Timing and rhythm is a crucial factor in the modern-day passing game, as there is a lot of evidence that suggests that offenses struggle once the quarterback can’t throw the ball exactly where he intended to after reading the defense. While the ideal scenario would be to have an open first-read — and one that can get open quickly — offensive execution in the NFL is far from perfect, and an unfavorable down and distance can force you into plays that take more time to be successful.
Consequently, longer developing plays still frequently happen — sometimes by design and sometimes because the coverage won the matchup with the opposing receivers.