Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 91 Fighting Side by Side
Here, we need to explain what is read option offense?

First of all, reading options and reading defenses, those are two different things.

Reading the defense is a task that every quarterback must complete before the ball is kicked off. Top tactical masters like Peyton Manning can often see through the opponent's tactics by reading the defense, and temporarily modify the tactics ten or fifteen seconds before the kickoff, thereby creating passing opportunities for themselves.

This action happens before kick-off.

But the read option happens after the kickoff.

The so-called read option is that the quarterback decides his offensive strategy in a split second by keeping an eye on the opponent's linebacker's movements after the kickoff:

If the linebacker is covering the running back, the quarterback will carry the ball on the ground by himself.

If the linebacker is covering the quarterback, the quarterback will pass the football to the running back, who will advance on the ground.

In addition, there is a special situation. If the quarterback chooses to hold the ball himself, but finds that the opponent's defense has accumulated heavy troops in the short pass area, the midfield and backfield will often be relatively empty. The quarterback can still choose to pass the ball, temporarily find a receiving point, and use medium and long passes to complete the advancement.

Simply put, "reading options" actually means reading the linebacker's options to formulate offensive strategies.

This tactic is only suitable for the new generation of running quarterbacks——

Play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, avoid the quarterback's weak ability to read defense, utilize the quarterback's own athletic talent, and then make choices based on the situation after the kickoff.

Overall, this tactic is very crude and violent. It is particularly common in the NCAA, but is disdained in professional leagues.

It was not until the new generation of running quarterbacks, Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, and Russell Wilson, entered the league that the read option offense flourished in the NFL.

Last season, Newton's read-option offense was very successful and he even won the regular season MVP honors.

But the strength of the professional league lies in the fact that the tactics are intricate and coaches can always find ways to crack them. In the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos relied on the outstanding performance of linebacker Von Miller and the defensive front line to completely cut off Newton's read option offense and finally won the Super Bowl championship.

Of course, in college games, compared to cumbersome and complicated tactics, relying on physical fitness and talent is still the mainstream, and reading option offense is also a difficult problem.

From Lamar Jackson to Deshaun Watson to Baker Mayfield, the current leaders of the Heisman Trophy are all running quarterbacks, and the read-option offense is also a very important part of their game. Among them, Jackson, who has the best physical fitness, is undoubtedly the best.

The Crimson Tide's starting quarterback, Hurts, is also a running quarterback.

Although Shaban does not like the read-option offense, he is still relatively traditional, and the speed at which his offensive tactics are updated is slightly behind the times; but occasionally, Shaban is willing to use the read-option offense to change the rhythm and enrich the offensive tactics. He does not use it not because he knows nothing.

Today, in the first half of the game, the Crimson Tide's offense ran into a wall repeatedly, and Shaban also used the read option offense; and, more than once.

But the effect is not good.

The root cause lies with Adams.

As the last line of defense among the three lines of defense against Levi, Adams used his abilities to the fullest, appearing in different positions like a ghost. Even if Hurts chose to play the read option offense, Adams and the other two linebackers could tackle Hurts without any worries.

After all, Levi always has Riley and Beckwith guarding him.

The "read option" reads the linebacker's movements, but Adams disrupted the Crimson Tide's offensive strategy as a safety.

Louisiana State Tigers' new head coach, O'Gilon, was able to completely transform the team's defense in just three games. He is really good at what he does.

Now, Levi was not prepared to challenge Ogieron's defensive strategy.

First of all, 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 does not think that his tactical layout can be better; but perhaps 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 it." "But this is not a read option. Before the kickoff, we decided to run the ball. You make a fake run and pass the football to me."

"I became the bait, attracting attention, while you relied on your running ability to create space and complete the advancement."

To put it simply, it is actually a double running back tactic.

From the beginning, he showed the posture of running the ball on the ground, but made the opponent lose judgment and not know who was responsible for running the ball.

The hidden surprise here is the identity of the second running back.

It was not a read-option offense, but it fully utilized the power of the read-option offense, adjusted the defensive strategy of Louisiana State University, made full use of Hurts' own running ability, and used Levi as bait, showing the Red Tide's deep strength in ground offense.

Of course, Levi also has his own plans.

Ultimately, rugby is a team sport, and it is unrealistic for him to carry the entire team forward by himself, at least not at this stage.

He needs to revitalize Hurts and also needs to make the ground offense more dynamic.

"Hey, little guy."

This is the nickname Levi gave Hurts. In fact, Hurts is not short, 6.1 feet (185 cm), the same as Levi; but for a quarterback, he is a little shorter.

In the game, once the ball is kicked off, the offensive and defensive lines collide with each other like a meat grinder. The quarterback needs to cross the fence and control the entire field, so vision is crucial, otherwise he will not be able to find the target for the pass.

6.1 feet, not short, but still not enough.

NFL's current New Orleans Saints star and legendary quarterback Drew Brees is 6 feet (183 cm) tall. He is one of the few short quarterbacks who can still create miracles and brilliance. His abilities in reading defense and passing accuracy are top-notch.

And Hurts, obviously, does not yet have Brees' ability.

"I am not going to replace the coach to tell you what to do, nor am I going to replace your job to make decisions. I just want to remind you not to forget your abilities."

"Brain. Right hand. Legs."

"We need to mobilize all of our forces to be able to contend with the iron wall in front of us, do you understand?"

Levi knows that quarterback and running back have different positions, different ways of thinking and responding, and he cannot make decisions for Hurts, but the point is that he and Hurts fight 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 at Levi.

Levi bumped his shoulder against Hertz's, "Roar."

It was not a roar, nor a release, but it was precisely this simple and unpretentious sentence that made the red storm in the blood boil again.

Ten yards in one gear.

Hurts communicated with Shaban through the headset and carefully explained his ideas:

Shaban's eyes lit up slightly and he glanced at Hertz, but his gaze fell on Levi, with a flash of surprise.

Shoulders, open slightly:

This child is growing faster than I thought.

Fifth update.

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(End of this chapter)