More Wildcat in 2011?

[Brian Fein]

This article from Ben Volin is a good read...

Add it all up – the new versatile players, the athletic lineman, the coordinator with history of using the formation – and it becomes clear that the Wildcat, or at least some sort of direct-snap offense, will be back in Miami in 2011.

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2011/05/09/all-signs-point-to-miami-dolphins-refreshing-not-retiring-the-wildcat-offense-in-2011/#more-14120

[CF DolFan]

If so I'm checking out. If I wanted to watch college football I'll do it on Saturdays. Hopefully that ship has sailed!

[jtex316]

Wow.

Haven't the Dolphins figured out yet that the Wildcat was nothing but hype and a fad? The reason it worked in 2008 was because no-one prepared for it or knew really what it was. The minute coaches started planning for its one-dimensional narrow approach, it got shut down big time.

Why do the Dolphins continue to try to squeeze the square peg into the round hole?

[Spider-Dan]

Haven't the Dolphins figured out yet that the Wildcat was nothing but hype and a fad? The reason it worked in 2008 was because no-one prepared for it or knew really what it was. The minute coaches started planning for its one-dimensional narrow approach, it got shut down big time.

From the article:

In 2009, particularly, the Browns began the season 1-11 but finished with four straight wins, partially because the team went heavy with the Wildcat formation. Cribbs ran the Wildcat 21 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns over the last four games, as the Browns knocked off the Steelers, Chiefs, Raiders and Jaguars to end the season.

Unless you're arguing that it took two full seasons (and exactly two full seasons) for the NFL to solve it, I'd say the stats do not support your assessment.

[Brian Fein]

Looking at the David Lee video in that article, there's no consideration for defense.  He illustrates the three variations of the wildcat offense, but all you need is a defense that "stays home" to beat it.  The counter relies on a fake and over-pursuing weak-side linebackers.  That doesn't work in the NFL.

I was hoping that Henning would take the Wildcat with him when he left.  I am not so confident after reading this...

[dolfan13]

i mean they have to do something... just lining henne up back there to take all the snaps next year isn't going to win you very many games. what with all of his 15 touchdown passes.

unless the defense scores like 20 touchdowns for them next year, they have to manufacture scores somehow.

[Sunstroke]

just lining henne up back there to take all the snaps next year isn't going to win you very many games. what with all of his 15 touchdown passes.

Could I get a link to the psychic statistics page you're going off of that says Henne is going to only throw 15 TDs this next season? Or are you just assuming that the stats a player puts up will be the exact same as the previous season?

[/end educational sarcasm]

[badger6]

IMO, in order to run the wildcat effectively on a consistent basis, you need the threat of the pass as well as someone who could run the ball. Henne ain't gonna do that. When you put Brown in and take Henne out, the D knows that the wildcat is coming and the chances of Brown throwing are slim. Especially with our lackluster receivers. With who we have now or had last year. Thigpen was the best option for the wildcat with his running ability, if of course we got some receivers and Thiggy got a bit more consistent on conventional plays.

[Spider-Dan]

Looking at the David Lee video in that article, there's no consideration for defense.  He illustrates the three variations of the wildcat offense, but all you need is a defense that "stays home" to beat it.

Notwithstanding the fact that neither of us are NFL coordinators, it seems to me that if you simply "stay home" you are looking at a straight concession of 4-5 yards if the Wildcat team has a quality OL (more if the RB can break tackles/make someone miss).

If the Wildcat was really that simple to stop, do you think Bill Belichick would have had 5 TDs dropped on him by it?  He could have come up with a solution (particularly that super-simple solution) on the sideline.

I feel like a pariah when I point out that when we had a good rushing team, the Wildcat worked well, and when we sucked at running the ball from any formation, amazingly the Wildcat also sucked.

[MikeO]

Some coaches just don't get it.

Sparano reminds me more and more of Rich Kotite everyday

[Sunstroke]

^^^ Ye gads, he invoked the name of Kotite... If that's not the "Kiss of Death," it's at least the "Reacharound of Doom."

On an AFC East coach-related note: Every time I see him, Rex Ryan reminds me more and more of Jackie Gleason. Not so much the late-career, brumpy Smokey and the Bandit Gleason (Buford T. Justice), but more the old Ralph Kramden "To the moon, Alice!" version from the Honeymooners.

[tubba marxxx]

IMO, in order to run the wildcat effectively on a consistent basis, you need the threat of the pass as well as someone who could run the ball. Henne ain't gonna do that. When you put Brown in and take Henne out, the D knows that the wildcat is coming and the chances of Brown throwing are slim. Especially with our lackluster receivers. With who we have now or had last year. Thigpen was the best option for the wildcat with his running ability, if of course we got some receivers and Thiggy got a bit more consistent on conventional plays.

1You're on the right track with this, but let throw some "spices" on this..yes, the threat of a pass is what made the wildcat so dangerous in 2008 (along with the fact that it wasn’t seen yet in the NFL, but just entertain the thought)..the difference is Henne was only in a handful of the wildcat packages, whereas Pennington was in on almost all of them, and Penny doesn’t exactly have the “scrambler” title in his game.  Not having the QB on the field is the downfall of the wildcat because, in the defense’s eyes, it’s 99% chance of a run.  I understand the wildcat usually results in a run regardless, but you have to account the QB on the filed, otherwise you’re setting yourself up for disaster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDfmsoN1O5M

16 seconds in (they used the same play last year..against the Texans..couldn’t find that video so I settled on this one)..point of the story, I have wet dreams of Henne to Gates on a play like this..Henne has the arm strength that Penny always lacked..a Henne/Pennington combo (Chad Henneton if you will), would be an ideal QB in this league (probably going to get heat for that comment, but if you really think about it..it’s the truth..but I disgress)

In conclusion, I agree that wildcat should be thrown out of the playbook, but lets be optimistic and hope for a revival of sorts, if in fact it is here to stay

[Dolphin-UK]

the difference is Henne was only in a handful of the wildcat packages, whereas Pennington was in on almost all of them, and Penny doesn’t exactly have the “scrambler” title in his game.  Not having the QB on the field is the downfall of the wildcat because, in the defense’s eyes, it’s 99% chance of a run. 

EXACTLY!

The original flavour of the Wildcat worked better because until the players were running to the line, the opposition still didn't know what was coming, when you drag the QB out it's obvious.

One word of caution, we ran the wildcat with RW and RB, two experienced running backs who had lots of time to rep. With one or both likely to be gone and reduced pre-season time, and a rookie RB the liklihood of it being repped is low IMHO.

[Phishfan]

^^^ That rookie RB is a former QB with Wildcat experience already though. I'd say we see it again.

[badger6]

1You're on the right track with this, but let throw some "spices" on this..yes, the threat of a pass is what made the wildcat so dangerous in 2008 (along with the fact that it wasn’t seen yet in the NFL, but just entertain the thought)..the difference is Henne was only in a handful of the wildcat packages, whereas Pennington was in on almost all of them, and Penny doesn’t exactly have the “scrambler” title in his game.  Not having the QB on the field is the downfall of the wildcat because, in the defense’s eyes, it’s 99% chance of a run.  I understand the wildcat usually results in a run regardless, but you have to account the QB on the filed, otherwise you’re setting yourself up for disaster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDfmsoN1O5M

16 seconds in (they used the same play last year..against the Texans..couldn’t find that video so I settled on this one)..point of the story, I have wet dreams of Henne to Gates on a play like this..Henne has the arm strength that Penny always lacked..a Henne/Pennington combo (Chad Henneton if you will), would be an ideal QB in this league (probably going to get heat for that comment, but if you really think about it..it’s the truth..but I disgress)

In conclusion, I agree that wildcat should be thrown out of the playbook, but lets be optimistic and hope for a revival of sorts, if in fact it is here to stay

I see what you are saying but Henne isn't a "scrambler" just like Pennington isn't a "scrambler". In order for the play to work, you need to have a real QB that can scramble and throw. That is why they drafted Pat White isn't it. The only thing we may have that will be able to do that is Thigpen (if we somehow retain him). As far as I'm concerned, they have to take Henne out for the wildcat package. He just isn't versatile enough. And if they are gonna take Henne out in the wildcat situation, Thigpen should be the one put in. He is was the only valid threat to run and pass on this team. If they plan on "more wildcat in 2011", they would be wise to retain him.