The biggest current trend in offense could be making it’s way to a franchise known traditionally for its defense. And, more recently, for having a quarterback who lacks the mobility to pull off the biggest current trend in offense.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, however, the Bears apparently plan to roll out the read-option in 2013. Sort of.
Biggs explains that the Bears have been using the play-action fake from shotgun formation that launches the read-option running play as the first step in the quarterback moving outside the pocket in search of a throwing lane. In theory, quarterback Jay Cutler also could run the ball after the fake.
“Jay has the skill set to do just about everything, anything,” coach Marc Trestman said. “We are trying to give him the things he has had the most success with first.
“Whether we’ll do it, I don’t know. We’ve studied it.”
It doesn’t need to be used very often in order to force opposing defenses to be ready for it, and in turn to compel them to spend time preparing for the possibility of seeing it.
“There is no question Jay is athletic enough [to run the read-option],” backup Josh McCown said. “All three of us could get it done if we needed to. It’s going to have to be a part of [the offense] a little bit because we are going to have to give our defense looks on it because it’s so successful in our league. We’re all waiting to see if the defenses can stop it.”
Until they can, more offenses will be using it. Even those that may not seem like obvious candidates for it.