...the dive guy...the QB...he often attacked the air...and even with one arm....he did a great job of bringing the air down in the open field!

And after all these years of dissapointment...you guys know I have lost my patience with EVERYONE in Dallas. The track record in Dallas indicates there should be ZERO sacred cows in Dallas. That includes Ware and WItten as well. If these guys screw up...then call it what it is. Ware was AWFUL against the Skins!

 

[Sonny#9]

The way to stop that read option is simple. You coach your DE to ignore the RB completely and go straight toward Griffin. They delay the handoff to fake out the unblocked pass rusher. The DE can hit the QB as he is handing the ball off or right after he does so....as long as its not too late after the handoff. Sure, they may get 6-7 yards a carry but for how long will any coach trade off a 6 yard gain for getting his QB drilled into the turf. It will take about 10-12 of those running plays to drive down the field. That is 10 hits to the QB on one drive.

Just to be clear im not advocating any type of "bounty thing" - Im just talking about a legal hit to the QB who is holding the ball until the last second with a DE bearing down on him. I think this is what Seattle did to washington in the playoffs.

There is a problem with this line of thought: The NFL will protect the QB to the highest degree -- especially one with as high a profile as Griffin has. The QB may get drilled -- but the likelihood of a flag is very high. How many 15 yarders are coaches willing to tolerate? Not to mention, if a defense is giving up 6-7 yards a pop, it's hard to win a game that way.

 

[Galian Beast]

The reality is that this article has no bearing going forward.

DeMarcus Ware is now in a position where his entire focus is pass rush. He is no longer in run support or coverage.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The read option always makes the DE look silly. The QB makes the DE declare which way he is going then sends the ball the other way. There is no DE in the league that can stop a well-executed read-option, it's how the scheme works, it always sends the ball the other way.

It takes a good defensive coordinator and the other 10 guys on the field. The read option can be stopped by linebackers, safeties, and edge players (read: CBs in alleys)... which the Cowboys didn't have in week 17.

It's sophomoric to blame Ware, he was doing everything he was supposed to do. But the scheme, linebackers, and safeties weren't there to stop the read option.

Exactly. It seems few understand how this offense works.

And to those who say simply "Kill the QB every time"... This isn't the old wishbone triple option where the QB is running to the perimeter and making a last-instant decision on pitching to the halfback or not. Then, yes, you could hit the QB every time. But here on the first read of just the DE, the QB is several steps away. And there's no way the NFL is going to allow the DE to take three steps and hit the QB.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

The way to stop that read option is simple. You coach your DE to ignore the RB completely and go straight toward Griffin. They delay the handoff to fake out the unblocked pass rusher. The DE can hit the QB as he is handing the ball off or right after he does so....as long as its not too late after the handoff. Sure, they may get 6-7 yards a carry but for how long will any coach trade off a 6 yard gain for getting his QB drilled into the turf. It will take about 10-12 of those running plays to drive down the field. That is 10 hits to the QB on one drive.

Just to be clear im not advocating any type of "bounty thing" - Im just talking about a legal hit to the QB who is holding the ball until the last second with a DE bearing down on him. I think this is what Seattle did to washington in the playoffs.

That is exactly what Baltimore did. And that is what teams trying to establish a physical presence SHOULD do. You have seen Rg3 and Kapernick complaining left and right. And I don't care. These QBs hold on to the ball until the last second...then light them up! That will force these cats to play NFL football and leave the college crap where it belongs.

 

[Hoov]

There is a problem with this line of thought: The NFL will protect the QB to the highest degree -- especially one with as high a profile as Griffin has. The QB may get drilled -- but the likelihood of a flag is very high. How many 15 yarders are coaches willing to tolerate? Not to mention, if a defense is giving up 6-7 yards a pop, it's hard to win a game that way.

It depends on how the refs decide to call it. They do protect the QB when he is in the pocket and looking to pass but i dont think they throw the flag very much if it looks like its going to be a designed running play. They didnt protect vick at all last year, even when he was still behind the LOS they allowed all sorts of things and justified it by saying it looked like he was going to run with the ball and the same rules dont apply.

Obvoiusly you cant take 3 steps and lay into the QB once he has handed the ball off. But if you have one unblocked player at or near the LOS which you usally will against this offense and that player heads straight to the QB he should be able to get there quick enough to at least push the QB down on a frequent basis. As long he does not touch the helmet or go low i dont think it will get called. In addition, the rest of your defense knows to key on the RB, they wont have to guess because they know there is a specific player designated to go straght to the QB and that player wont be slowed by the play fake.

I wouldnt do this against a team that runs the read option 3-4 times a game, but if the team is using the read option as frequently as washington does this is the best way to shut it down.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

And as much as I don't care for Rob Ryan...I am SURE...he gave each player an assignment...and Ware just blew it.

I'm not sure at all whatsoever. Ryan seemed sloppy. Sloppy means not paying attention to detail. Ware seemed unprepared but he has the reputation of being diligent and relentless.

 

[footballnflstyle]

He struggled against it in the first game as well...

The 43 is better suited to handle the read option than the 34 imo. You can just tell Ware to go get the QB, leaving the MLB to stop the run up the middle, and the OLB to handle anything to go to the outside. The LBs have a lot more freedom to run sideline to sideline without having to take on a guard every play, which should make it more effective against the read option.

i not sure about that my friend..the 43 didn't fair to well against it either..just ask the giants..rg11 and company toyed with osi tuck n pierre paul..I mean toyed!!

 

[xwalker]

Sort of like this?



Now part of this TD is just incredible execution, as you see how quickly the Commanders o-line gets to the 2nd level, and Garcon gets a great block on Claiborne.

Ware is simply hung out to dry on this play

The Commanders are lined up with #82 in the backfield plus the RB. The Cowboys only have 6 men "in the box".

Even without the read-option, 6 men in the box against this formation is doomed for failure.

 

[Idgit]

Not having our starting ILBs hurt us more than anything our OLBs did in that second WAS game last season.

The Sk*ns are going to be good on offense, because they've got a very good QB. But we'll be able to match them offensively. Defensively, we'll make adjustments to limit their effectiveness. In any event, Demarcus Ware is among the least of our concerns when it comes to stopping anybody.

 

[footballnflstyle]

Not having our starting ILBs hurt us more than anything our OLBs did in that second WAS game last season.

The Sk*ns are going to be good on offense, because they've got a very good QB. But we'll be able to match them offensively. Defensively, we'll make adjustments to limit their effectiveness. In any event, Demarcus Ware is among the least of our concerns when it comes to stopping anybody.

i agree with just about all you said here,but the thing that will be the biggest difference is the skins being able to run the ball and in the 2nd half of games will wear down any defense in the league..

 

[Idgit]

i agree with just about all you said here,but the thing that will be the biggest difference is the skins being able to run the ball and in the 2nd half of games will wear down any defense in the league..

Yeah, the Sk*ns are going to be good on offense for the foreseeable future. Going to have to put up points on them and make them pay for getting that QB out of the pocket. A lot of games are going to come down to the last drive or two, if we're fortunate and play well.

Personally, I like it when the Sk*ns are relevant, though, so I don't mind.

 

[5Stars]

this. but is ware mean enough to do this?

Every time I read something like this I have to respond. Ware just does not seem to have any "dog" in him. He will fight through blocks, make tackles, do his best, but, he will knock Vick down or even Eli and then help them up to see if they are ok!

I cannot think of any time that I saw Too Tall, Harvey Martin, Randy White, or any of the old school football players do any of that. Now, I could be wrong in some instances, but I cannot recall any.

I wish Ware would realize that once he steps on the field, the guys across from him are not his friends or associates, they are your bitter enemy, period.

I forgot who on the Giants hit Romo to break his collar bone, but he did not give a crap about Romo. Ware needs to sprinkle some gun powder on his Wheaties.

 

[Direwolf63]

I think this , along with the overall defensive performance, is a reason why Ryan was let go. Wares only assignment on that play should be to blow the qb up. Keep it simple.

This.

If you hit the QB everytime they run the read option, pretty soon they will stop running it because because they don't want their QB hit every time. Refs can't call a penalty on it. All you say is that you thought the QB had the ball.

Smack the QB every time and pretty soon they will stop running the read option.