Thursday, January 21, 2010
Is it time to retire the wildcat?
1:52 PM | Posted by
Phins 2 Phins
This is another topic which is subject to great debate amongst us fans. We all know how effective it was when it was first introduced in the 2008 season, but, how effective will it continue to be from here on out and should we base some or any of our draft choices on this one play alone?
Back in 2008, Miami first used the wildcat week 3 in a game against the New England Patriots. During this game this scheme was used 6 times and resulted in 4 touchdowns. The Patriots couldn’t stop us and oh how good it felt to beat the Patriots 38-13 in Foxboro after starting the season with a 0-2 record. We were all sold!
During the 2008 season the Dolphins used the wildcat a total of 88 times for 579 yards averaging about 6.58 yards per play, but most importantly, the wildcat led us to win games. Other teams around the NFL started to adopt the wildcat as well but none of them were as successful as the Dolphins were.
The success of the wildcat certainly came not only from our ability to run it with the players that we had, but also because other teams just didn’t know how to stop it; they either couldn’t or weren’t well enough prepared to. But when we made it to the playoffs the Ravens defense stopped the wildcat cold by allowing only 7 yards to be gained out of the formation the two times it was used. We were dealt a crushing 27-9 loss and out playoff dreams were done.
During the first 6 games of the last season the wildcat was used 59 times for a total gain of 351 yards (5.95 yards per carry) and accounted for approximately 34.34% of all our rushing yards in those games. The next 5 games the wildcat was used 31 times for a total gain of 56 yards (1.81 yards per carry) and accounted for approximately 8.40% of all our rushing yards in those games. This decline wasn’t due to Ronnie Brown injury since he actually played in 3 of those 5 games.
The next couple of games the wildcat failed to make an appearance altogether. Still we managed to average 136.6 yards per game compared to the 153.55 we had averaged in the first eleven when Brown and the wildcat where in full use.
In looking at those stats it's easy to see that the success of the wildcat has diminished and will probably continue to diminish, especially when used against divisional opponents who have had a chance to prepare and encounter it several times by now.
Does that mean that we should stop using it altogether then? No! The wildcat should definitely continue to be a weapon for the offense; it just shouldn’t be the main weapon. If used occasionally the wildcat will continue to be an effective scheme when trying to throw off an offense who has been successful at stopping the pass or when used as an offensive weapon while we are in the endzone. Keeping the wildcat in our playbook will force other teams to spend hours studying film to be prepared to stop it when it comes and it will leave them with less time to prepare for the rest of our offensive plan which should be a lot different next season and should incorporate more passing since we have the weapons to do that now and other running schemes which we have also proved we have the tools to run.
Finally, considering that we already have the personnel that can run the wildcat effectively I don’t believe any part of the draft should focus on building up solely for this aspect; we have too many issues in other areas that need to be addressed during the draft. We drafted Pat White last season solely for this purpose and we all saw how great the wildpat turned out to be.
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Back in 2008, Miami first used the wildcat week 3 in a game against the New England Patriots. During this game this scheme was used 6 times and resulted in 4 touchdowns. The Patriots couldn’t stop us and oh how good it felt to beat the Patriots 38-13 in Foxboro after starting the season with a 0-2 record. We were all sold!
During the 2008 season the Dolphins used the wildcat a total of 88 times for 579 yards averaging about 6.58 yards per play, but most importantly, the wildcat led us to win games. Other teams around the NFL started to adopt the wildcat as well but none of them were as successful as the Dolphins were.
The success of the wildcat certainly came not only from our ability to run it with the players that we had, but also because other teams just didn’t know how to stop it; they either couldn’t or weren’t well enough prepared to. But when we made it to the playoffs the Ravens defense stopped the wildcat cold by allowing only 7 yards to be gained out of the formation the two times it was used. We were dealt a crushing 27-9 loss and out playoff dreams were done.
During the first 6 games of the last season the wildcat was used 59 times for a total gain of 351 yards (5.95 yards per carry) and accounted for approximately 34.34% of all our rushing yards in those games. The next 5 games the wildcat was used 31 times for a total gain of 56 yards (1.81 yards per carry) and accounted for approximately 8.40% of all our rushing yards in those games. This decline wasn’t due to Ronnie Brown injury since he actually played in 3 of those 5 games.
The next couple of games the wildcat failed to make an appearance altogether. Still we managed to average 136.6 yards per game compared to the 153.55 we had averaged in the first eleven when Brown and the wildcat where in full use.
In looking at those stats it's easy to see that the success of the wildcat has diminished and will probably continue to diminish, especially when used against divisional opponents who have had a chance to prepare and encounter it several times by now.
Does that mean that we should stop using it altogether then? No! The wildcat should definitely continue to be a weapon for the offense; it just shouldn’t be the main weapon. If used occasionally the wildcat will continue to be an effective scheme when trying to throw off an offense who has been successful at stopping the pass or when used as an offensive weapon while we are in the endzone. Keeping the wildcat in our playbook will force other teams to spend hours studying film to be prepared to stop it when it comes and it will leave them with less time to prepare for the rest of our offensive plan which should be a lot different next season and should incorporate more passing since we have the weapons to do that now and other running schemes which we have also proved we have the tools to run.
Finally, considering that we already have the personnel that can run the wildcat effectively I don’t believe any part of the draft should focus on building up solely for this aspect; we have too many issues in other areas that need to be addressed during the draft. We drafted Pat White last season solely for this purpose and we all saw how great the wildpat turned out to be.
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUYS PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT THIS SITE http://www.nfl-monster.com/#Candidate-Miami-Dolphin AND VOTE FOR RALPH WHO IS REPRESENTING THE DOLPHINS!!! HE NEEDS YOUR HELP TO STAY IN THE LEAD.
ALSO CHECK OUT DOLFANS UNITED ON FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/DOLFANUNITED
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5 comments:
Hey Carolina! Thanks for the Support!! great writing! I agree we should keep it around, it's effective, & helps the running game! Gives our opponents more to prepare for! Thanks again!
PLEASE GO & VOTE UNTIL THE SUPER BOWL EVERYDAY!! You could WIN the trip to the Super Bowl!!
well i maybe one who says it's time to hang the wildcat up just like you said teams are ready for it and they know how to stop it .time to build the conventional offense and open it up some and don't be so conservative.get more 3 wide out sets more motion that will keep defenses on there toes to.i liked the wildcat it was fun all the way up to the end of the 2008 season and half of this season but at the end of this season when they lined up in the wildcat you just went (what are they doing that is'nt going to work)then boom a 3 yard lose then a incomplet pass or just short of the first down then punt its time to move on
With Ronnie Brown at the helm, the wildcat should always be some kind of a scheme. He is the wildcat. Again, I agree about not drafting for that scheme. Pat White was a flop. Zero completions and like 3 yards a carry, and we all saw his size get challenged when he got knocked out. However, if we get a deep threat...(hint: boldin) think about what lies in front of us...A deep threat will open up both the Wildcat and Running game and we will be one of the hardest offenses to stop.
And the wildcat did have some very successful games this year. If I recall right, ronnie tore up the Jets on primetime...and that was against a divisional opponent. It will continue to work just fine, but when we match up against a team that stops it better, than we just need to quickly convert to a more conventional approach.
PS Great writing. I enjoy the blogs. Maybe you should write a article about the dolphins falling behind huge early, and waiting until late in the fourth quarter for a huge aggressive push. Every game, I knew they were still in it...but I also knew it was just too late.
Ya if Ronnie comes back we can keep the wildcat because no one does it better then he does! Having said that, Im not sold on White being a flop. Yes he didnt do much this season but remember he was a rookie. He isnt a starter but I still believe he has some potential in the wildcat. With another off season Im sure White will get better. With Ronnie running it and a change of pace at times with White in the Wildcat, it has a good future. I also dont think it hurts Henne. Its like another time out for him to talk with his coaches and look at coverages. Ya Qbs need to be in a rythm but taking him out for one play is fine its not going to hurt! Thank you for another great blog and if you keep writing them Ill keep reading them!
The wildcat, from time to time, confuses & occupies the brain with confusion for dbacks & lbackers and potentially opens up other plays that exploit the defense. 1 downblock, missed assignment or momentary lapse, and the runner/passer may have a wide open lane; hence, great gain. 2009, many were still learning, Pat White is a disappointment but maybe he'll get better, arm tackle brings him down...and I hope he is in perfect condition after getting his bell rung....Pennington, I wonder the future...
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