Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

Great article by Bucky Brooks that breaks down the QB keeper and the zone-read in the NFL by the Broncos:

[url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d823f11ac/article/zoneread-option-leads-to-big-results-for-tebow-broncos]Zone-read option leads to big results for Tebow, Broncos - NFL.com[/url]

In a league driven by the performance of the quarterback, the most successful coaches are adaptable and willing to cater their offensive systems to fit the skill set of the signal caller.

In Denver, John Fox and his coaching staff are undergoing a radical offensive makeover to maximize the talents of Tim Tebow. Part of the transformation includes featuring the zone-read option play that Tebow made famous at the University of Florida while winning two national championships and a Heisman Trophy.

Other teams (like the Panthers with Cam Newton and the Bills with Brad Smith) have certainly sprinkled some elements of the formation into their playbooks. However, no team has featured the play as prominently as the Broncos did in their 38-24 win over the Raiders.

To the surprise of traditionalists who have often dismissed the prospects of the zone-read succeeding in the league, the concept not only worked but also generated the kind of production that will lead others to explore the possibility of adding it to their respective playbooks.

Let's take a closer look at three ways the Broncos' zone-read produced big results against the Raiders:
[B][U]
Quarterback keeper[/U][/B]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ev2wE69S0U]Tim Tebow 32 Yard Run (11/6/11) - YouTube[/url]
The most dangerous element of the zone-read is the quarterback keeper. A quarterback with explosive running skills can wreak havoc on the edges, and the play often puts him in isolated situations with defenders in space. If he is able to elude the first defender, he often has a lot of running room on the outside and it typically leads to huge gains.

Against Oakland, the Broncos were able to establish the threat of Tebow on the corner early in the game. On a play in the first quarter (right), the Broncos aligned in "Trips" -- three receivers on the right and the tight end on the backside of the shotgun formation. Tebow took the snap and read Jarvis Moss' (No. 94) while sticking the ball in McGahee's belly. When Moss took a flat angle to pursue the runner, Tebow pulled the ball out and raced around the corner for a 32-yard gain.

This was a pivotal play for the Broncos' offense because it forced the Raiders to pay close attention to the quarterback, which prevented defenders from aggressively pursuing runners on the zone run.

[B][U]Inside zone[/U][/B]

The inside zone is the complementary run to the quarterback keeper. The running back will cross the face of the quarterback while taking a direct path to the inside foot of the opposite offensive guard. His approach to the line of scrimmage is important because it forces linebackers to flow aggressively to the frontside, which creates better blocking angles for the offensive line. The front five is simply asked to latch onto a defender in their assigned area and push down the line of scrimmage. The runner reads the initial flow of the defense and bursts through the first available hole once he hits his landmark. This eliminates the chances of a negative run and also leads to the possibility of a big gain if one or two defenders fail to stay in their assigned gaps.

In looking at McGahee's 60-yard run at the end of the third quarter (right), the lack of gap discipline led to the big play. The Broncos aligned in an unbalanced "Trips" formation. McGahee was set to the right of the shotgun formation beside Tebow. At the snap, McGahee took a path to the inside foot of the left guard with Tebow riding the handoff while reading Kamerion Wimbley (No. 96) on the right. Wimbley stayed home, which prompted the quarteback to hand the ball off before carrying out his fake. The extended action of Tebow caused Darryl Blackstock (No. 56) to hesitate, leaving a huge hole for McGahee to sprint through on the way to a score.

[B][U]Zone-read cutback[/U][/B]

When both elements of the zone-read are working effectively, offensive coordinators will routinely call a designed cut back to take advantage of aggressive linebackers. The play design and execution are the same, but the path of the running back is changed to give him the opportunity to get to the backside quicker. Rather than aim for the inside foot of the opposite guard, he will take a downhill angle in the direction of the center to allow him to cut back immediately at the line of scrimmage.

In looking at McGahee's game-clinching 24-yard touchdown run (right), it was the cutback element that led to the big run. The Broncos aligned in a "Trey" formation with McGahee set to the left. He stepped in the direction of the center while Tebow continued to read Aaron Curry (No. 51) on the left. When Curry flew up the field to chase the quarterback, Tebow slipped the ball to McGahee, who immediately bends it back to the left to take advantage of an overaggressive Blackstock flying to the frontside to stop the inside zone. With the linebacker out of position, McGahee skated into the end zone untouched for his second score of the day.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

^ That Brooks article made me salivate. Replace Tebow/McGahee with Griffin/Helu and things look potentially devastating.

[quote=30gut;922745]
To your last point, having a zone-read based series of plays could actual help Griffin read the defensive coverages because those plays could dictate/force defenses to play certain known coverages.
[/quote]

That is an intelligent insight.

I like your idea of the counter/veer. I also like the idea of a zone-read triple option: (1) running back, (2) keeper, or (3) pass to wideout on QB's side or crossing route. We could run such a zone-read play three times and it could be different each time. Or we could low-high the QB's side with a TE short and a wideout deep, putting intense confusing pressure on the LB and CB, as part of the triple option.

If it were me, I would also be liberal in adding pure play action plays that looked like run option plays but were passes from the get-go. This would take advantage of Griffin's arm while also protecting him from injury (the specter of an injury makes me like the threat of a run by #10 perhaps more than an actual run, as long as the threat is established).

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[B][SIZE="3"]Playbook: Panthers 'counter' option[/SIZE][/B]
By Matt Bowen | National Football Post – Wed, 27 Jun, 2012 5:30 AM EDT

[url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Playbook-Panthers-counter-option-5403.html]Playbook: Panthers 'counter' option | National Football Post[/url]

[quote]Option football does exist in the NFL when you have the personnel at the QB position to run the Read Option, Speed Option and the “Counter” Option. Today, I want to take a look back at the Saints-Panthers matchup from the 2011 season and breakdown Carolina’s option scheme with Cam Newton at QB...[/quote]

[YT]lPO4g14h-zI[/YT]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

^ Good stuff 30 Gut.

[QUOTE=30gut;923347][B][SIZE="3"]Playbook: Panthers 'counter' option[/SIZE][/B]
By Matt Bowen | National Football Post – Wed, 27 Jun, 2012 5:30 AM EDT

[url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Playbook-Panthers-counter-option-5403.html]Playbook: Panthers 'counter' option | National Football Post[/url]



[YT]lPO4g14h-zI[/YT][/QUOTE]

With their QB I'm sure they can run any offense. Cam is about to take over the NFL

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

They ran that same option play again later on, (i'm surprised Bowen didn't mention it) and Cam kept it for a good gain in the RZ 15+ yards.

[url=http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=cam%20panthers%20vs%20saints%20youtube&tnr=21&vid=4859932210364488&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fvideos%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D4859932210364488%26id%3D5130cf04911fff33e77809e3e8f01907%26bid%3DNN37xm8j%252b9Hy4Q%26bn%3DThumb%26url%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.youtube.com%252fwatch%253fv%253djY_ODH-b0JM&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjY_ODH-b0JM&sigr=11ak59ef7&newfp=1&tit=Panthers+vs+Saints+-+Week+5]Yahoo! Video Detail for Panthers vs Saints - Week 5[/url]

@12:20 on the vid (1st play of the 4th qtr)

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote]"If you go back and look at the things we did offensively and the different types of pass plays off of play-action, drop-back passes, [it was] then incorporating some of the spread offense that he was used to seeing," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said at the 2012 scouting combine. "[B][U][I][COLOR="DarkRed"][SIZE="3"]Our coaches went back and studied some of the Auburn things and looked at that and adapted that to our playbook."[/SIZE] [/COLOR][/I][/U][/B]
No longer were NFL coaches dealing inflexibly with spread offense quarterbacks in ways that caused stunted development for players like Alex Smith and Michael Vick -- now, the idea is to bring what the quarterback can do, and what he should do, together as an organic whole. [B][I][U][COLOR="darkred"][SIZE="3"]It helps that the NFL has taken great strides in the last half-decade to meet spread offense concepts halfway -- specifically in the higher percentage of shotgun snaps and tight ends detached from the formation -- but credit should be given to coaches like Chudzinski and Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, who willingly and helpfully went back to the future[/SIZE] [/COLOR][/U][/I][/B]with Tim Tebow's old Florida playbook when Tebow became Denver's starter.[/quote]

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/meeting-rgiii-halfway-key-redskins-early-success-192336439--nfl.html]Meeting RGIII halfway will be key to Redskins’ early success | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports[/url]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/07/20/rg3-can-rev-up-redskins-running-backs-too]ProFootballWeekly.com - RG3 can rev up Redskins' running backs too[/url]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=Mattyk;925842][url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/07/20/rg3-can-rev-up-redskins-running-backs-too]ProFootballWeekly.com - RG3 can rev up Redskins' running backs too[/url][/quote]

[quote]A former Broncos assistant who spent time on Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan’s staff in Denver[/quote]Yeah, I read this earlier and I was thinking Jeremy Bates, not that it matters who said it.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

How different will the Madden 13 playbook be?

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=RGIII;925854]How different will the Madden 13 playbook be?[/quote]

Maybe it will resemble the Baylor NCAA 2012 playbook. I've played that recently with RG3 and its fun to run that "Speed Option" from the shotgun. Forget RG3, you can ply up a ton of yards for the RB out of that play.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=RGIII;925854]How different will the Madden 13 playbook be?[/quote]

70% of the playbook will be variations on the "bubble screen"
10% Running plays
10% QB options
10% WR streaks and Hail Mary plays

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=RGIII;925854]How different will the Madden 13 playbook be?[/quote]

It will be the same as Madden 2012.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[QUOTE=Pat Kirwan]Shanahan will incorporate some of the things RG3 did at Baylor, especially the smoke screens, and one-step quick game. Last year, the Redskins were 1-8 in games where they couldn't generate at least 21 points. RG3 has not called an offense from the line of scrimmage in a true audible system, so the Redskins will have to go slow in this area. [/QUOTE]
[url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19616440/washington-redskins]Washington Redskins - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy[/url]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

Prisco predicts 3-13?

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

I see John Keim mentioned a few times RGIII was operatin g out of the pistol formation. I don't recall seeing seeing any of the past QBs out from under center and the RB directly behind them. Here's a good video:

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=CQugHijAKGQ]Pistol Offense Breakdown - YouTube[/url]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[QUOTE=RGIII;927050]I see John Keim mentioned a few times RGIII was operatin g out of the pistol formation. I don't recall seeing seeing any of the past QBs out from under center and the RB directly behind them.[/QUOTE]The Pistol would certainly be a new look to this offense.
I haven't seen the Pistol in the NFL since Chan Gailey +Tyler Thigpen with the Chief's 4-5 years ago.


Could you link the John Kiem article?

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

Didn't the Steeler's run some pistol recently when Big Ben was playing with a bad ankle?

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

However, as Alexander said Griffin is a different sort of runner than Vick. He’s not as explosive (no one is), but if it becomes a footrace Griffin will win often. And it doesn’t need to be for 30 yards; sometimes it’s a nine-yard gain on a first down bootleg. Those plays add up.

[B]Another play that will cause defenses headaches is the pistol formation, with Griffin reading the defensive end and deciding whether to hand off or keep the ball himself.[/B]

“Things happen slower and you have to be a lot more disciplined,” Alexander said. “You can’t be quick to pursue. You take one step the wrong way and he’s on the edge on you or you’ve got a guy who’s athletic like Trent [Williams] who can get up on you. That will help us when we see a guy like Cam.

“[Defenses] will definitely have a harder time if they don’t see it all the time. You can’t see where he has the ball. … Eventually [the offense’s] timing will get a lot better and Robert locating that end and whether to pull or keep he’ll get more deceptive like that and make more plays.”

[url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/rg3-report/article/2503391]RG3 Report | WashingtonExaminer.com[/url]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=Mattyk;927076]However, as Alexander said Griffin is a different sort of runner than Vick. He’s not as explosive (no one is), but if it becomes a footrace Griffin will win often. And it doesn’t need to be for 30 yards; sometimes it’s a nine-yard gain on a first down bootleg. Those plays add up.

[B]Another play that will cause defenses headaches is the pistol formation, with Griffin reading the defensive end and deciding whether to hand off or keep the ball himself.[/B]

“Things happen slower and you have to be a lot more disciplined,” Alexander said. “You can’t be quick to pursue. You take one step the wrong way and he’s on the edge on you or you’ve got a guy who’s athletic like Trent [Williams] who can get up on you. That will help us when we see a guy like Cam.

“[Defenses] will definitely have a harder time if they don’t see it all the time. You can’t see where he has the ball. … Eventually [the offense’s] timing will get a lot better and Robert locating that end and whether to pull or keep he’ll get more deceptive like that and make more plays.”

[url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/rg3-report/article/2503391]RG3 Report | WashingtonExaminer.com[/url][/quote]

Pistol formation is a nice wrinkle. Kyle/Shanny coaching towards a strength of RG3, for those who said coaches wouldnt adapt their strategy(me kinda).

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=Chico23231;927082]Pistol formation is a nice wrinkle. Kyle/Shanny coaching towards a strength of RG3, for those who said coaches wouldnt adapt their strategy(me kinda).[/quote]

That and some zone read option. Definitely sounds like they are working in things that he did well in college.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

Thanks. I wasn't sure if I missed something from years past.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=Mattyk;927076]...[B]Another play that will cause defenses headaches is the pistol formation, with Griffin reading the defensive end and deciding whether to hand off or keep the ball himself.[/B]
[url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/rg3-report/article/2503391]RG3 Report | WashingtonExaminer.com[/url][/quote]Thank you Matty.
I don't read the local media very often; consequently I forget that there are some guys like Kiem that do a good job.

[quote=Mattyk;927075]Didn't the Steeler's run some pistol recently when Big Ben was playing with a bad ankle?[/quote]Don't watch that many Steelers games but in the few I saw don't recall any seeing the Pistol formation.
When KC ran it with Thigpen the Pistol was the bulk of there offense.

Another hint about the offense from Kiem:
[quote]8. By the way, Griffin ran a zone read on one play, though he handed the ball off to running back Roy Helu. Griffin did have one run up the middle.[/quote][url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/rg3-report/article/2503300]RG3 Report | WashingtonExaminer.com[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0aoIgJfEpQ&feature=youtu.be]Skins TC 2012-7-27 - YouTube[/url]

[YT]M0aoIgJfEpQ[/YT]

You can actually see them in Pistol (offset-I) a few times in this clip^^^

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82afe6bc/article/rg3-forces-profound-revision-in-washington-redskins-offense]Robert Griffin III prompts great change in Redskins' offense - NFL.com[/url]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=30gut;927094]Thank you Matty.
I don't read the local media very often; consequently I forget that there are some guys like Kiem that do a good job.

Don't watch that many Steelers games but in the few I saw don't recall any seeing the Pistol formation.
When KC ran it with Thigpen the Pistol was the bulk of there offense.
[/quote]

No threat from Ben to run of course with the bad foot, but they ran the pistol here

[YT]0ZpFnfHC83g[/YT]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

^^Good find Mattyk.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=Mattyk;928208]No threat from Ben to run of course with the bad foot, but they ran the pistol here

[YT]0ZpFnfHC83g[/YT][/quote]+1 MK, that vid jogged my memory neither here nor there the Steelers ran option in the SB on a 2 PT conversion.
If I can find it on youtube I'll post it.

I'll also search for the Tyler Thigpen/Chan Gailey KC Pistol offense.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[YT]xMiDYCAYwpI[/YT]

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

Thanks for the article from NFL.com. Good read, starting to curb my expectations for this year when I hear that RG had been forcing balls into small windows. But this is the time of year for him to make some mistakes. Can't wait to see them in action in a week.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

RG3 is not going to start off looking like Dano Marino or Jim Plunkett. He's getting used to those fast NFL defenses. Mike Shanahan has predicted from day one that Griffin was going to undergo some growing pains.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=Rich Campbell][B][I][COLOR="darkred"]The dual threat Griffin presents defenses will be magnified inside the 20.[/COLOR][/I][/B] Just look at what QB Cam Newton did for the Carolina Panthers last season. They went from dead last in red zone efficiency in 2010 to seventh (57.89 percent) in the NFL during Newton’s rookie season. Griffin doesn’t have Newton’s size, but he is a faster runner. [B][I][COLOR="DarkRed"]The Redskins can run the option with various fakes and misdirection involved, and they’ll take advantage of Griffin’s arm, as well.[/COLOR][/I][/B]

During team drills inside the 20 on Saturday, Griffin took the snap, raced to the edge and got around the corner of the defense for a touchdown. Griffin’s quick feet enabled him to navigate the sideline and stay in bounds. Defenses must respect his ability to run and throw, which should enable the Redskins to take advantage of certain looks. Later during red zone work, Griffin hit WR Santana Moss over the middle from the left slot for a touchdown[/quote]
[url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/5/campbell-redskins-practice-report-84/]CAMPBELL: Redskins practice report 8/4 - Washington Times[/url]

I'm so hyped!

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=skinsfaninok;928652]I'm so hyped![/quote]

Me too!

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

I dunno where that guy gets predicting a 3-13 season for the B&G. If we can do what we did with Grossman and Beck at QB, the Oline injuries and our horrible WR corps, not to mentiion our best two offensive players out the last 4 games of the year.............I dunno, that guy seems like an uninformed peckerhead.

I believe RG3 will have the best season of all the NFC East qbs. I dunno why, but I really think that he will have a better season than even that of Newton last year. With the two tight end sets we can run, the bootlegs and our athletic tight ends, as well as our upgraded receivers and our pass catching RB stud helu, we are going to be right there contending for the crown. Our defense, however, might go down a bit in the rankings, or the secondary could pull together and create a little mini miracle and surprise everyone. Ill say instead of 13th overall for that unit, lets say 12th overall, just because of the RG3 effect, without the Rex Grossman fumbles and picks, they wont be on the field half as much as they were last year........

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

I could see our defense going down IF we suddenly have a lot of leads and teams are throwing to catch up. Since rankings are based on yards, I HOPE that's the scenario. What would you consider "best" for RGIII? Most yards? Most TDs? Most wins? For me, it's all about QB rating. If that's up there, the rest will take care of itself.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

I'm expecting the defense and the offense both to be much better than last season. The Redskins defense finished 13th overall last season but was ranked as high as 10th in the NFL by week 15. So I expect the defense to have at least a top ten ranking. The offense finished 16th in the NFL. With the additions of RG3, Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, the Redskins offense should also be ranked within the top ten in the league. If it can result in more points for the Redskins and less points for the opposition every game, then the Redskins might be a playoff team.

[QUOTE=REDSKINS4ever;928693]I'm expecting the defense and the offense both to be much better than last season. The Redskins defense finished 13th overall last season but was ranked as high as 10th in the NFL by week 15. So I expect the defense to have at least a top ten ranking. The offense finished 16th in the NFL. With the additions of RG3, Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, the Redskins offense should also be ranked within the top ten in the league. If it can result in more points for the Redskins and less points for the opposition every game, then the Redskins might be a playoff team.[/QUOTE]

So if we score more than our opponents we should win right?.....

Lol jk I agree bro looking forward to having a fun offense for once

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=skinsfaninok;928695]So if we score more than our opponents we should win right?.....

Lol jk I agree bro looking forward to having a fun offense for once[/quote]

It would be really nice to be able to move the ball and score at will like that explosive 1999 Redskins offense. Something tells me that this 2012 Redskin offense might be able to measure up to what that 1999 offense did.

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=REDSKINS4ever;928711]It would be really nice to be able to move the ball and score at will like that explosive 1999 Redskins offense. Something tells me that this 2012 Redskin offense might be able to measure up to what that 1999 offense did.[/quote]


Man that'd be nice.. What a fun year that was, Brad tossing it around and Stephen Davis owning it! HAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?
 

[quote=skinsfaninok;928695]So if we score more than our opponents we should win right?.....

Lol jk I agree bro looking forward to having a fun offense for once[/quote]

I don't know why but people often post without regard to the OP or the thread objective.
Even though they know a general comment could easily derail a thread with such a small and specific focus as this one.