Seattle Seahawks and the Read-Option (ESPN)

"Three teams called 50-plus read-option runs in 2012 (Carolina, Washington and Seattle); through 14 games this season, eight teams had blown past that number. And four of those teams -- the Eagles, Seahawks, Panthers and 49ers -- were in the NFC playoff hunt. In fact, through Week 15, the Seahawks had used the read-option on 21 percent of their running plays, compared with 10 percent in 2012."


http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...s-make-improvements-read-option-espn-magazine

Interesting read. I think we can use it more effectively against the Rams. It seemed like We didn't want to run Russell so much last game. We'll have to be more creative this week and RO can be a big part of it. Thank you Ivotuk.

I feel like we've used the Read-Option effectively so far this season. During the regular season, use it mainly as a decoy with it going to the running back most of the time. In "big games", leave the ball in Russell's hands more and let him either make plays with his feet or even with his arm. Preserve his health for the playoffs but still allow him to keep it enough as to where Marshawn can still be effective and defenses can't sit on him getting the ball every time, although they have at some points during the season. Still, I'd rather it be Marshawn getting drilled a few yards deep in the backfield rather than it be Russell.

Then, in the playoffs, you play with nothing to lose. Russell keeps it a bit more and now the defenses aren't completely ready for it. There's no way they could be, it goes against everything they've seen on film, for the most part. A) You've succeeded in keeping Russell healthy through the Regular Season while still not completely taking away that facet of his game and B) Now defenses have no clue what's happening to them as Russell is destroying them with his legs, his arm, and most importantly, his mind. Unstoppable.

What formation is the read-option? Is there some kind of "tell" you can pick up when you're watching the offense line up?

Lords of Scythia":1134ho7f said:

What formation is the read-option? Is there some kind of "tell" you can pick up when you're watching the offense line up?

Click to expand...

your watching the tackle to see if he bits (goes after the RB, in which case you pull it back and run it yourself), or comes down and goes after you (hand it off to the running back who will run right pass the tackle).

The end moreso than the tackle lol

Unfortunately for the read option to work, Wilson actually has to run the ball every now and again.

Its ran from shotgun. single back off set. to either side..
like so...

Marshawn Lynch's touchdown run at San Francisco came because the 49ers were playing contain for the QB. It's effective even when it isn't really used.

It seems to me that Russell often makes the wrong decision on whether to keep it or hand it off, leaving big plays on the field. I think learning to make the read better is an area of improvement for him next year.

bigwrm":xlxuue77 said:

It seems to me that Russell often makes the wrong decision on whether to keep it or hand it off, leaving big plays on the field. I think learning to make the read better is an area of improvement for him next year.

Click to expand...

Sounds stupid but this may be by design, maybe not but i doubt they want RW running that much.

Thanks for the info. It almost sounds like a draw--run out of the SG, rb overrruns the pass rush. Except a draw has the linemen drop back in pass cover.

Russell is a rushing QB, his style of play is built for it.. He proved how good he is at keeping defenses guessing. Last year, he proved this and had us all in awe. He played the same way in college and it worked. We simply don't have the line protection to let him hang in the pocket. Why try to reinvent what works?

Risk vs reward; just interesting that he does not go for it for more and take the game drive with his feet when receivers are covered. This is just an observation, not a criticism of him. Perhaps more of this on 3Rd down play since we have seemed to struggle on converting. We shall see.

Lords of Scythia":3tlhaol9 said:

What formation is the read-option? Is there some kind of "tell" you can pick up when you're watching the offense line up?

Click to expand...

Yea, there is. In our version of the read, the quarterback lines up in the shotgun and the RB, usually Beast, lines up to the immediate right or left of Russell. We run a lot of plays out of that formation, not all of those are run options. Quite frequently, Russell will pass out of that formation.

It doesn't seem like Russell has been keeping the ball much out of the read this year as he did last season. There seems to have been a lot of times, particularly early in the season, when the end crashed down big time, leaving a wide open lane for Russell, but he handed it off anyway. It made me wonder if our coaches weren't trying to protect Russell from injury yet keep the play fresh in the minds of our defenders for the opportune time to use it. This Sunday would be the perfect time to run the read, and run it right at Quinn and Long. Perhaps it will make them hesitate a bit.

Jay-Dog":3tv60pf7 said:

Russell is a rushing QB, his style of play is built for it.. He proved how good he is at keeping defenses guessing. Last year, he proved this and had us all in awe. He played the same way in college and it worked. We simply don't have the line protection to let him hang in the pocket. Why try to reinvent what works?

Risk vs reward; just interesting that he does not go for it for more and take the game drive with his feet when receivers are covered. This is just an observation, not a criticism of him. Perhaps more of this on 3Rd down play since we have seemed to struggle on converting. We shall see.

Click to expand...

Russ himself has said he's a scrambling QB and always looking downfield to throw the ball. He'd rather give to Marshawn or pass downfield and only use his legs when needed to make a play.