This trend is beginning to develop across all levels of football. Shawnee Mission East is running the first flexbone option in the Sunflower League, something that provides senior quarterback Christian Blessen with the opportunity to hold onto the ball and dash out of the pocket. Colleges are beginning to start quarterbacks who are dedicated runners. At Kansas State, sophomore Daniel Sams, who is more of a wildcat formation runner, is splitting snaps with a more classic passer. This trend is also bursting across the NFL as players such as Robert Griffin III and Michael Vick explode in popularity.
Having a triple option flexbone offense at Shawnee Mission East has provided the best opportunity possible for this team. The new offense has given Blessen a multitude of options that have seemingly confused and overwhelmed opposing defenses. On one play, he might have the option to hand it up the middle to senior fullback Luke Taylor or to keep it himself. On other plays, he has the opportunity to run the option to either side, choosing to either keep it himself or to pitch to one of his slotbacks.
At the same time as this new rushing attack is entering the Sunflower League, rushing quarterbacks are gaining momentum on the college level. Seemingly every year, one of the frontrunners for the Heisman trophy is a mobile or dual-threat quarterback who can make magical runs and save his team. This quality of pulling down the ball and rushing through gaps while juking out defenders for first downs is a talent that is becoming more and more common among college players. As these college players begin to age up and enter the NFL draft, these mobile quarterbacks will slowly enter the ranks of starting NFL quarterbacks.
To me, this new breed of rushing quarterbacks is making football more interesting. Gone are the days when my team has a third and long and a very limited playbook. Now, I can hope that if that pass play falls apart, my team can still get the first down. Finally, there is a chance the quarterback can tuck in the ball, sprint around and under defenders and gallop for a first down.
As this trend continues to grow, watch for more and more quick, nimble runners to begin taking snaps under center. Slowly but surely, this trend is seemingly growing across all levels of football.
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