I could not sleep last night, so I watched several of our games again on the DVR.
Early in the season opposing defenses very clearly keyed on Relf (or Ralph) on our read option, often abandoning properly defensing the dive or pitch.
After the Houston game, I think that defenses will have to key on Ballard because he can hurt you more than Relf. I know this is obvious, but Ballard's emergence is huge in moving forward. I have watched all of the games again, and a threat like Ballard will cause big problems for the defense. It forces the defense to have to account for the read option (run) every time. The way that we split our receivers, there is just no way someone can account for Relf, Ballard, the pitch man, and the flat at the same time (without bringing up the free safety and leaving the middle of the field open). Unless the opposing team's defensive line is just destroying our O-line, there should be something open on every play. All of that said, I am perfectly aware that all of this relies on Relf to make the correct reads.
Early in the season opposing defenses very clearly keyed on Relf (or Ralph) on our read option, often abandoning properly defensing the dive or pitch.
After the Houston game, I think that defenses will have to key on Ballard because he can hurt you more than Relf. I know this is obvious, but Ballard's emergence is huge in moving forward. I have watched all of the games again, and a threat like Ballard will cause big problems for the defense. It forces the defense to have to account for the read option (run) every time. The way that we split our receivers, there is just no way someone can account for Relf, Ballard, the pitch man, and the flat at the same time (without bringing up the free safety and leaving the middle of the field open). Unless the opposing team's defensive line is just destroying our O-line, there should be something open on every play. All of that said, I am perfectly aware that all of this relies on Relf to make the correct reads.
