Read-option quarterbacks are fair game on fakes, NFL says

[dboyz]

Uh....that's called 'weak side containment.' Or just another version of 'spying the QB.' Which has only been going on for decades. All that does is it makes the game more 10 on 10 instead of 10 on 11. And weak side contain happens all of the time so the game is usually 10 on 10 on running plays anyway. Actually, most running plays are more like 4 on 4 or 4 on 5...but that's an entirely different matter.

No worries, I fully believe that come midway thru the year teams will have a good grasp as to how to stop the Read Option from a schematic standpoint without making it mandatory to hit the QB. Just like the Seahawks did to the Commanders in the playoffs. In Week 17, Rob Ryan figured out how to stop the passing end of it as RG3 had a dreadful game throwing the ball. The problem was the defense was so depleted with injuries that they couldn't tackle Morris. Tough to do so when you're bringing up guys off the street.

I'm not worried about the R/O in the least. I think the pistol formation is here to stay. I think eventually down the road teams will go to a pistol formation with packaged plays and ditch the R/O for the most part. Then that will be countered with more blitzing and eventually that will go to pistol formation packaged plays with the O-Line using pass protection instead of run blocking techniques.






YR

I completely agree with this. The read option is a temporary thing. However, the pistol formation is the next step of offensive evolution and is here to stay.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Yeah but it's the passion in which you argue that's surprising to me. I know why the skins fans are passionate because this rule clarification could really affect their season and RG3s future but you? I can't come up with a reason for your passion because this can only benefit the Cowboys.

Eh, I'm not passionate at all about it. To,me it's just a discussion of how that play works and if it can succeed in the pros. I think it's a lot of other fans who are showing passion about it because they hate the Skins and want the option to fail. But the uniforms and hats don't make any difference as to whether it works or not.

I don't even think this is that big a deal because 1) the rule hasn't changed, you could always hit the QB when he's acting like a runner 2) the NFL isn't going to allow you to take three steps and clobber a guy without the ball, especially in a day and age when they're flagging ridiculous "defenseless" player hits 3) I don't think the Skins will run the play nearly as much this year anyway.

Talking about Griffin, I agree with what Vintage said, that his problem is more his very skinny legs. That's a bad thing even if he never takes another hit outside the pocket.

 

[DFWJC]

The 49ers are already whining about this ruling.

 

[Yuma Cactus]

Is it gonna be a penalty if R2D2 throws his hand up like he doesn't have the ball then throws a TD or runs a reverse?

 

[SkinsFan28]

They had the same rules in place last year. The Eagles complained about Vick not getting roughing the passer calls that other quarterbacks were and the NFL told them that if he acts like he's going to run, he's a runner even if he stops (fakes) and tries to throw the ball. That said, with the emergence of more read-option offenses popping up, I am glad the NFL re-stated it and clarified it even more.

Personally, I like that some teams are running read-option because it spices up the league a little from the same-old-thing, but I am also glad to see the NFL remove some of the protection that quarterbacks have when the quarterback takes on the role of quarterback and running back. If they did not do that, I could easily see teams running out two QB's in the backfield instead of a quarterback and running back eventually with both capable of throwing or running. In fact, that still might happen

/reality

I agree with this

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

I agree with this

In an officiating video distrubted to the media, NFL VP of officiating Dean Blandino said the following:



“When the quarterback puts the ball in the running back’s belly, the referee doesn’t know who has the football, the defender doesn’t know who has the football, so if it’s a bang-bang split second, than yes, he can hit the quarterback. But if the quarterback has clearly handed off the football, and he’s standing still, of fading backwards, he cannot be unnecessarily contacted, and that doesn’t matter if it’s a read-option quarterback or a classic drop-back quarterback. If they’re standing still or fading backward after the ball has left their hand, they cannot be unnecessarily contacted.”

So just like last year, nothing different with the rule