WildCat Offense

[Lunchbox420]

After the Jets got burned repeatedly by the Dolphins flawless execution of this explosive offense what is your take on it?

Is it an innovative scheme ala the 46 Defense Buddy Ryan championed with the Bears or is it just bullshit HS trick play nonsense that doesnt belong in the NFL?

[Stormrider666]

I think until a team wins the Super Bowl using the wildcat offense, I still think its a fad. That being said, it is fun to watch and does have a place in the NFL.

Speaking of the Dolphins, I was a little worried that they were playing on MNF. But after last night, especially with Henne as the quarterback, they should be fun to watch.

[askewcore]

Some teams use it as a gimmick play, a la the flea flicker, but when you use it like the Dolphins, it's an effective NFL formation. No matter how you slice it, you can't argue with an average of 10 yards a play. If any coach could get that production from a standard running game, they'd leak precum all over themselves.

The flea flicker is a gimmick play.
The WR Reverse pass is a gimmick play.
The Hook and Ladder is a gimmick play.

That's why no one does them consistently, because they're high risk, high reward type plays. The Wildcat works because you're putting the ball in the hands of your best playmaker/ball carrier and letting him use his natural instincts and vision to get down the field. The Jets are a good, smart, well coached defense and they got embarrassed by the wildcat last night.

[Stormrider666]

Some teams use it as a gimmick play, a la the flea flicker, but when you use it like the Dolphins, it's an effective NFL formation. No matter how you slice it, you can't argue with an average of 10 yards a play. If any coach could get that production from a standard running game, they'd leak precum all over themselves.

The flea flicker is a gimmick play.
The WR Reverse pass is a gimmick play.
The Hook and Ladder is a gimmick play.

That's why no one does them consistently, because they're high risk, high reward type plays. The Wildcat works because you're putting the ball in the hands of your best playmaker/ball carrier and letting him use his natural instincts and vision to get down the field. The Jets are a good, smart, well coached defense and they got embarrassed by the wildcat last night.

I will say this, I thought for sure that since a Rex Ryan defense stopped the wildcat twice last year, the Dolphins would have had a hard time running it last night. But they made the adjustments and were able to shup up the Jets defense for a week.

[tysonpunchinguterus]

I've heard that argument from some Jets fans. "It won't work in their 2nd meeting because Rex Ryan is a defensive genius and Baltimore stopped it twice last year with him as Defensive Coordinator." When the Jets have Ray Lewis and Ed Reed on their defense, I'll accept that argument.

Of course it belongs in the NFL. Miami won their division using it last year. If it doesn't belong in the NFL, then neither do the Patriots, Jets, and Bills because they all lost the division race to a team that uses it.

I will say this, I thought for sure that since a Rex Ryan defense stopped the wildcat twice last year, the Dolphins would have had a hard time running it last night. But they made the adjustments and were able to shup up the Jets defense for a week.

[TreeFortRichard]

you have to figure that the Eagles will start working on this with Vick...

[askewcore]

you have to figure that the Eagles will start working on this with Vick...

They already have.

With Vick, Westbrook, Maclin and Jackson the Eagles could be a dangerous team in the Wildcat.

[Bud8Weiser]

They already have.

With Vick, Westbrook, Maclin and Jackson the Eagles could be a dangerous team in the Wildcat.

I thought the same thing but so far it looks to be a dud when they've used it. Vick looks lost and the plays take too long to develop. I think its a fad.

[Ballbuster1]

The Birds didn't get much out of it. Personally, I'd rather see them concentrate on
getting the ball out to their receivers more and try and use their running back combo
to improve the ground game over worrying about a few gimmick plays.

[Stormrider666]

The Birds didn't get much out of it. Personally, I'd rather see them concentrate on
getting the ball out to their receivers more and try and use their running back combo
to improve the ground game over worrying about a few gimmick plays.

Hey they have to find some way to justify paying the guy 1.4 million dollars. But from what I have seen, the Eagles doing it does look like a waste of time.

I think the continued success of the wildcat as a whole in the NFL will depend on two things:

1. Having the personal on the field to run it. Given other needs on a football team, I wonder if teams are going to go out their way to draft and sign players for the wildcat.

2. The attitude and stature of the quarterback. If you have a franchise quarterback, do you really want to take him off the field for a few plays. I can think of a few teams (Colts, Giants, Pats and Steelers) that haven't used the wildcat yet. Quite frankly, I don't think they ever will either.

[FMDoug]

It only works in miami because they have two of the best running backs in the nfl. I believe the key to the wildcat is breaking tackles. Ricky williams, although insane, is dangerous anytime he has the ball and Brown is a ton to bring down. These guys can run through anyone. I would like to know how many yards these guys gained after the first hit last night. I bet it is a huge number. Players like Mcnabb, vick, etc are a throwing threat but they will rarely stay up if a lineman/backer hits them.

[Absolutely]

It only works in miami because they have two of the best running backs in the nfl.

And like all the pundits have been saying, the Dolphins take the Wild Cat seriously.

They practice it, and know they're going to be relying heavily on it. Whereas other teams use it as a cute little play here and there, and don't have the right personnel or experience/practice doing it.

[weakside]

And like all the pundits have been saying, the Dolphins take the Wild Cat seriously.

They practice it, and know they're going to be relying heavily on it. Whereas other teams use it as a cute little play here and there, and don't have the right personnel or experience/practice doing it.



This.

I think it will be around for a while but will eventually be used about as much as a reverse or flea flicker. In other words, it will be used for a trick play or two.

[Chino Kapone]

The NFL is a copy cat league. If it has pretty good success, like Miami makes it to the playoffs AGAIN, then you will see other teams begin to use it. They will start grabbing coaches from college and it may be here to stay. Miami really showed how potent it can be.

[Wilmington WOW]

The wildcat is a gimmick. Vick and the Eagles have not been able to do anything with it.
The rest of the game was great except when Vick came in.

[pink soccer]

The wildcat is a gimmick. Vick and the Eagles have not been able to do anything with it.
The rest of the game was great except when Vick came in.

So its a gimmick if the eagles cant do it?

Its like the 46, if you have the right players on the field its great. If not then you will fail

[askewcore]

The wildcat is a gimmick. Vick and the Eagles have not been able to do anything with it.
The rest of the game was great except when Vick came in.

Because Michael Vick sucks and is a publicity stunt. They'd be better off with Westbrook/Maclin or Jackson taking the snap. All three would probably make better reads than Stupid.

Vick is a gimmick, not the Wildcat.

Its like the 46, if you have the right players on the field its great. If not then you will fail

EXACTLY. The '85 Bears were dominant in the 46, but has it ever won a Super Bowl since?

[Chino Kapone]

Vick is a gimmick, not the Wildcat.




So is 'gimmick' the new word for ****** around here? "whaa"

[askewcore]

So is 'gimmick' the new word for ****** around here? "whaa"

It is now, Chino. It is now.


You new sig gif is hypnotic. And I love it.

[DonTheTrucker]

So its a gimmick if the eagles cant do it?


Eagles fans are idiots. Some more than others, of course.

The '85 Bears were dominant in the 46, but has it ever won a Super Bowl since?

Every fad in the NFL passes with time. Run and shoot/no huddle offenses, the 46, and yes the Wildcat, are fads. Coaches will figure out how to defend them and they'll go back to being nothing. Twenty years later, they'll pop up again. The way you win in the NFL is with the right personnel. You could be running the local high school's playbook, and if Payton Manning is your QB you'll have a good chance of winning.

[Ballbuster1]

Eagles fans are idiots. Some more than others, of course.

People that voted for George Bush are idiots.

Nothing wrong with a sweeping generalization is there Don?

It may work for some teams and not others. Teams that use it will end
up having to deal with better defenses designed to kill it as it gets used more.

It still comes down to what Don said: you need the right personnel to win.

[DonTheTrucker]

People that voted for George Bush are idiots.

Nothing wrong with a sweeping generalization is there Don?

You missed the "some more than others" part. ;)

[bb1mobile]

You missed the "some more than others" part. ;)

Did I?

"Some more than others" just implies some are bigger idiots than
others but they are all still idiots. I'm old but I don't miss much.

[DonTheTrucker]

Did I?

"Some more than others" just implies some are bigger idiots than
others but they are all still idiots. I'm old but I don't miss much.

Oh, don't mind me. Just frustrated that the CBS stations around here would rather play infomercials than an AFC game for a team that's 60 miles away. Or that the stores have more Jay Cutler jerseys than Flacco.

[mr. sin]

gimmick ---> socialist ---> obama!

love that! new tag for dem teef chompers

[Wilmington WOW]

Eagles fans are idiots. Some more than others, of course.





fuck you truck driver

It is a fad, that defenses will figure out.
It will go the way of the bell bottoms.

[DonTheTrucker]

It is a fad, that defenses will figure out.
It will go the way of the bell bottoms.

This part I agree with. All offensive systems are fads.