Wildcat Question?

[Chuck 54]

This has nothing to do with wins and losses or pissing and moaning:

Does anyone have any idea why we pull out the wildcat as sort of a gimmick play 1 play a game, sometimes twice, but almost never twice in a row?

The play works well, even when Gurode almost ties up Choice with an early snap, yet we run it one play and no matter who it goes, we go back to the regular set immediately.

Why have we never done anything from the Wildcat other than snap and run with Choice? No handback to Felix...no pass...no nothing.

For all the talk, I've been totally underwhelmed with our use of the wildcat...it's like we don't even try to do anything with it...very strange, imo.

 

[CF74]

Because Garrett is stuck in 1st gear but he's learning the importance of a clutch according to my sources..

 

[28 Joker]

I don't get it, either. You would think they would throw it or give it off to Felix some.

Maybe, they are holding it for the playoffs.

Better play your cards now.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Just say no to the wildcat, it's played out.

 

[utrunner07]

I could have sworn we ran it 3 times in a row against NY.

 

[Word Mofo]

When you see the "Razorback" you know it's going to be a dive left.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

We tried one of those plays early in the year where the wingback (Felix) goes in motion so Choice can hand it off to him or fake it, but we had a false start on the play.

 

[jubal]

I don't care what you call it ,but we need something that the fans in the stands can,t call because it's been used to death.
I'm with whoever said now is past time for some new looks and plays. The players are smart enough to pick them up in the few games left.Maybe Tony can draw them up something in the dirt while in the huddle. What happened to the no huddle ,to keep the other team from putting in package players,or fresh meat. I get so frustrated with him directing players to position,letting time run down with no urgency at all.

 

[Chuck 54]

My point was that the wildcat has been successful despite running only one play from it...one of my questions was why we don't use it more often in a game and force the other team to stop it. Then comes wondering why we've never handed it off to Felix.

 

[7footer]

I'mn not a huge fan...But in situations where the other team knows you are running it anyway (like the goaline stand against SD), why not use it then?

In my opinion, the biggest advantage of the Wildcat is the time you save handing off the ball, which could be very useful in short yardage or goaline situations. I would've liked to see Tashard get a shot at getting in the endzone at least once, if Barber already failed.

 

[BAZ]

I don't see the point in adding this wrinkle when they seem to lack executing the basics well. There must be simpler ways to split the carries.

 

[Hoofbite]

Wildcat Answer:

Its a joke. At least Dallas' version of it is. After all the hush-hush about it, the team has gotten a play or two all season?

Color me unimpressed. They never throw from it, although I think they will try in very near future and it just doesn't do anything for the rest of the game plan.

Its almost like the team believes that the formation itself will produce mass confusion and they will catch some team by surprise. It doesn't and it won't.

I suppose it might help if Choice was actually given playing time on 1st or 2nd down outside of the Wildcat. Defensive coordinators probably laugh when Choice comes onto the field before 3rd down because they know its probably gonna be the Wildcat.

If you're gonna run it, at least run it right. Give Choice an entire series and sneak it in there. Have Romo line up under center and then motion him out. Mix in some no-huddle so the defense can't substitute. Actually put some effort into this formation.

Watching it as is sucks. Garrett tried to sneak it in on Sunday when Dallas was ramming the running game down SDs throats. Just gotta ask youself why anyone would do that. The running game was abusing the SD defense and here comes Choice to take the direct snap dive.

Its been a huge waste of time. Dallas should have spent all the Wildcat time in training camp on learning how to run a screen.

 

[dreghorn2]

LOL, tough to disagree with any of the above.

 

[Gaede]

hahahaha it really is interesting how it's being used. it's almost like it's just to give Garrett a breather while he dials up another shotgun play

the one reason I like it though is because Choice finally gets to do something. that man needs the ball more. I'll give Garrett a little break on some stuff--nobody's perfect and he's really inexperienced--but one of my biggest issues with him is the way Choice is totally ignored in the offense. He's fresh, hungry, produces and most of all, unlike the other robots on the team, actually seems to LOVE football. Maybe a little emotion couldn't hurt? Look what Austin does for this team. I feel Choice could have the same effect.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't see why it's a joke, like some say. I was against it and thought the talk in the offseaon about it was purely to make other teams waste time preparing for it, but after seeing it I have to say I was wrong. We do run it pretty well and have had some of most successful running plays out of it.

And for the record, the long run Choice had against the Raiders was a different play than the others he'd run to the left where Bigg pulls around.

And again, it's not a gimmick. It's actually the opposite -- it's pure power football. When you don't have a QB wasted handing the ball off and doing nothing else, you add one more blocker to the play. So now you have the same number of blockers as you do defenders, which normally is not the case. So the Wildcat takes away a huge advantage the defense normally has.

I now like it and wish we'd do it more.

 

[Alexander]

I don't get it, either. You would think they would throw it or give it off to Felix some.

Maybe, they are holding it for the playoffs.

Better play your cards now.

That's my only hope that we have been holding back.

Probably wishful thinking however.

 

[SharutoX]

I don't see why it's a joke, like some say. I was against it and thought the talk in the offseaon about it was purely to make other teams waste time preparing for it, but after seeing it I have to say I was wrong. We do run it pretty well and have had some of most successful running plays out of it.

And for the record, the long run Choice had against the Raiders was a different play than the others he'd run to the left where Bigg pulls around.

And again, it's not a gimmick. It's actually the opposite -- it's pure power football. When you don't have a QB wasted handing the ball off and doing nothing else, you add one more blocker to the play. So now you have the same number of blockers as you do defenders, which normally is not the case. So the Wildcat takes away a huge advantage the defense normally has.

I now like it and wish we'd do it more.

I would like it more too but we always run the same ****ing play in wildcat with choice just going up the middle. I would like to see Crayton in the wildcat just so we give the defense that feeling that he might throw. He can also just run it himself or hand off

 

[Alexander]

My point was that the wildcat has been successful despite running only one play from it...one of my questions was why we don't use it more often in a game and force the other team to stop it. Then comes wondering why we've never handed it off to Felix.

It is still a gimmick for the most part.

You have to pick and choose your spots to run it unless you have a phenom at the point. Arkansas wouldn't have been as successful running it if they did not have Darren McFadden. The same goes for Miami with Ronnie Brown.

I like Choice, but I don't think he's that special running it.

There is a reason why teams don't keep running it, there is a reason why Miami has gotten away from it after Brown was injured. There is a reason why Andy Reid doesn't tinker with it more. It is limited, like any other gadget.

 

[Doomsday101]

It is still a gimmick for the most part.

You have to pick and choose your spots to run it unless you have a phenom at the point. Arkansas wouldn't have been as successful running it if they did not have Darren McFadden. The same goes for Miami with Ronnie Brown.

I like Choice, but I don't think he's that special running it.

There is a reason why teams don't keep running it, there is a reason why Miami has gotten away from it after Brown was injured. There is a reason why Andy Reid doesn't tinker with it more. It is limited, like any other gadget.

It can be then again the Chargers ran a wild cat in the Cowboys game where the back got the ball off the snap handed off to a man coming around then pitched it back to Rivers. I agree it is a gimmick as is the reverse or the flee Flicker, it is a play where you have some options off of it. I have no problem giving teams a different look and it has worked at times for us.

 

[Alexander]

It can be then again the Chargers ran a wild cat in the Cowboys game where the back got the ball off the snap handed off to a man coming around then pitched it back to Rivers. I agree it is a gimmick as is the reverse or the flee Flicker, it is a play where you have some options off of it. I have no problem giving teams a different look and it has worked at times for us.

I am not really arguing against gimmicks and gadgets.

I'd love to get a cheap touchdown here and there like that. Those are a lot like a special teams play or a turnover returned for a touchdown. Very demoralizing to the opponent.

We had the benefit of a few of these plays this year (both Crayton punt returns), but we haven't had nearly enough. We are going to need plays like this to win over the next few weeks. I don't know if we will get them though. I can't remember the last INT we had for a TD (Jenkins last year?), let alone a fumble return.

Even though we've had a lot of "big plays" offensively, most of those were not the result of trickery. I am a fan of them because of the Landry Cowboys. You could always count on one or two a game. They didn't always work, but it gave defensive coordinators something else to worry about.