The read-option has become the latest rage in all of the NFL. As mobile quarterbacks continue to emerge as the favored option, more offenses will be looking towards moving to the option in order to succeed. With the offense changing, defenses will begin to figure out how to adjust to the latest fad. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is not fazed by the read-option. He thinks it is just the "flavor of the day" that will eventually disappear.
Teams like the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are all teams moving towards the read-option to dictate their offense. Each team saw success in 2012 as defenses struggled to figure out how to adjust to something. Defensive coordinators are not devoting more time to figure out how to adjust, studying new tactics. Tomlin does not think the read-option will be popular in a year.
"I think it's the flavor of the day. We will see if it's the flavor of the year. See if guys are committed to getting their guys hit," Tomlin said.
He has a point. Almost every read-option quarterback saw time with injury last season. Most notably, Robert Griffin III tore his ACL in the wild card round of the playoffs after taking a hit while running. Michael Vick, considered one of the first mobile quarterbacks, suffered numerous concussions and rib injuries after taking hits while trying to run. Teams are looking into the college ranks to find the next best mobile quarterback. But how long are these players going to be will to take the heavy hits when so much is expected of them?
Tomlin is not the only coach realizing that the read-option puts more quarterbacks at risk. Colts head coach Chuch Pagano said he would never place quarterback Andrew Luck in a read-option scenario, risking him of severe injury. Pagano said he would be "railroaded out of town" if he put Luck's career in jeopardy.
There is no doubting that football is a dangerous game for every player involved, but should team's be putting their quarterback's health at risk for a few more yards? If more coaches begin to agree with Tomlin's viewpoints, the read-option could become a thing of the past.
Discuss here is you think Mike Tomlin has a point. will the read-option fade out?
