Option

gtfan1147

gtfan1147

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Joined
Dec 8, 2001
Messages
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We did a lot of good last night but we cannot run the option anymore. Reggie looked very good last nbight throwing the deep ball, something we've been waiting to see for 4 years now. But he pitches the ball WAY to early on the option and doesn't even make a defender commit to him. That was an awful pitch when we lost the fumble and gave up the shutout on a 29 yard drive.

And Calvin should be thrown to 10 times a game. Period. Really good deep balls thrown last night by Reggie.
 
We can run the option some more, but as we saw last night they basically shut it down ........so why the hell do you keep trying it. Save it for more practice and the next game. and 3rd and long a run call just doesn't get it....period!
 
Completely agree, we should throw the option play out of our playbook, it is just not working.
 
TechGator1066 said:
Completely agree, we should throw the option play out of our playbook, it is just not working.
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Disagree. By completely removing anything, we allow opponents to prepare for less.
If this offense had an overpowering "fastball", we could think in different terms. We don't have that pitch.

As long as opponents even think option may be coming, they will have to respect certain assignment responsibilities. If they don't, the option will work. If they do, other advantageous matchup possibilities open up.
Like our reverses recently, they make sure defenses are staying home.

All of this is stated with the given that our O Line is not blown up.
 
pocket_watch said:
Disagree. By completely removing anything, we allow opponents to prepare for less.
If this offense had an overpowering "fastball", we could think in different terms. We don't have that pitch.

As long as opponents even think option may be coming, they will have to respect certain assignment responsibilities. If they don't, the option will work. If they do, other advantageous matchup possibilities open up.
Like our reverses recently, they make sure defenses are staying home.

All of this is stated with the given that our O Line is not blown up.
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Exactly.

I remember how Friedgen said he would call plays he knew were not likely to get him yardage...but it was just to keep people honest.

I always thought it was funny that people just assume Reggie could run the option. He did not in high school either and you see why...he is just not natural at it. Still good to keep the defense honest and keep them from "cheating".

Matter of fact, last night was similar to things he used to so.

Hitch route, hitch route, hitch route, hitch & GOOOOO!

Kelly Campbell was the master of doing that.
 
McWreck said:
We can run the option some more, but as we saw last night they basically shut it down ........so why the hell do you keep trying it.
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Running the option gives you opportunity to branch off into different directions from that same setup giving misdirection to the play.

A perfect example was the reverse to Grant - the play started and I thought "Oh, no NOT the option again" and then all of a sudden Grant was flying down the field! It went for what 8-12 yards, but not a 1 down unfortunately.

Anyway, some plays are called to set up other plays.
 
TechGator1066 said:
Completely agree, we should throw the option play out of our playbook, it is just not working.
Click to expand...

Reggie just needs to practice the option play more if he is going to run it. He needs to be a quarterback to start with, then a salesman just to draw the defense to him, and finally he needs to be danged sure and accurate of where he's pitching that ball out to.

The reverse that we did against Troy St. was beautiful. There were more than one jock strap that got faked off on that play, but I would feel a lot better about running these kind of plays if Reggie could just show signs of more maturity first.
 
GEETEELEE said:
Running the option gives you opportunity to branch off into different directions from that same setup giving misdirection to the play.

quote]

But please not on 3rd and 6 or 3rd and 8
Click to expand...
 
All of this is stated with the given that our O Line is not blown up.
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Whatever.

The shotgun speed option isn't supposed to go through the line, it's supposed to circumvent it. And the reason you do option instead of just a pitch is to take one defender out of the play - to force someone to tackle the QB, meaning we need one less blocker on the wing.

HOWEVER,

when the QB pitches it too early, or fails to sell the idea that he might run, and the RB isn't even with the QB when he catches the pitch, it's a terrible play, because the End or LB chasing the QB can just go tackle the pitch man. It turns from an effective play into a very very slow Shotgun Pitch, which is just dumb.

And that's what we've got. A very slow shotgun pitch. It will always fail as long as Reggie runs it like he does.

The QB Choice option is great for us, because Reggie can make up his mind about whether or not to hand it off before he hikes the ball, by counting defenders. The Speed Option sucks for us, because its success is based on a spur-of-the-moment decision, which Reggie doesn't make well.

We still need a shotgun running play that attacks the corners, to replace the Speed Option, but we MUST get RID of the speed option. It's terrible. Lets just do a high-school-style wide pitch, or a RB tunnel screen, or something else.
 
beej67 said:
Whatever.
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Shouldn't even reply, but please describe any offense that works consistently without an offensive line that can at least hold its own.

It has gotten Halloween scary around here with all the Madden and NCAA 2007 offensive gurus. Of course we need to attack the edges, and that is what we are trying to do.
Regardless of the nomenclature, we have to put defenders in areas they don't want to be in for our offense to be successful. I don't have a problem with that.
When the sandlot Reggie draw works, its because our attack the edge scheme is working.
It is not any more complicated than that from a reality perspective.
When our OLine can start moving people, I believe sets and philosophy will change.
 
Shouldn't even reply, but please describe any offense that works consistently without an offensive line that can at least hold its own.
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Our OL can indeed "hold its own." It's not great. It's probably our weakest Offensive unit, but I think it's good enough to get us by. But we most definitely CANNOT blame the failure of the shotgun speed option vs UVA on the OL. That's a Reggie thing.

btw, I agree with all of this:

Regardless of the nomenclature, we have to put defenders in areas they don't want to be in for our offense to be successful. I don't have a problem with that. When the sandlot Reggie draw works, its because our attack the edge scheme is working.
It is not any more complicated than that from a reality perspective. When our OLine can start moving people, I believe sets and philosophy will change.
Click to expand...

We absolutely must develop a way to attack the edges on the strong side of the field, becuase that's what opens up the draws, and even moreso, the reverses. It worked best vs Troy so far. And vs Troy, if I'm not mistaken, we ran a strongside pitch too.
 
I just think that Reggie needs to sprint a bit toward the line and occassionally keep the ball and it'd be fine. I do prefer him running it from under center, but I think those days are gone now.
 
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