- the NFL’s rules favor passing:
the rules of the game in professional football (as well as the official’s mindset) are geared toward opening up the offenses, and the way the NFL has decided to open up the offensive game is to make the passing game easier (the hashmarks are moved toward the center of the field, defensive backs can’t make contact with receivers more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage, receivers are called for offensive interference less frequently, holding on the offensive lines is allowed as long as the lineman keeps his hands on the defender’s chest plate, etc.). NFL teams aren’t usually foolish. they want to win, and the best way to win is take advantage of what the rules give you.
most human beings aren’t equally adept at passing and running. so in order to use the advantages that are given to offensive passing games, NFL teams typically draft and use quarterbacks that are better passers than runners.
- injuries to quarterbacks:
the way the option works is that everyone around the ball is blocked except one person (usually the defensive end). the qb and option back make that one defensive player attempt to make a play on either the qb or option back (the theory is that the one defensive guy can’t make a play on both the qb and option back). the qb is told to hold the ball until the defensive player commits. typically, the defensive player is forced to commit to the qb because the qb has the ball. so when the defensive player commits to the qb, the qb pitches the ball to the option back, who should have some room to run.
thus, one big problem with the option is that the it allows qb’s to get hit. and not just hit, but hit by 250+ pound defensive lineman, who typically have unnatural strength, speed, and agility, and who typically take pleasure in inflicting pain on quarterbacks. and the qb is running directly into the hit, meaning he doesn’t have much of a chance to either make the defensive player miss, or to lessen the impact. add in the fact that NFL teams aren’t drafting their qb’s for their running prowess, and you’ve got a recipe for injury.
- the speed of defenses:
again, qb’s are typically drafted for their arms, and not their legs. on the other hand, defenses are typically drafted with an eye toward their speed. 300 pound defensive tackles now run 4.6s and 4.7s. in fact, this is also a big reason the sweep is not as effective in the NFL. the speed with which defensive players can make up ground in pursuit makes it extremely difficult to run outside.
plus, when running the option, the option back can’t go any faster than the qb. it’s not a quick hitting play to begin with, and the whole play is dictated by the qb’s speed, which isn’t usually very good compared to the defense.
there are other reasons that dictate against the option, but i think these are the biggest. or at least the biggest ones that came to my mind.