Option Reads

[johncu]

I was rewatching a little bit of the USF game last night because the Pats/Steelers game sucked so bad, and I noticed something I hadn't seen live. A shit ton of missed option reads. Either those were called plays, or we (especially LJ) did an awful job of reading the defense.

I've got an untrained eye, but damn if it didn't look like we kept handing it off into the teeth of the defense or keeping it when the RB had a hole to run through. Does anyone else with more time or knowledge want to go back through the film and break this down?

 

[coit]

I was rewatching a little bit of the USF game last night because the Pats/Steelers game sucked so bad, and I noticed something I hadn't seen live. A öööö ton of missed option reads. Either those were called plays, or we (especially LJ) did an awful job of reading the defense.

I've got an untrained eye, but damn if it didn't look like we kept handing it off into the teeth of the defense or keeping it when the RB had a hole to run through. Does anyone else with more time or knowledge want to go back through the film and break this down?

A friend of mine mentioned that to me as well. I think they may have even touched on it on our radio broadcast, specifically LJ missing his reads about half the time.

 

[theDude47]

I swear every time I saw us run an option read on Saturday, it was a bad read. I guess doing it from the shotgun has really been a big difference.

 

[eg1]

I swear every time I saw us run an option read on Saturday, it was a bad read. I guess doing it from the shotgun has really been a big difference.

I would guess first off that securing the ball in shotgun means that the QB's eyes are not on their read as early as from under center.

 

[GTTerrific]

I agree with above no doubt. Part of the problem, IMO, the snaps aren't clean. Too many at the QB's feet to the side. Knocks the timing off. We're just not crisp yet.

 

[coit]

I agree with above no doubt. Part of the problem, IMO, the snaps aren't clean. Too many at the QB's feet to the side. Knocks the timing off. We're just not crisp yet.

It's been reported that we lost our center in the first quarter, and we were without the #2 so we were using possibly the #3 snapper.

 

[johncu]

Okay, I caved and started watching myself. I watched the first half, and we looked awful on every drive except one:

Oliver came in at QB with 4:12 left in the 2nd quarter. All of a sudden our OL looked competent, because he consistently made the right reads, fought for extra yardage when he kept the ball, and made things happen when the play broke down. It's not like we were just running QB keepers, either.

He threw a hitch route, he ran multiple read option plays, he pitched on a speed option for a big play, we did a jet sweep to Brown - there was a lot of variation. And we actually looked good for that one drive.

That is the offense we should be running, with enough downfield passing mixed in to punish opponents for stacking the box.

 

[coit]

Okay, I caved and started watching myself. I watched the first half, and we looked awful on every drive except one:

Oliver came in at QB with 4:12 left in the 2nd quarter. All of a sudden our OL looked competent, because he consistently made the right reads, fought for extra yardage when he kept the ball, and made things happen when the play broke down. It's not like we were just running QB keepers, either.

He threw a hitch route, he ran multiple read option plays, he pitched on a speed option for a big play, we did a jet sweep to Brown - there was a lot of variation. And we actually looked good for that one drive.

That is the offense we should be running, with enough downfield passing mixed in to punish opponents for stacking the box.

This is the exact point I made yesterday. That is what we should be running if we are trying to score points and win games.

 

[malak05]

Okay, I caved and started watching myself. I watched the first half, and we looked awful on every drive except one:

Oliver came in at QB with 4:12 left in the 2nd quarter. All of a sudden our OL looked competent, because he consistently made the right reads, fought for extra yardage when he kept the ball, and made things happen when the play broke down. It's not like we were just running QB keepers, either.

He threw a hitch route, he ran multiple read option plays, he pitched on a speed option for a big play, we did a jet sweep to Brown - there was a lot of variation. And we actually looked good for that one drive.

That is the offense we should be running, with enough downfield passing mixed in to punish opponents for stacking the box.

I agree 100% with the concept of Oliver running and reading defense's it helps he generally has that skillset with his experience but he still struggles to pass especially downfield and until he proves that Defenses that he can do that they will continue to load the box and make it harder overall for the offense and then when our Center went down that whole exchange got horrible because the bad snapping. I really ultimately think Graham is the best of both world's for this offense but not sure if he playback wise and trust wise is read to go full-time.

 

[JoeCakeEater]

A friend of mine mentioned that to me as well. I think they may have even touched on it on our radio broadcast, specifically LJ missing his reads about half the time.

If you’re missing reads half the time, then you’re guessing not reading. I thought several seemed pre-determined. Either that or the reads were really bad.

 

[GoGATech]

We've had some bad looks on pass plays too. I can't recall which ones off the top of my head, but I know for a fact there were several times I saw a blitz coming, and I saw that Lucas picked up on it and motioned where a blitz was coming from to move protection there. Then after the snap he would always be looking and throw the other way. Most of the time there is going to be an open man in the area where the blitz comes from and there was every time and he never looked that way. Don't know why. Also I was watching some of the replay now and on our next to last possession where we were driving but then had the false start penalty and put us behind the sticks, that 3rd down and 12 deep ball that he threw to Jalen Camp, if he throws that to Carter it's a TD, or if he checks it down to Mason he gets 15 yards easy and the 1st down. Hell he may could've even stepped up himself and run for the first down. Middle of the field was empty past the LOS. It's at 6:30 mark of 4th quarter.

 

[malak05]

We've had some bad looks on pass plays too. I can't recall which ones off the top of my head, but I know for a fact there were several times I saw a blitz coming, and I saw that Lucas picked up on it and motioned where a blitz was coming from to move protection there. Then after the snap he would always be looking and throw the other way. Most of the time there is going to be an open man in the area where the blitz comes from and there was every time and he never looked that way. Don't know why. Also I was watching some of the replay now and on our next to last possession where we were driving but then had the false start penalty and put us behind the sticks, that 3rd down and 12 deep ball that he threw to Jalen Camp, if he throws that to Carter it's a TD, or if he checks it down to Mason he gets 15 yards easy and the 1st down. Hell he may could've even stepped up himself and run for the first down. Middle of the field was empty past the LOS. It's at 6:30 mark of 4th quarter.

Your assuming he's making reads on the field sometimes I wonder honestly all the QBs have had some bad decisions in past couple of games.
Tobias against Clemson had the endzone play that he just attempted a flip which was a panic terrible idea and he should've just tucked it and drove for endzone.
LJ terrible RPO int and miss read and locked in on 1 WR on the deep ball when the sideline WR was wide open.
Graham had a terrible sack as well not sure how much he gets blame on that one it was a bad snap and then the came flying in backfield perhaps running immediately backward was not the best option

 

[GTTerrific]

It's been reported that we lost our center in the first quarter, and we were without the #2 so we were using possibly the #3 snapper.

Yeah, I know. There have been little things like the snapping that will get more crisp regardless who is in there. Agree that the injuries are a big issue. Let's hope non are serious.

 

[gtfan1147]

Tevin was not the player Nesbitt or Thomas was, but he did a lot of good things by making solid reads. Reads are everything be it gun or under center. TqM really struggled with reads, and a lot of yards and points were left out there the last couple years.

 

[Walton]

Graham had a terrible sack as well not sure how much he gets blame on that one it was a bad snap and then the came flying in backfield perhaps running immediately backward was not the best option

Maybe I'm wrong but my thought on that play was that the OL should have held the defender. I think when you get beat that bad you are supposed to hold because a holding penalty (where you at least get the down back) is better than a sack. Our OL didn't slow down the rush in the least, the DL ran right beside him.

 

[johncu]

I agree 100% with the concept of Oliver running and reading defense's it helps he generally has that skillset with his experience but he still struggles to pass especially downfield and until he proves that Defenses that he can do that they will continue to load the box and make it harder overall for the offense and then when our Center went down that whole exchange got horrible because the bad snapping. I really ultimately think Graham is the best of both world's for this offense but not sure if he playback wise and trust wise is read to go full-time.

I agree with this. I'd like to see Oliver and Graham split reps, because Oliver currently gives us the best chance to win and Graham has the highest ceiling (IMO) of our QBs and may be the only one capable of running all parts of the offense at a high level. And when Graham is in at QB, I really like having Oliver on the field. At a bare minimum, it gives the defense something else to worry about.

 

[JJacket]

I was rewatching a little bit of the USF game last night because the Pats/Steelers game sucked so bad, and I noticed something I hadn't seen live. A öööö ton of missed option reads. Either those were called plays, or we (especially LJ) did an awful job of reading the defense.

I've got an untrained eye, but damn if it didn't look like we kept handing it off into the teeth of the defense or keeping it when the RB had a hole to run through. Does anyone else with more time or knowledge want to go back through the film and break this down?

There was one especially bad read driving towards the south endzone by Lucas. Maybe mid field. Play would have gone for some yards.

 

[JJacket]

I agree with this. I'd like to see Oliver and Graham split reps, because Oliver currently gives us the best chance to win and Graham has the highest ceiling (IMO) of our QBs and may be the only one capable of running all parts of the offense at a high level. And when Graham is in at QB, I really like having Oliver on the field. At a bare minimum, it gives the defense something else to worry about.

I did notice some of our backs doing a decent job blocking on throws.

 

[GoGATech]

There was one especially bad read driving towards the south endzone by Lucas. Maybe mid field. Play would have gone for some yards.

I commented on another thread but he made a bad read on a pass play in our next to last possession near midfield too. It was 3rd and 12 with a little over 6 minutes to go and he stared down Jalen Camp and threw to him in double coverage. Malachi Carter was wide open down the left sideline for a TD, Mason was all alone in the middle of the field and would've easily had 15 yards, or Johnson probably could have run it himself and Mason probably would've sprung him for even more with a block.

 

[JJacket]

I commented on another thread but he made a bad read on a pass play in our next to last possession near midfield too. It was 3rd and 12 with a little over 6 minutes to go and he stared down Jalen Camp and threw to him in double coverage. Malachi Carter was wide open down the left sideline for a TD, Mason was all alone in the middle of the field and would've easily had 15 yards, or Johnson probably could have run it himself and Mason probably would've sprung him for even more with a block.

I saw that too! He threw into double. I saw Mason open. Carter was on the outside. Mason was wide open