Last year read-options were all the rage in the NFL behind the success of Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick. Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians isn’t surprised to see them struggling this season.
“I still think it’s a great offense,” Arians told Philadelphia reporters this week, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s a great college offense when you put a great athlete back there.
“But when you’re facing great athletes, with the speed that’s in the NFL who are chasing these guys, unless you’re superhuman, you’re going to get hurt sooner or later — not hurt, but beat up and bruised up,” Arians added. “And you don’t want your quarterback feeling bruised up when he’s trying to throw and be accurate.”
The issue came up because the Cardinals are facing the Philadelphia Eagles and Chip Kelly’s high octane offense this weekend. Arians has led the Arizona Cardinals to a 7-4 record with a more traditional drop back approach with quarterback Carson Palmer. Though that could be more credited to the defense than the offense.