Defenses will decide if Wildcat is here to stay, or just a fad

Doomsday101

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MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins realize they have built NFL buzz over the Wildcat offense. But rather than waste time fretting over how NFL defenses will respond in the 2009 season, the Dolphins have been busy developing more magic.

"Stay tuned," Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning says.

We have. The league has.

Expect the Wildcat -- direct, shotgun snaps to running backs or receivers in often a variation of the old Wing-T offense -- to offer league-wide twists led by the Dolphins. When Miami recently drafted West Virginia quarterback Pat White, a passer who is more mobile and more athletic and a better runner than the typical NFL quarterback, it became clear that the Dolphins will not stand still in this offense.

In fact, the Dolphins say they have a "Pat Package."

All expect a cagier Wildcat.

Several NFL teams will adopt their version of the offense. No team, including the Dolphins, will use it as a primary offense. But a sprinkle can provide glitter. Expectations are that the Philadelphia Eagles, with new quarterback Michael Vick, can lift the Wildcat to stirring heights.

Every NFL defensive coordinator spent portions of the offseason dissecting how to combat this offense.

"I wouldn't be surprised if every team takes a chance on using it in some way this season," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "We've studied ourselves. We don't think we've done all we can do with it. I know the Ravens didn't seem to have much trouble dealing with us in it last year in the playoffs. I think we've done a good job on defense with it when we've seen it because our defense sees it a lot in practice."

With so many college teams running the spread offense and variations of the Wildcat, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said it is natural that the NFL has begun to employ these principles. That is where NFL players come from, said LeBeau, and the best pro teams will do whatever the talent they draft does best.

"The Wildcat is basically a formation from the '30s," said LeBeau, who reaches age 72 next week. "The old 49ers had it. I used to watch John Brodie and some of those guys run it. In pro football, you use what you have. We are getting versatile players. On the horizon is the kid from Ohio State at quarterback (Terrelle Pryor) and Florida has Tim Tebow coming in here soon. These guys are 6-5 and run 4.4. Is that fair for a defense? So, not only are the other skilled players good for the Wildcat but some of the quarterbacks are now beginning to be perfectly made for it.

"I think we have to stop it as a defense the same way you stop any good offense: You designate your defense to keep a certain player from beating you. Going after the passer and the ball in the backfield is always my aim. You always get after the ball behind the line of scrimmage and you really have to do that against the Wildcat."

Several NFL defensive coaches said that they will emphasize assignment-oriented football against the Wildcat much like they would in defending against an option offense. This means more discipline on defense. More recognition. And, certainly, more precise tackling.

It also means that increased speed at linebacker and along the defensive line are traits that NFL defenses have pursued with renewed zeal.

Some NFL coaches believe the Wildcat is simply a gimmick.

A nuisance more than a mainstay.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Jim Bates said that kind of thinking will get teams beat this season.

"We're going to play a lot of bump coverage and mix things a lot here with our defense," Bates said. "But if you don't look at this offense and see how what you are doing is affected, you've got a full-scale problem. I think of it as option football and something that makes you as a defense balance up. They've got their wrinkles. We've got some wrinkles that we hope answer it peppered into the mix."

Look for NFL defenses to attack this scheme with more sure-footed pressure in hopes of smothering the Wildcat before it gobbles them up.

http://www.nfl.com/kickoff/story?id...late=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true
 

miamicowboy21

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If you want to end the wildcat it's real simple. If the starting QB for any team wants to lineup at WR, you have your defensive back come up and bump him and knock him to the ground. Get physical with him and rough him up. Is sacrificing your starting QB worth it for a couple of trick plays?

The tactic maybe dirty, but it can be effective in making head coaches and offensive coordinators think twice about using that formation.
 

sureletsrace

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miamicowboy21;2921598 said:
If you want to end the wildcat it's real simple. If the starting QB for any team wants to lineup at WR, you have your defensive back come up and bump him and knock him to the ground. Get physical with him and rough him up. Is sacrificing your starting QB worth it for a couple of trick plays?

The tactic maybe dirty, but it can be effective in making head coaches and offensive coordinators think twice about using that formation.

After reading this I don't know whether to smack you or shake your hand, sir.
 

Kangaroo

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I think Garret should employ a few power I options with the TE we have Witten and Bennett then the 3 rb of Barber, Felix,Choice at the goal line.

We can run or throw from that formation both TE are excellent wr and all 3 rd can catch as well.

Yes Yes I know the old Power I had two fb but this is as much about misdirection as anything since we could hand the ball of to any one of the 3 rb's

I would love to see a current NFL Coaches face if we broke out an old school formation like that
 

LeonDixson

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miamicowboy21;2921598 said:
If you want to end the wildcat it's real simple. If the starting QB for any team wants to lineup at WR, you have your defensive back come up and bump him and knock him to the ground. Get physical with him and rough him up. Is sacrificing your starting QB worth it for a couple of trick plays?

The tactic maybe dirty, but it can be effective in making head coaches and offensive coordinators think twice about using that formation.
I wouldn't consider it dirty unless you're taking cheap shots at him. A good clean decleater on a blocker (QB included) is not dirty IMO.

Kangaroo;2921638 said:
I think Garret should employ a few power I options with the TE we have Witten and Bennett then the 3 rb of Barber, Felix,Choice at the goal line.

We can run or throw from that formation both TE are excellent wr and all 3 rd can catch as well.

Yes Yes I know the old Power I had two fb but this is as much about misdirection as anything since we could hand the ball of to any one of the 3 rb's

I would love to see a current NFL Coaches face if we broke out an old school formation like that

I don't know if it would work, but it would be fun to watch.
 

NextGenBoys

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miamicowboy21;2921598 said:
If you want to end the wildcat it's real simple. If the starting QB for any team wants to lineup at WR, you have your defensive back come up and bump him and knock him to the ground. Get physical with him and rough him up. Is sacrificing your starting QB worth it for a couple of trick plays?

The tactic maybe dirty, but it can be effective in making head coaches and offensive coordinators think twice about using that formation.

If you have an athletic QB ala Vick/White, you're not going to have your starting QB out there IMO.
 

Doomsday101

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NextGenBoys;2921656 said:
If you have an athletic QB ala Vick/White, you're not going to have your starting QB out there IMO.

I agree and as the article indicates you have some other QB's like Tebow coming next year who brings size and decent speed for a QB. Pro teams will try to utilize the skill the college players have learned and excelled in. Frankly I would not be surprised to see Jeff Fisher running a form of the wildcat with Young instead of having Young sitting on the bench. How long will it last? It will last as long as it is has success. This is not a formation that will be used as a base formation but a chance to throw something different at defenses to try and keep them off balance
 

StarHead69

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miamicowboy21;2921598 said:
If you want to end the wildcat it's real simple. If the starting QB for any team wants to lineup at WR, you have your defensive back come up and bump him and knock him to the ground. Get physical with him and rough him up. Is sacrificing your starting QB worth it for a couple of trick plays?

The tactic maybe dirty, but it can be effective in making head coaches and offensive coordinators think twice about using that formation.


Agree 100%

Teams will have to remind their Defenses that the QB's "skirt" is removed once he moves out from under the center. If I was a Def. Coordinator my players would be reminded constantly that the QB is to be mauled throughout the play from the snap til the whistle.
I have seen a few teams run the wildcat in Pre-season, and it seems like the DB's treat the guys like they are still protected and are scared to death to get physical.
 

RoadRunner

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CosmicCowboy;2921648 said:
wow, someone run the wishbone.....

Every year a few teams here and there run a wishbone formation once in a great while.
 

InmanRoshi

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How do you propose teams stop this new fangled 3 WR nickel offense?

I think its easy ... you just replace one of your linebackers with an extra defensive back and call it a "nickel defense".

There, that fad has been solved.
 

dbair1967

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miamicowboy21;2921598 said:
If you want to end the wildcat it's real simple. If the starting QB for any team wants to lineup at WR, you have your defensive back come up and bump him and knock him to the ground. Get physical with him and rough him up. Is sacrificing your starting QB worth it for a couple of trick plays?

The tactic maybe dirty, but it can be effective in making head coaches and offensive coordinators think twice about using that formation.

I was saying the same thing to some people at work. Once the guy isnt under center, he's just like anyone else. Fair game. I'd knock the starting QB on his arse everytime he's out there.

That said, in the games I watched the stupid spread plays were mostly ineffective, and I still firmly believe if you put 8 or 9 in the box and blitz it, it would be useless.
 

dbair1967

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NextGenBoys;2921656 said:
If you have an athletic QB ala Vick/White, you're not going to have your starting QB out there IMO.

you mean like all those plays where Philly had Vick and McBaby on the field together last week? It was like 5 or 6 of them.
 
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