Scottemojo":r1bejm1c said:
Yeah, it has been kind a revelation to think of each read option team individually rather than lump them together.
That is a great O-line. They want to find the quit in a defensive line.
One particular play stands out. Early in the Green Bay playoff game, the Pack was doing pretty good stopping the Niners. Kaep dropped back, BJ Raji had his standard double team, Kaep threw the ball, Raji turned to watch the ball fly, and a third Niner lineman, Staley I think it was, just earholed him and laid him out. Sure it was a cheapshot. So what. It was the playoffs, and a message was sent (the same message our guys got when they were laying those traps in our first game). Even though that game was tied at 24 in the 4th, it had the feel that the physicality of the Niners was getting to the Pack. Which proved true.
I heard a coach recently talking up the read option because the pistol formation that it is often run from is essentially just a short shotgun I formation. The standard gun is difficult to run from, the pistol is not. A standard gun limits running to a couple of zone looks because the line has to sell a pass block set, The pistol doesn't require that.
To my mind, if the pistol is here to stay, so is the read option.
Couldn't agree more.
Lost in all the Read Option stories tho is that while BOTH SF and Seattle used the Pistol Formation and the Read Option play, neither team used it as the mainstay of their offense. Both teams were able to use more conventional sets and plays and were still able to play very effectively.
Both teams also have a dominant run game which made the QBs job much easier and made play action DEADLY.
I can't speak so much on Wilson because i watched him far less than Kaep, but one of the criticisms of Kaep is the "One Read" thing. Personally, I don't put alot of merit into it because most often that first option was open...so he didn't HAVE to check down. Thats a product of great play design, an outstanding line, and a huge threat in the run game.
There is a reason Kaep led the NFL in Yards Per Attempt. I think Kaep has all the tools to be a great one, but I'm not so off my rocker that I don't recognize the part the rest of the team plays in his success. I'm sure some of the same can be applied to Wilson. I do agree tho that at this point, Wilson is a more polished passer with more experience in a conventional pro style offense.