The read option and QBs that can run that play are all the rage these days, but is it really the start of a new era at quarterback?
First off, the game is decidedly a passing game. Rules favor QBs and receivers. What happens now when a QB functions more like a running back. Will you get penalized if you touch his helmet? Will you not be able to hit him if he slides? This hardly seems fair and maybe a change in the rules ensues. After all, if he's now running the ball on designed runninng plays, he's a running back. He shouldn't need special rules to protect him any more than running backs need special rules.
Then there's the issue of longevity. Any franchise with a good, passing QB counts on his services for 12-15 years (Manning, Favre, Elway, etc.). You run the ball, you increase your chances of getting hurt exponentially. Look no further than RG3 to see how well that's working out for him. If you're a QB and you're fast, you're probably not built or designed to take hits while running the ball all over the field (the last Packer's game is an exception because I'm assuming the other team at least gets a hit on or touches the opposing QB). Your pads aren't up to it and your body isn't up to it. So if you're a team who has a running QB as your starter and your QB goes down with an injury, what if your backup isn't a running QB? Hard for the whole offense to now adjust to a pocket passer. It would be interesting to see what would happen in Seattle if Wilson went down and Flynn comes in. How many weeks might that adjustment take? And you can't really count in having a running QB around for 10, 12, 15 years so do you bulk up on backups? Are they going to be mass-producing these guys in college? Will defenses adjust (Packers defense included) and render the play not worth the risk?
So what say you - passing fad or here to stay?
First off, the game is decidedly a passing game. Rules favor QBs and receivers. What happens now when a QB functions more like a running back. Will you get penalized if you touch his helmet? Will you not be able to hit him if he slides? This hardly seems fair and maybe a change in the rules ensues. After all, if he's now running the ball on designed runninng plays, he's a running back. He shouldn't need special rules to protect him any more than running backs need special rules.
Then there's the issue of longevity. Any franchise with a good, passing QB counts on his services for 12-15 years (Manning, Favre, Elway, etc.). You run the ball, you increase your chances of getting hurt exponentially. Look no further than RG3 to see how well that's working out for him. If you're a QB and you're fast, you're probably not built or designed to take hits while running the ball all over the field (the last Packer's game is an exception because I'm assuming the other team at least gets a hit on or touches the opposing QB). Your pads aren't up to it and your body isn't up to it. So if you're a team who has a running QB as your starter and your QB goes down with an injury, what if your backup isn't a running QB? Hard for the whole offense to now adjust to a pocket passer. It would be interesting to see what would happen in Seattle if Wilson went down and Flynn comes in. How many weeks might that adjustment take? And you can't really count in having a running QB around for 10, 12, 15 years so do you bulk up on backups? Are they going to be mass-producing these guys in college? Will defenses adjust (Packers defense included) and render the play not worth the risk?
So what say you - passing fad or here to stay?