Graziano: DeMarcus Ware versus the read-option

[Direwolf63]

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.

Yep

 

[Zordon]

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.

Yes, I noticed. This is the only thing we agree on. Ware is what he is. HOF player but is missing that "dawg" intangible that has been absent from his entire team for sometime. I've given up expecting it from Ware, he's too old to change now.

 

[Direwolf63]

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.

I think it was Micheal Boley. And your right, he didn't give a crap.

 

[Idgit]

Yes, I noticed. This is the only thing we agree on. Ware is what he is. HOF player but is missing that "dawg" intangible that has been absent from his entire team for sometime. I've given up expecting it from Ware, he's too old to change now.

There's no such thing as a 'dawg intangible' and, if there were, it would be ridiculous. All that matters is that the guy is a legitimately great football player. Pretending otherwise is nothing more than an example of typical fan message-board self-loathing. Enjoy your great players. Hope we get more. Worry about the positions where the players aren't great instead of the ones where they are. The same goes for the whole team. If it's not tangible, it doesn't really matter. There are enough tangible problems that need to be corrected in Dallas. We don't need to go making up others that nobody can see or ever prove exist.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

I'm always amazed that some fans think a guy that violently destroys QBs at an average of 14 sacks a year isn't "mean" enough. Between ball snap and whistle he's the most frightening violent player in the league with QBs both active and retired admitting they fear the man. Yet some people concern themselves with what he does after the whistle?

 

[Idgit]

I'm always amazed that some fans think a guy that violently destroys QBs at an average of 14 sacks a year isn't "mean" enough. Between ball snap and whistle he's the most frightening violent player in the league with QBs both active and retired admitting they fear the man. Yet some people concern themselves with what he does after the whistle?

Being 'meaner' helps you get to the QB faster. And makes them more afraid of you once you get there. QB-fear is another one of those intangibles that keeps us from winning big games. As opposed to the tangible things like our TO ratio or our inadequate pass defenses.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Wares focus will be in the backfield not in coverage but so will the other three Dlinemen. The 4/3 will end the read/pass-option this year and at least one QBs season.

 

[birdwells1]

I'm always amazed that some fans think a guy that violently destroys QBs at an average of 14 sacks a year isn't "mean" enough. Between ball snap and whistle he's the most frightening violent player in the league with QBs both active and retired admitting they fear the man. Yet some people concern themselves with what he does after the whistle?

We are talking about Demarcus Ware aren't we?

 

[birdwells1]

There's no such thing as a 'dawg intangible' and, if there were, it would be ridiculous. All that matters is that the guy is a legitimately great football player. Pretending otherwise is nothing more than an example of typical fan message-board self-loathing. Enjoy your great players. Hope we get more. Worry about the positions where the players aren't great instead of the ones where they are. The same goes for the whole team. If it's not tangible, it doesn't really matter. There are enough tangible problems that need to be corrected in Dallas. We don't need to go making up others that nobody can see or ever prove exist.

Was Ray Lewis announcing his retirement before the playoffs tangible or intangible?

 

[Idgit]

Was Ray Lewis announcing his retirement before the playoffs tangible or intangible?

Intangible. And irrelevant. Unless you're saying that's what caused Joe Flacco to throw 11 tds and 0 interceptions in the playoffs.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

We are talking about Demarcus Ware aren't we?

Ruthless.

 

[birdwells1]

Ruthless.

Not a big hit in the bunch.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Not a big hit in the bunch.

Are you being sarcastic? I can't tell.

 

[jobberone]

Not a big hit in the bunch.

Did you do this yourself? Love it.

 

[birdwells1]

Did you do this yourself? Love it.

Naw found it on youtube. Btw shout out to Reality and the mods for the new website format.

 

[punchnjudy]

Watching Ware play in that game was the most frustrated I've been by a talented Cowboys defenseman since the days when Kevin Smith used to get flagged for not turning around to face the ball. Just watching it live, there were times when I thought Griffin got too close and should have been nailed. We won't be able to do that every time for reasons already stated, but there will be times when he gets too comfortable and that's when you make him pay.

 

[Teague31]

Sean Lee and Bruce Carter will eat the read option for breakfast and defecate RG3 by dinner.

 

[cannonball44]

Sean Lee is a bigger piece to stopping the read option than Demarcus Ware.

 

[AsthmaField]

IMO, the read option is a big reason for Dallas switching back to the 43. I think it is better suited to defend it. The faster defense overall, but in particular the super quick LB's are going to be able to stop running QB's much better than the personnel in your typical 34. Kiffin will have the safeties in better position than Ryan did as well.

There were other factors going in to the change, I'm sure... but I think Kiffin's insistence on being sound fundamentally, and how fast his defenses play was a big selling point on bringing the 43 back to Dallas.

Certainly, the confusion in the Dallas defense in both Commander games played a large part of the demise of Ryan and the 34.

 

[BobGriffin3]

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.

Really? It will be a 15 yard flag every single time it happens. This is a league that protects the QB, you honestly believe "refs can't call a penalty on it?". RG3 always puts his hands up when pressure is coming and he doesn't have the ball. I doubt the refs will listen to "I thought he had the ball." The read-option is what it is.....dangerous. The only gameplanning for the read-option is scoring more points then the Commanders offense.