Chapter 91 Fighting Side by Side
Here, I need to explain, what is a read option offense?
First of all, reading options and reading the defense, those are two different things.
Reading the defense is a task that every quarterback must complete before kicking off the ball. Top tacticians like Peyton Manning can often see through the opponent's tactics by reading the defense. Five seconds ago, he temporarily modified his tactics to create passing opportunities for himself.
This action occurs before kick-off.
But the read option happens after the kickoff.
The so-called read option means that the quarterback determines his offensive strategy in a flash by keeping an eye on the opponent's linebacker's movements after the kickoff:
If the linebacker is marking the running back, then the quarterback will advance on the ground with the ball.
If the linebacker is marking the quarterback, the quarterback hands the football to the running back, who advances on the ground.
In addition, there is a special situation. If the quarterback chooses to hold the ball by himself, but finds that the opponent's defense team is hoarding heavy troops in the short passing area, the midfield and backfield will often be relatively empty. The quarterback can still choose to pass the ball and temporarily find the ball. A receiving point, using medium and long passes to complete the advance.
Simply put, "reading options" is actually reading the linebackers' options to formulate offensive strategies.
This tactic is only suitable for the new generation of running quarterbacks——
Exploit strengths and avoid weaknesses, avoid the quarterback's weak ability to read defenses, use the quarterback's own athletic talent, and make choices based on the situation after the kickoff.
Overall, this tactic is very rough and very violent. It is very common in the NCAA, but is frowned upon in professional leagues.
It wasn't until Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, and Russell Wilson, the four kings of the new generation of running quarterbacks, entered the league that read-option offenses flourished in the NFL.
Last season, Newton's read-option offense flourished and even won regular season MVP honors.
But the great thing about the professional league is that the tactics are complicated and the coaches can always come up with a way to solve them. In the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos relied on the outstanding performance of linebacker Von Miller and the defensive front to completely cut off Newton's reading options. offense, culminating in a Super Bowl championship.
Of course, in the college arena, relying on physical fitness and natural ability is still the mainstream compared to cumbersome and complicated tactics. Reading option offense is also a problem——
From Lamar Jackson to Deshaun Watson to Baker Mayfield, the current Heisman Trophy frontrunners are all running quarterbacks, and read-option offenses are also a very important part of their games. , among them Jackson, who has the best physical fitness, is undoubtedly the most powerful.
Hurts, the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback, is also a running quarterback.
Although Shaban does not like read option offense, he is still relatively traditional, and the update speed of offensive tactics is slightly behind the development of the times; but occasionally, Shaban is also willing to use read option offense to change the rhythm, enrich offensive tactics, and does not use and Not because of ignorance.
Today, in the first half of the game, the Crimson Tide Storm's offense hit the wall continuously, and Shaban also used read option offense; and, more than once.
But the effect is not good.
The root cause lies with Adams.
As the last level of the three blockades to guard Levi, Adams used his abilities to the fullest and appeared in different positions. Even if Hurts chooses to attack with the read option, Adams and the other two linebackers can attack without any worries. Tackle Hurts.
After all, Levi was always guarded by Riley and Beckwith.
The "read option" reads linebacker movements, but Adams disrupts the Crimson Tide's offensive strategy as a safety.
New Louisiana State Tigers head coach Joe Long was able to give the team a new look on defense in just three games, and he does have two tricks up his sleeve.
Now, Levi was not prepared to challenge Ogierang's defensive strategy.
First, he is not the head coach and is not responsible for arranging tactics.
Secondly, he is not a quarterback and is not responsible for adjusting tactics on the spot.
Levi is confident, but not arrogant. He doesn't think his tactical layout can be better; but maybe, he can bring some inspiration.
"If it's a read option, after the kickoff, you need to step back, observe, and make a decision after judgment, and Adams will notice." "But this is not a read option. Before the kickoff, we have decided to run the ball. , you pretended to be running a real pass and handed the football to me."
"I become the bait and attract attention. At the same time, you rely on your running ability to create space and complete the advancement."
To put it simply, it is actually a two-running back tactic.
From the beginning, he showed a posture of running the ball on the ground, but the opponent lost judgment and couldn't figure out who was responsible for running the ball.
The surprise hidden here is the identity of the second running back.
It is not a read option offense, but it gives full play to the power of the read option offense. It adjusts the defensive strategy for LSU, makes full use of Hurts' own running ability, and uses Levi as a bait to show the Crimson Tide Storm's ground attack. Deep strength.
Of course, Levi also had his own plans.
In the final analysis, rugby is a team sport. It is unrealistic for him to carry the entire team forward, at least not at this stage.
He needs to revitalize Hurts and also needs to play tricks on the ground.
"Hey, little guy."
This is Levi's nickname for Hurts. In fact, Hurts is not short, 6.1 feet (185 cm), the same as Levi; but for a quarterback, he is slightly shorter.
In the game, once the ball is kicked off, the offensive line and the defensive line collide like a meat grinder. The quarterback needs to cross the fence to control the entire field, and his vision is crucial, otherwise he will not find the passing target at all.
6.1 feet, not too short, but still not enough.
The current legendary quarterback of the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, Drew Brees, is 6 feet (183 cm) tall. He is one of the few short quarterbacks who can still write miracles and create brilliance. His ability to read defenses and pass accuracy are top notch.
Hurts obviously doesn't have Brees' ability yet.
"I am not prepared to replace the coach and tell you what to do, nor am I prepared to replace your job and make decisions. I am just reminding you not to forget your own abilities."
"Brain. Right hand. Legs."
"We need to mobilize all of us to be able to compete with the iron wall in front of us, do you understand?"
Levi knows that quarterbacks and running backs have different positions and have different ways of thinking and responding. He cannot make decisions for Hurts, but the point is that he and Hurts play side by side and they should be each other's backing.
Hertz's thoughts finally became clear, he took a deep breath and nodded heavily towards Levi.
Levi bumped Hurts's shoulder with his shoulder, "Roar."
It's not a roar, it's not a release, but just such a simple and unpretentious sentence makes the red tide storm in the blood boil again.
Ten yards in first gear.
Hertz communicated with Shaban through headphones and carefully explained his thoughts——
Shaban's eyes lit up slightly and he glanced at Hertz, but his eyes fell on Levi, with a flash of surprise.
Shoulders, open a little:
This child is growing up faster than he thought.
The fifth update.
(End of this chapter)