Running Wild (with the wildcat) dc.com & why i think cowboys didnt run it

[cowboyjoe]

Running Wild?
Stanback Still Looking For Opportunities

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Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
March 31, 2009 5:28 PM Change Font Size A A A A

I didnt see this posted anywhere.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ok first, let me get this out of the way, as you will see below the cowboys ran the wildcat some last year in training camp with Stanback as the option. Why I think the Cowboys is the center, remember how Gurode would snap the ball way over romos head or before he was ready for the ball? Thats why also the cowboys may be looking at a good backup C/OG in the draft that can snap the ball expertedly. And not over romo head in certain situations.




Stanback seems to be the most logical centerpiece if the Cowboys adopt the wildcat




IRVING, Texas - Entering his third NFL season, the goal has remained very simple for Isaiah Stanback.

"I'm just looking to play," he said. "That's all. I want to play and contribute and help us win."

That was his mindset two years ago when he was drafted in the fourth round as a quarterback but trying to make the transition to wide receiver, albeit suffering from a foot injury.

That was his goal last season when he had a full off-season to practice as a wide receiver and learn the offense.

And yes, that is once again Stanback's goal as he prepares for his third pro season.

And by "play" and "contribute," Stanback doesn't seem to mind where that position might be.

Whether it's at wide receiver, returning kicks, covering kicks, moving back to quarterback in a backup role, or just random snaps from the "Wildcat" position, something that was hinted by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones last week, Stanback said he is all for it.

"Right now, it's just whatever they want from me," Stanback said. "I've been around here for a few years now and we haven't won as much as we need to. I'm just trying to help us win and get back where we need to be, so whatever they want me to do. I really don't think I'm in a position to be turning down anything. I'm up for anything they want."

Although Stanback said he ran a few plays from the "Wildcat" in practice last season, it was never used in a game. So far this off-season, Stanback said he hasn't heard anything about adding it to the playbook.

"No one from the organization has said anything to me about it," he said. "Until I hear something from the coaches, or until I see it, I'll treat it as just talk. But we'll see what happens. Hopefully, we can do some different things like that this year."

With the NFL now a month into free agency, and still about four weeks away from the draft, the Cowboys, or any team, won't show their hand too often, regarding future moves.

That's why Jones' comments last week at the NFL owners meetings in California were rather odd, when he said his team will have some interest in using a former quarterback with athletic skills to run formations such as the "Wildcat," a popular offensive formation that uses either a running back or wide receiver to take a direct snap from the center. Oftentimes, the actual quarterback will line up as a receiver on the play, but used for nothing more than a decoy.

In college, Arkansas used it two years ago with tailback Darren McFadden, who combined with current Cowboys running back Felix Jones for much success. Last year, it became more popular in the NFL, particularly with the Dolphins, who used Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams for occasional big plays.

Brown was unstoppable from the "Wildcat" in a Week Three win at New England, where he scored four rushing touchdowns from the position, and even threw a touchdown pass as well.

Other teams that occasionally ran the formation included Cleveland with kick-return specialist Josh Cribbs as well as the Jets using running back Leon Washington and receiver Brad Smith, a former college quarterback at Missouri. The 49ers also used Michael Robinson, who played quarterback at Penn State.

And this leads us back to Stanback, a three-year starting quarterback in college at Washington, whose transition to a NFL wide receiver has been anything but smooth. Injuries have been the main reason for that, which began even before he was drafted. A foot injury in 2007 kept him out all summer until the last week of training camp. Then it was a shoulder injury that also prevented him from playing more than two games as a rookie.

Last year, Stanback sustained more problems with his shoulder and he played just eight games, finishing the year on IR again.

But injuries were just part of the frustrations for Stanback, who wasn't always activated for games, even when healthy. In fact, before the Nov. 2 game against the Giants last season, Stanback thought he would be the center point of the Wildcat formation.

"Last year, we did it a few times in practice," Stanback said. "It was part of the game plan one week. But then they decided not to dress me and we never really worked on it again. That's how it goes. But it was something we had in practice, and I was the guy doing it. Maybe we can do it again, who knows. I wouldn't mind doing it at all. I think it'd be fun and I think I could do it."

He not only ran it in college, but thrived. Stanback left Washington ranked 10th in school history with 4,662 offensive yards, and third among quarterbacks with 794 rushing yards.

If asked to do that again, Stanback said he won't have any problems with the running part, but it might take some time to get back into his passing groove.

"It was a big part of our offense," Stanback said of his days at Washington. "I'm used to the shotgun and running plays from there. Now as for throwing, I really haven't done a lot of that lately. I like to throw it around some, but I certainly haven't been taking any drop-backs or anything. But every day we go out there (for practice), I like to throw it around a little bit. But if that's something they asked me to do more of, it wouldn't take much time to get it all back." Whether or not Stanback sees any time behind center, he knows where his primary focus should be, and that's fine-tuning his skills at receiver.

"Right now, this is where Dallas wants me to play," he said. "I'm working on that to try to improve myself as a receiver. I've definitely gotten a lot better. But I know I have to prove it when we get to camp and the season."

Depending on what the Cowboys do in the draft, Stanback should have moved up at least one spot on the depth chart with the release of Terrell Owens, a move that Stanback calls bittersweet.

"I was very surprised. And it was a big loss," Stanback said. "To me, he was a great guy, a great teammate, and the hardest worker I've ever seen. But business is business. And they did what they thought was the best move.

"It's kind of a Catch 22 for me because you lose a great teammate and someone who really taught me a lot about the position. This guy took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. But now that he's gone, it has opened the door for me to show what I can do."

Even if it means taking on some not-so-new responsibilities.

 

[jswalker1981]

I know a lot of people hate the thought of running the wildcat. But I would like to see us run it every once in awhile. Not five times in a game like Miami did, but sometimes. I think stanback would be better than brown because he can actually throw the ball, and that is really what makes the wildcat successful, it is that threat. But I would only like to see it to against weaker opponents and not when the game is still in the balances. But if ran right, it would give opposing defenses something to think about. Heck, even if we line up in the wildcat and the defense calls a timeout, than that is good enough for me.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I know a lot of people hate the thought of running the wildcat. But I would like to see us run it every once in awhile. Not five times in a game like Miami did, but sometimes. I think stanback would be better than brown because he can actually throw the ball, and that is really what makes the wildcat successful, it is that threat. But I would only like to see it to against weaker opponents and not when the game is still in the balances. But if ran right, it would give opposing defenses something to think about. Heck, even if we line up in the wildcat and the defense calls a timeout, than that is good enough for me.

If we run I'd prefer to run it with Felix, however I'd prefer to not run it at all. It's a gimmick that has come and gone.

 

[AKATheRake]

No wildcat please. Want Romo on the field for every offensive snap and am requesting more 2TE and 2 RB sets during first and 2nd downs. Thank you!

 

[Bluefin]

I think the best virtue of the Wildcat formation is catching defenses off guard.

If Isaiah Stanback came in a game last season, defenses would probably be expecting a reverse pass or something because he wasn't a regular in any of our sets.

Having Felix Jones and Marion Barber in the same backfield suggests run, but I don't know if either could offer a pass option if under center.

Unless Stanback starts developing, stays healthy and scratches out a role, the only other current option is Patrick Crayton. Trick C is a viable passing option, but not a breakaway threat with the ball in hand. And his presence in the huddle doesn't suggest a trick is in the works.

 

[jswalker1981]

If we run I'd prefer to run it with Felix, however I'd prefer to not run it at all. It's a gimmick that has come and gone.

You mean like the reverse? But I still see teams running that every once in awhile.

 

[AKATheRake]

I think the best virtue of the Wildcat formation is catching defenses off guard.

If Isaiah Stanback came in a game last season, defenses would probably be expecting a reverse pass or something because he wasn't a regular in any of our sets.

Having Felix Jones and Marion Barber in the same backfield suggests run, but I don't know if either could offer a pass option if under center.

Unless Stanback starts developing, stays healthy and scratches out a role, the only other current option is Patrick Crayton. Trick C is a viable passing option, but not a breakaway threat with the ball in hand. And his presence in the huddle doesn't suggest a trick is in the works.

I'm asking for no wildcat period. When 2 TE's or 2 RB's are in the game defenses don't know if we're running or passing. Usually TE's and RB's can catch passes, pass protect, and run block.

RB's like Barber can do all plus run. Tashard Choice is looking to be in a similar mold as well. Felix certainly can catch and run.

So as a defense are they running, catching or blocking and which one is doing what when there is 2 of them out there?

 

[big dog cowboy]

We don't need a gimmick like the wildcat to make our offense better.

All it takes is the O-line to do what it is paid to do.

 

[ddh33]

I don't think any professional team should be relying on a gimmick offense like that to win games.

However, the most appealing thing about the wildcat is that a team that put in a very simple, easy package that they don't have to practice much. But an opposing defense has to spend quite a bit of time preparing for it and all of the options that can come out of it. That part I do like.

But I don't advocate drafting players to fit that kind of "scheme". You've got plenty of guys here who can do that aort of thing if you want to dabble in it. But the best way to win is still traditional.

 

[Bluefin]

I don't think any professional team should be relying on a gimmick offense like that to win games.

I think any good offense should have gadget plays in its arsenal.

That doesn't mean you have to use them every week, but reverses, flea flickers and option plays can pay big dividends if called in the right spot and they force the opposition to spend practice time on something they might not even see.

Anything that was good enough for Tom Landry is good enough for me.

 

[jswalker1981]

I don't think any professional team should be relying on a gimmick offense like that to win games.

However, the most appealing thing about the wildcat is that a team that put in a very simple, easy package that they don't have to practice much. But an opposing defense has to spend quite a bit of time preparing for it and all of the options that can come out of it. That part I do like.

But I don't advocate drafting players to fit that kind of "scheme". You've got plenty of guys here who can do that aort of thing if you want to dabble in it. But the best way to win is still traditional.

Finally, someone I can agree with. It isn't like we are going to trade Romo to Tampa and just run the wildcat. When it's 4th and goal, down by 5, win to get in the playoffs, I don't think we'll see Stanback at QB. But it wouldn't be bad to run some during preseason, and then against weak teams like Oakland just to make sure other defenses have to scheme against it. Teams don't run the reverse because they think they'll score every time they run it, they use it so that the defense has to think about it. All I see the wildcat is a wrinkle that we can throw out there every few games. We have talent on the roster to run it, so why not throw a team a curveball.

 

[ddh33]

I think any good offense should have gadget plays in its arsenal.

That doesn't mean you have to use them every week, but reverses, flea flickers and option plays can pay big dividends if called in the right spot and they force the opposition to spend practice time on something they might not even see.

Anything that was good enough for Tom Landry is good enough for me.

In case I wasn't clear enough, I think those plays need to be in the playbook. And yes, I think the "wildcat" should be in there too.

But I don't think you should be relying on those plays to win the game. As the above poster said, it's just another look. It can't be your bread and butter. It can't take away from the things you have to do to win, it needs to be something you can accentuate those things with.

 

[Canadian BoyzFan]

No wildcat please. Want Romo on the field for every offensive snap and am requesting more 2TE and 2 RB sets during first and 2nd downs. Thank you!

Agreed. Defenses have seen this and studied it more. Come up with something new a different wrinkle. Please do NOT run the Wildcat.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Agreed. Defenses have seen this and studied it more. Come up with something new a different wrinkle. Please do NOT run the Wildcat.

well i think it should be run some in preseason, so teams at least have to be ready for it, & if is it somewhat successful, use it in a game or 2 during the season, dont depend on it, but always look for little gimicks to use

kinda like when landry installed the shotgun formation, he caught teams offguard

and i also think the center needs to work on his shotgun snaps and get that fixed to romo or whomever

 

[Vinnie2u]

Seems like were always behind the learning curve.... Multiple running backs, 3-4, cover safeties, Wild Cat... Landry use to be ahead of the game... Now we follow what seems to work...

 

[cowboyjoe]

Seems like were always behind the learning curve.... Multiple running backs, 3-4, cover safeties, Wild Cat... Landry use to be ahead of the game... Now we follow what seems to work...

you hit the nail on the head, great coaches come up with new schemes and leave their mark in the nfl

and it does seem like our coaches follow what works,

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I hope stanback gets got.