MexicoLionFan wrote:Thanks Joe, I believe it was Blitz who said that QBs get hit A LOT more often in their own backfield than down the field...a huge part of Lulay's game is to take off with the ball, and he has to be allowed to do this...the timing of his slides/going out of bounds was done perfectly and he will only get better at it! The Read-Option scheme has always been a favourite of mine because it keeps the defence, especially the LBs, one step slower in their response time that a good offence can take advantage of!
The read option, misdirection play action, quick sprint outs, semi-boots are all the type of plays that are tailor made for Lulay. The read option, when Lulay fakes it and takes off, opens up the inside running game for Harris or vice-versa because they can't cheat, as they were doing on Harris previously, crashing the ends down. It also will help his protection in the pocket as defensive ends will be less willing to take an inside route.
I doubt Lulay will get early success next week on the read option..they will be prepared for him. But that should open up the inside for Harris and if he we can run the football inside successfully due to the defense playing more honest, it should open up the read option run for Lulay later in the game.
In terms of how Tedford/Cortez have dealt with Lulay and his running game....its really what he needed to be directed to do and also practice the concepts as well as integrate the thought process. We are not stopping Lulay from running now, thankfully, but just defining the parameters and Lulay has responded.
Tedford wants his quarterback to utilize his strengths while also protecting him as best possible. That is so different from the Wally era. When we had Dickenson and Printers injured in 2005 and Pierce playing injured and all had taken a beating...Wally's response to our quarterback injury situation and the sacks and hits they were taking was "That's why we have four of them". Wally prided himself on not 'babying' quarterbacks.
Tedford is smarter. He realizes how importan the position is. At the same time, hoping Lulay doesn't get injured by trying to keep him in the pocket is not the answer. Having a quarterback like Lulay play smart, in terms of protecting his shoulder while using his legs at opportune situations is the answer. This is the best approach.
And yes, I wrote that quarterbacks get injured more often in the pocket that out of it is true. Quarterbacks cant' always see a blind side hit, or avoid a helmet to knee from a lunging defensive tackle, or see a defensive end coming from their backside smashing down on their throwing arm to attempt to cause a fumble or prevent their hand from bouncing off a helmet as they follow through on a throw. The pocket is not the safe place some think it is, even with decent protection.
In the open field the quarterback has a much better view of things than the mess of bodies he often faces in the pocket, with defensive lineman and blitzing linebackers and defensive backs coming from all angles. Of course a quarterback can get hurt anywhere on the football field but I prefer Lulays' chances of avoiding injury in the open field than from a crashing pocket or a blitzer coming from his blind side.
Lulay just needs to not take on tacklers in the open field and get down or out of bounds quickly when a tackler approaches. When Lulay is a double threat quarterback it changes so much in terms of our offence. Even Lulay doesn't run, the spy some teams will put on him will open up our passing game, just due to the threat of Lulay showing that he is willing to run. Defensive ends will widen out and open up off-tackle holes for Harris. Its all GOOD!
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
