Redskins ask refs about ways to protect RG3

[JohnShadows]

I think maybe they should have started with their field maintenance crew, but this had some info on how refs are going to judge things with the zone read QBs.

Y! SPORTS

Then they took questions.
The Redskins were particularly concerned about plays in which Griffin runs the ball. He's protected from hits if he slides in a timely manner, but it's something he doesn't do well and it costs yardage. But, if he goes head-first: ''The chances of him being contacted are real,'' Steratore (a ref) said.
...
Griffin missed all or part of four games last season due to various injuries and had reconstructive knee surgery in January. The two more significant hits he took came when he was scrambling downfield after he was unable to find an open receiver - not on designed runs or plays using the zone read.

Shanahan says that's proof that the zone read actually protects his quarterback because defensive players can't rush full-bore. They have to pause a beat to see who has the ball and react accordingly.
...
Last year, officials informed Griffin that he is susceptible to being hit when he pretends he has the ball after handing it off. They encouraged him to raise his empty hands after he releases it.

 

[JDM]

Get rid of bullshit read option calls and he'll be much safer.

 

[Clayton]

SLIDE YOU DUMBASS

I hate that you can't hit him while he's running out of bounds, too. If you relent, he could lean forward and run past you but if you hit him and he's a step out of bounds then its a penalty.

 

[Darth_Tom]

Maybe they should tell the grounds crew to better manage the field so that there wouldn't be that much risk of injury.

 

[TexasMan]

SLIDE YOU DUMBASS

Hell, he slid last year and still got a concussion on a hit.

 

[Clayton]

He's not the first mobile QB. Other QBs with inferior talent have adapted.

 

[Clayton]

Hell, he slid last year and still got a concussion on a hit.

What about the other 20 bone crushing hits he took when he wasn't sliding?

 

[TexasMan]

I guess run out of bounds faster?

 

[JohnShadows]

He's protected from hits if he slides in a timely manner, but it's something he doesn't do well and it costs yardage.

Well, yeah - there's downside to almost any possibility. Duh. There will be risk when you come out of the pocket.

Last year, officials informed Griffin that he is susceptible to being hit when he pretends he has the ball after handing it off. They encouraged him to raise his empty hands after he releases it.

This is the part that concerns me - Cam is great at this, and not being able to complete the fake takes away from the effectiveness of the play, imo.

 

[JDM]

Which is why you don't put the player you invested your whole future in in that position. He is far too good to need you to put him at that risk to make plays.

 

[Clayton]

Which is why you don't put the player you invested your whole future in in that position. He is far too good to need you to put him at that risk to make plays.

Yeah, just because your King piece can move like a Queen piece doesn't mean that you should be making aggressive and reckless moves with it