CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • BEARS
  • BULLS
  • BLACKHAWKS
  • CUBS
  • WHITE SOX
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Navigation
  • About Us
  • Chicago Sports Podcasts
  • ChiCity+
  • CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • Get In Touch
  • Join Our Group
  • Newsletter
  • Our Writers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Cubs agree to extension with Nico Hoerner
  • Cubs’ Morel expected to start season in Iowa
  • REPORT: Ryan Poles was blown away by Bears staff member in 2022
  • Chicago Bears linked to Commanders former first round pass rusher via proposed trade
  • Chicago Bears skill position group makes Sports Illustrated’s top 15 list
  • REPORT: Chicago Bears in market to trade ninth overall pick
  • Chicago Bears franchise leading scorer on potential return: “Absolutely”
  • Chicago Bears new linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is “ready to work”
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – FansCHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
  • BEARS

    REPORT: Ryan Poles was blown away by Bears staff member in 2022

    March 27, 2023

    Chicago Bears linked to Commanders former first round pass rusher via proposed trade

    March 25, 2023

    Chicago Bears skill position group makes Sports Illustrated’s top 15 list

    March 24, 2023

    REPORT: Chicago Bears in market to trade ninth overall pick

    March 24, 2023

    Chicago Bears franchise leading scorer on potential return: “Absolutely”

    March 24, 2023
  • BULLS

    Bulls’ guard Lonzo Ball undergoing third surgery, could miss 2023-24 season

    March 16, 2023

    Zach LaVine not letting Bulls go quietly

    March 12, 2023

    Bulls’ Lonzo Ball may need third surgery on knee

    March 9, 2023

    The Air Jordan 4 is next to get the ‘reimagined’ treatment in 2024

    March 2, 2023

    Goran Dragic’s time with the Bulls has ended

    February 28, 2023
  • BLACKHAWKS

    BREAKING: Chicago Blackhawks trade Patrick Kane

    February 28, 2023

    Chicago Blackhawks hit win streak in the month of February 2023

    February 22, 2023

    Comparing the Dynamic of Two Rebuilding Clubs

    January 25, 2023

    Chicago Fans’ One Wish for Every Team in 2023

    December 31, 2022

    Blackhawks’ Sam Lafferty returns to line-up vs. Jets

    December 9, 2022
  • CUBS

    Cubs agree to extension with Nico Hoerner

    March 27, 2023

    Cubs’ Morel expected to start season in Iowa

    March 27, 2023

    Javier Assad dominated a stacked USA lineup

    March 13, 2023

    Mike Tauchman impressing early on for Chicago Cubs

    March 8, 2023

    Willson Contreras takes shot at Chicago Cubs

    February 25, 2023
  • WHITE SOX

    Chicago White Sox agree to terms with Elvis Andrus

    February 20, 2023

    Chicago White Sox 2023 prospect watch: outfielder Oscar Colas

    January 18, 2023

    Chicago Fans’ One Wish for Every Team in 2023

    December 31, 2022

    MLB analyst pitches insane White Sox Yankees trade

    December 22, 2022

    Outfielder Andrew Benintendi signs with White Sox

    December 16, 2022
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Facebook Twitter Instagram
CHICITYSPORTS – Chicago Sports  Blog – News – Forum – Rumors – Fans
Home»Bears»The Read-Option and the Evolving Defensive Response
Bears

The Read-Option and the Evolving Defensive Response

Z PBy Z PJune 30, 20132 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham had some interesting comments for Tim Twentyman atdetriotlions.com about the read-option offense, how to play it and what affect its having on the league.

“‘It’s a big thing in the league now, and that’s why we’ve got bigger corners, because they’re going to have to tackle,’ Cunningham said. ‘The ball is going outside, they’re spreading you, and quarterbacks are running the ball.'”

“The read-option puts pressure on the defensive end to make the right play and then the cornerbacks to come up and make a play out wide.”

“‘The key is you need extra people to stop the run because they spread you out,’ Cunningham said. ‘So, you end up playing some man-to-man or shorten your safeties down and if the quarterback can really throw the ball, that’s where we get into trouble.

“‘Miami couldn’t do that with Rickey (Williams) and the other kid that was running the option (Ronnie Brown). But their design was as good as I’ve ever seen in my life and then it got away from them for whatever reason.'”

Cunningham has never been one of my favorite NFL coaches but he’s spot on here. I don’t know that cornerbacks necessarily have to get bigger but everyone, including the corners, is going to have to be able to tackle better at a time when physical contact in practice for refining technique is more and more limited. Being bigger certainly would make you more durable, however, and, as Cunningham rightly points out, shut down corners who can handle receivers in single coverage with a safety in the box are also going to be at even more of a premium than they are now.

The whole interview makes me wonder if zone defenses like the one the Bears have relied upon for so long aren’t going to become more and more difficult to run. Even the Bears spent more time in single coverage in recent years and we’re likely to see it even more. The days of the classic cover-two cornerback may be numbered.

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

FEATURED
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
The Worst Things Bart Simpson Has Ever Done Ranked
Z P
  • Twitter

Chicago sports.

Related Posts

Bears March 27, 2023

REPORT: Ryan Poles was blown away by Bears staff member in 2022

Bears March 25, 2023

Chicago Bears linked to Commanders former first round pass rusher via proposed trade

Bears March 24, 2023

Chicago Bears skill position group makes Sports Illustrated’s top 15 list

Bears March 24, 2023

REPORT: Chicago Bears in market to trade ninth overall pick

Bears March 24, 2023

Chicago Bears franchise leading scorer on potential return: “Absolutely”

Bears March 24, 2023

Chicago Bears new linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is “ready to work”

No Comments

  1. Instant_Playback on July 12, 2013 10:31 pm

    Another solution to the option is have a robber/ linebacker/DE hybrid types. Playing upright so he can cover the inside hand off, or the keeper. The option only works in zone blocking schemes so if you funnel the play inward it won’t produce. Essentially taking away the “option”

Leave A Reply

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Team Message Boards

bears TP
bulls TP
cubs TP
sox TP
hawks TP
we want you to write
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
  • Home
  • Message Board
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
© 2023 ChiCitySports. Designed by Dope Guys Who Run ChiCitySports.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.