didnt we use dennis dixon to practice for rg tres?
Printable View
Not sure I agree about the gimmick-nature of the read-option. The Wildcat is a gimmick, because having a running back take the snap means it is a run. The read-option using a QB who cannot throw the ball well (i.e. most college QBs) is also not going to work in the NFL. But having a QB who can run the read option but also throw the ball decently is a big problem for a defense, not simply a gimmick. That is until the QB runs, gets tackled and gets concussed or blows out his knee (i.e. RG III), which is another reason why we haven't seen it much in the NFL. But the rules are changing making the odds of injury less, plus, up until such an injury it is still tough to defend.
I can assure you the Ravens are going to spend a LOT of time scheming to stop the read-option run, along with play-action off of that look.
+1 to Haloti92's post
I'm sure NFL teams will be better prepared to stop these kinds of offenses next season, but that doesn't mean they will become nearly irrelevant as the wildcard has. Haloti92 pointed out why. You keep the ball in your QBs hands, so you can still throw.
There's a lot of talented young QBs having success this way. If nothing else it could be an effective way for more athletic QBs to transition into the NFL until they develop more effective pocket passing skills.
Our defense is too smart to get taken by this type of offense. RGIII didn't do it on the run and neither will Kaepernick.
Ray knows the game better than anyone...and Reed is a close 2nd in regards to studying the films and knowing what will happen. Disciplined Defense is a mainstay in Baltimore....shouldn't be any different for the SB.
I don't think we really have the speed on defense to stop Kaepernick from scrambling to the outside and getting some yardage. Key will be to limit the damage and hit him hard when he makes the attempt. Red-hot Flacco in a dome should be good for 30 points unless Caldwell suffers a stroke so the question really should be can the gimmick 49ers offense run with the Ravens? One thing is certain -- the Ravens will hit far harder than the creampuff Packers or Falcons.
I'm sick of already hearing the press talk about how we aren't going to be able to stop Kaepernick and Gore.
Just like couldn't stop Manning or Brady, right?
Kaepernick is due for a "deer in the headlights" type game. And who better to oblige than our veteran team that has 5 years of playoff experience.
The Ravens have rarely, if ever been succeptible to these running type QB's in the past, and I don't expect they will in this game either. They are disciplined, and don't over pursue.
I know much has been made about the Niners physicality, but they haven't fared as well against the few defenses like that they faced this year.
The same way they stopped Broncos and Patriots, by hitting them in the mouth.
I recall all the talk before SB35, how the Ravens D could not stop the Giants offense, how they would "spread the Ravens out" with 3 and 4 WRs, etc. The Giants had just had their way with a weak NFC field, hanged 40 on the Vikings in the NFCCG... Everybody saw what happened in the SB.
Football is a contact sport, and statistics and X and O's mean little if you can impose your will.
The Giants had a more potent offense than these 49ers and scored zero points on offense in SB35. I will say that the 49ers do better and score 10 points.
I don't want to underestimate the 49ers and will likely be nervous Super Bowl Sunday, but I just have a hard time believing that a rested Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata and Benard Pollard, with two weeks or preparation, are going to get handled by a pistol offense.