Pat Kirwan: Atlanta's spread option has been exposed (1 Viewer)

[Doug B]

Article:

Lesson 2: How to stop the shotgun option play. The Saints constructed a game plan for the shotgun option play and it involved bringing a defensive back up to stop the athletic Michael Vick. There's no chance a defensive end was ever able to stop Vick, but an athletic safety like Roman Harper can contain him. The coaching point lost in the weeklong discussions about the shotgun option play was that for the few seconds that the quarterback puts the ball in the belly of the running back guarantees that there is no chance for a forward pass and that's plenty of time to blitz a safety or cornerback. This is pro football, not college football, and the Saints gave us a great football lesson last night.

So ... what are the effects this turn of events will have on the Falcons' offensive players? The Falcons should adjust in some way -- would they ever totally scrap the spread option?

 

[belljr]

I guess this guy doesn't watch the games.

There was at least 1 and I think a total of 3 times where Vick put the ball in Dunn's belly for the fake.

Rolled out and threw a pass.

I guess he never has seen the QB/Option/ Pass before

 

[doughboydeluxe]

I guess this guy doesn't watch the games.There was at least 1 and I think a total of 3 times where Vick put the ball in Dunn's belly for the fake.Rolled out and threw a pass.I guess he never has seen the QB/Option/ Pass before

That's not what he's saying. He's saying that Vick can't physically throw the ball while he is faking a handoff. That 1-2 seconds of time that he is executing the fake allows the safety to come up and blitz.

 

[SouthJersey]

Vick rolls left on every pass play. If he keeps doing that ATL is gonna get shut down often and quickly.

 

[belljr]

I guess this guy doesn't watch the games.There was at least 1 and I think a total of 3 times where Vick put the ball in Dunn's belly for the fake.Rolled out and threw a pass.I guess he never has seen the QB/Option/ Pass before

That's not what he's saying. He's saying that Vick can't physically throw the ball while he is faking a handoff. That 1-2 seconds of time that he is executing the fake allows the safety to come up and blitz.

Not how I interpreted it. Maybe I'm the dope then

 

[Jackal King]

I really was surprised at how awkward the Atlanta option play looked. To me, it's really risky to have both of your options so close together at decision time. I think having some spacing and use the pitch would be more effective.

Dominant rush types (Merriman) will just tackle both of them simultaneously.

 

[sholditch]

I think ATL changes their game plan a little. Mora's not an idiot.

 

[Da Guru]

Merril Hodge just said "Thats why colleges offenses don`t work in the NFL!" Defenses are too fast and sophisticated.

 

[wannabee]

I want to offer a suggestion why the Saints know/knew how to stop the option.

Who is the Saints' Defensive Coordinator? Gary Gibbs

What does he know about stopping the option? He was the DC for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1981-1989. Gibbs was also the OU head coach from 1989-1995. He also was a coach for the Dallas Cowboys (linebackers) and LSU (defensive Coordinator) and played for OU in the early 70's as a linebacker.

How does this matter? If any team played (and knew how to stop) the option, it was Oklahoma and Nebraska.

I am not saying Gibbs is a great Defensive Coordinator, but he has the Saints playing well. Do not underestimate Gibbs' experience in stopping the option. That may be the one thing Gibbs knows the most about.

 

[joffer]

how many times did they run it last night? 4-5? it won them one game

 

[Doug B]

how many times did they run it last night? 4-5? it won them one game

In the week prior to the Monday Night game, the media was acting like Atlanta ran the spread option on most downs against Carolina. True?Perhaps they ran it so little against the Saints because the Saints were defending it well?

 

[joffer]

how many times did they run it last night? 4-5? it won them one game

In the week prior to the Monday Night game, the media was acting like Atlanta ran the spread option on most downs against Carolina. True?Perhaps they ran it so little against the Saints because the Saints were defending it well?

that's what i mean. they ran it against Carolina, it worked, the Saints prepared for it and countered, so they didn't run it and did something else.....i guess i don't see how that's "exposed".

 

[Bull Dozier]

I guess this guy doesn't watch the games.There was at least 1 and I think a total of 3 times where Vick put the ball in Dunn's belly for the fake.Rolled out and threw a pass.I guess he never has seen the QB/Option/ Pass before

That's not what he's saying. He's saying that Vick can't physically throw the ball while he is faking a handoff. That 1-2 seconds of time that he is executing the fake allows the safety to come up and blitz.

How is this different that any other play action pass?

 

[helix]

I think ATL changes their game plan a little. Mora's not an idiot.

I disagree. Mora (and Knapp for that matter) are not good coaches. Guy should not be a head coach and Knapp certainly should not be a OC (in the NFL).

 

[Billy Bats]

Cool, back to reality and the fact that Atlanta, and Michael Vick, are way overrated and not that good.

 

[Doug B]

that's what i mean. they ran it against Carolina, it worked, the Saints prepared for it and countered, so they didn't run it and did something else.....i guess i don't see how that's "exposed".

My understanding of the talk leading up to the game is that the spread option offense was going to be an offensive revolution in the NFL ... akin to Bill Walsh's WCO in the early 80s. Seem to me some were saying that NFL defenses simply could not defend a Vick-run spread option offense, no way, no how.That petered out quick

 

[Doug B]

How is this different that any other play action pass?

It's not ... if a defense sniffs it out, a blitzing DB can quash a play-action pass attempt, too.The way I was reading it last week ... the spread option was supposed to be the Falcon's base offense. By contrast, a play-action pass is normally run situationally, by a team that has successfully softened up the defense with a traditional running attack.

 

[reg]

Merril Hodge just said "Thats why colleges offenses don`t work in the NFL!" Defenses are too fast and sophisticated.

Gawd I hate Hodge.It seemed like NO had a spy db. Smart move on their part. Stupid of Atlanta to not continue to run Dunn when he was getting the job done. Just seemed like whoever was calling the offensive plays decided that they wanted to show off their gameplan and refused to change things up.

 

[joffer]

that's what i mean. they ran it against Carolina, it worked, the Saints prepared for it and countered, so they didn't run it and did something else.....i guess i don't see how that's "exposed".

My understanding of the talk leading up to the game is that the spread option offense was going to be an offensive revolution in the NFL ... akin to Bill Walsh's WCO in the early 80s. Seem to me some were saying that NFL defenses simply could not defend a Vick-run spread option offense, no way, no how.That petered out quick

guess i missed thatit's a nice wrinkle, and it takes advantage of Vick, but @ some kind of offensive revolution.

 

[Keepers]

How is this different that any other play action pass?

It's not ... if a defense sniffs it out, a blitzing DB can quash a play-action pass attempt, too.The way I was reading it last week ... the spread option was supposed to be the Falcon's base offense. By contrast, a play-action pass is normally run situationally, by a team that has successfully softened up the defense with a traditional running attack.

Believe it is different in that Vick is making a quick decision based on the defense as to whether to hand off to Dunn or to keep it and either run or pass himself ... so there is a slight hesitation. In a play action pass there is no hesitation as the QB already knows if he is handing it off or not before he fakes the hand off.

 

[Tyrion]

I am not a big Theisman fan but I think he had a point about the new turf. Everyone looked kind of slow running on it when it came to quick moves. It made players like Vick, Dun and Bush look kind of average. I predict that Atlanta's offense gets back to normal this week and I look forward with interest and some trepidation to seeing how Bush continues to perform at home. (Yes I have Bush in 2 leagues.)

 

[Rushmore]

Maybe Atlanta should just pack it in and not play anymore since the Saint's game happened. Apparently they have no hope now and neither does Vick.

 

[Doug B]

I am not a big Theisman fan but I think he had a point about the new turf. Everyone looked kind of slow running on it when it came to quick moves.

Do other clubs have the same turf (Seattle?)? Isn't it just regular Field Turf? Is the issue the type of turf, or the newness ... needs to be broken in, maybe?

 

[blenderfrog]

that's what i mean. they ran it against Carolina, it worked, the Saints prepared for it and countered, so they didn't run it and did something else.....i guess i don't see how that's "exposed".

My understanding of the talk leading up to the game is that the spread option offense was going to be an offensive revolution in the NFL ... akin to Bill Walsh's WCO in the early 80s. Seem to me some were saying that NFL defenses simply could not defend a Vick-run spread option offense, no way, no how.That petered out quick

Seems like the Falcons are the team that tries to revolutionalize football. It wasn't that long ago that they were running the Run-n-Shoot (Chuck-n-Duck) or whatever it was called. Great for fantasy football, not so great for long term QB health.

 

[blenderfrog]

I am not a big Theisman fan but I think he had a point about the new turf. Everyone looked kind of slow running on it when it came to quick moves. It made players like Vick, Dun and Bush look kind of average. I predict that Atlanta's offense gets back to normal this week and I look forward with interest and some trepidation to seeing how Bush continues to perform at home. (Yes I have Bush in 2 leagues.)

The Saints LBs looked amazingly fast. I guess they ran with their feet under their bodies though...edited to change RBs to LBs...

 

[Rushmore]

I am not a big Theisman fan but I think he had a point about the new turf. Everyone looked kind of slow running on it when it came to quick moves.

Do other clubs have the same turf (Seattle?)? Isn't it just regular Field Turf? Is the issue the type of turf, or the newness ... needs to be broken in, maybe?

 

[Big Score]

that's what i mean. they ran it against Carolina, it worked, the Saints prepared for it and countered, so they didn't run it and did something else.....i guess i don't see how that's "exposed".

My understanding of the talk leading up to the game is that the spread option offense was going to be an offensive revolution in the NFL ... akin to Bill Walsh's WCO in the early 80s. Seem to me some were saying that NFL defenses simply could not defend a Vick-run spread option offense, no way, no how.That petered out quick

Seems like the Falcons are the team that tries to revolutionalize football. It wasn't that long ago that they were running the Run-n-Shoot (Chuck-n-Duck) or whatever it was called. Great for fantasy football, not so great for long term QB health.

FYI,Warren Moon & the Oilers were going with the Run-N-Shoot years before June Jones became the Falcons Head Coach & ran it.

 

[KCC]

Maybe Atlanta should just pack it in and not play anymore since the Saint's game happened. Apparently they have no hope now and neither does Vick.

It's still very early in the season. I don't think any team should scrap their entire offensive strategy based on one bad game. Well, maybe the raiders....

 

[Todem]

It is simple, stop Warrick Dunn and they will have problems. Atlanta's bread and butter is Dunn and the run. It set's up everything else including Vick's ability to drop back in play action and also take off if the LB's bite on the play action and then turn around and head down field to cover the pass.

The Falcons could not get the running game going at all. And then fell way behind.

The Saints were playing like they were possesed. I am sure the Falcons and Dunn bounce back and continue running the ball with a ton of success this season.

On another note their goal line play calling was aweful Monday night. Don't get cute. Give it to Dunn a couple of times who proved 2 years ago he can punch it in inside the 10 just fine.

 

[imeimex]

Merril Hodge just said "Thats why colleges offenses don`t work in the NFL!" Defenses are too fast and sophisticated.

Gawd I hate Hodge.It seemed like NO had a spy db. Smart move on their part. Stupid of Atlanta to not continue to run Dunn when he was getting the job done. Just seemed like whoever was calling the offensive plays decided that they wanted to show off their gameplan and refused to change things up.

Why do you hate Hodge?He said before the game on NFL Matchup that all you have to do is blitz the spread option and the play will be stopped. His analysis came true, and the Falcons will continue to be blitzed in this formation until they come up with a variation.

 

[sholditch]

that's what i mean. they ran it against Carolina, it worked, the Saints prepared for it and countered, so they didn't run it and did something else.....i guess i don't see how that's "exposed".

My understanding of the talk leading up to the game is that the spread option offense was going to be an offensive revolution in the NFL ... akin to Bill Walsh's WCO in the early 80s. Seem to me some were saying that NFL defenses simply could not defend a Vick-run spread option offense, no way, no how.That petered out quick

It doesn't even work against the SEC. Why would it work in the NFL?