The Air Raid Offense Invades an N.F.L. That It Already Conquered

I'm no football expert but this sounds like it might result in fewer concussions from a run-heavy game.

I agree with all of these positive, encouraging comments. However, when Tom Brady has been successful in a similar offense, he has had a very good offensive line and rushing (by committee) to keep the defense off his person. The Arizona Cardinals do not have a strong offensive line this season. Therefore, this year at least, Murray will be relatively easy to defend. I suspect the opposition will use dime coverage with six DBs, and zone blitz off the corners. Defenses will hit him as often as possible. Air Raid facets can work in the NFL. But Murray cannot take hits at his size. Heck, even HOF Tom Brady when rushed by teams like the Giants became much less effective. Texas Tech, Washington State, Kentucky, blah blah blah. Yes, college football has marvelous athletes. But the NFL has players much bigger, much faster who can run and hit way harder. No NFL quarterback can be functional with discomfort. Hence, in the NFL, an Air Raid team must have a rushing threat - and not the quarterback. As dean of the talks shows Pete Franklin used to say, "Quarterback who runs in the NFL winds up in Mt. Sinai hospital." Football still comes down to blocking and tackling.

Too much reliance on one thing will get figured out and it won't take long. Brady has a running game when he needs it and sometimes you have to run. A physical defense that comes out smacking people around can deflate a team in a hurry that isn't used to trenching it out. Just ask my Broncos about that Seattle D... The best teams might have a style, but they can do anything required outside of that style at the drop of a hat... and regularly do.

I love you Eli but the time has come & gone. It's a different game now.

I hope it doesn't snow. Just ask that high powered, pass heavy, Air Raid offense at Washington State University from last year.

This is a great article, because I feel that it is reflective of something perennial to all of life- that in human resources we seek out the strengths inherent in the people we find as opposed to trying to sharpen and instrut with heavy intellect and precision of thought. Improvisation is truly a key element and the flow of information that the air raid lives on is emblematic of a future with less prejudice, less militarism, greater feminine work modes if you will, and trust in the people inherently and not based on their ability to form in line with maybe unnatural militaristic shcemes. love this article!

Just what the NFL needs. More passes. more receivers running out-of-bounds or being driven there after catches. More clock stoppages. Longer games. More incompletes. Longer games due to clock stoppages.