In my opinion, as a paradigm, up-tempo offense is a gimmick; the read option and veer are not. The former is based on preventing substitutions and exploiting the concept that you can get set and run plays faster than defenses can react. The latter are based on basic football principals, like blocking angles and misdirection. But the NFL is not college, and while offensive gimmicks can work for a little while in the League, eventually defenses catch up, and as it should, achieving success reverts to talent and execution.
The NFL rules are severely slanted toward the offense and the passing game, but I'd love to see a team take advantage of the available talent and design an offense around it. There are some supremely talented QB's out there whose abilities just happen to lie somewhere other than seven steps deep in the pocket, players who can be had for nothing, as QB's go. Instead of quarterback and wide receiver, focus your resources on building a big, athletic offensive line and assembling a stable of the highest quality RBs. Pick up Nick Marshall, draft a couple of Dak Prescott, Braxton Miller, Jacoby Brissett and Trevone Boykin, and sign Taysom Hill as an UDFA. Let these guys run a full-blown read option/veer-based offense with a moving pocket, high-percentage throws and lots of play action deep.
Would it work? Maybe not, but it would be a nightmare to prepare for, and with great athletes running it to precision, I'd give it a real chance. It would have to be better than wasting high picks looking for QB's and continuing to lose.
