I’m a big fan of strategic game-planning. I believe that teams who have a few tricks up their sleeve and a few matchups that they can exploit have an edge over their competition. It’s part of the reason that the Patriots have been so successful over the years and the Eagles defenses have been so effective despite not having dominant players. Another example would be the Steelers offensive penchant for coming up with big plays at the right times, and generating turnovers through the zone blitz.
I’ve heard a lot of debate lately about whether or not the Wildcat offense can still have an impact on the NFL. While I agree that it is gimmicky, I believe it can be prominently involved in the playbook for a lot of teams.
To be fair, the Wildcat is not a base offense. Teams shouldn’t be lining up with a RB taking direct snaps on every play. What it should be used for is a change of pace and a way to catch defenses off guard.
Most of the Wildcat’s detractors will point out that defenses have had an entire offseason to watch film and will now be able to stop it. Well they have every offseason to gameplan for play-action passes but they still get beat deep when a safety bites on the fake.
The Wildcat wasn’t unstoppable last year, it just got defenses to hesitate a little. That’s really what all offenses (and blitzing defenses) are trying to create, a bit of hesitation and confusion as to what’s coming next. How many teams have we seen create big plays out of half-back option passes or end-around passes in the last 5 years? Sure, they’re not plays that you build your entire offense around, but they’re worth using to surprise the defense. The wide receiver screen is another great example. A few years ago, sportscasters thought it was a college football gimmick play, but it’s proven to be very useful against defenses that give big cushions to receivers.
Just like any other set of offensive plays, the Wildcat needs to be used properly to have a positive effect on games. Below are the Sports Opinionated Rules for Offensive Off-Balance Plays (OBPs) to be effective.
OBP Rule #1 – Don’t Tip Your Hand with Special Substitutions
If the Dolphins bring in Pat White for every Wildcat set this year, it will fail miserably, because the defense will know what’s coming. As soon as they see Pat White sent onto the field, they’ll know to get ready for a Wildcat-style set. The confusion was created last year when the Dolphins broke the huddle and then the defense realized that Pennington was split out wide.
Rule 1b is that whatever personnel grouping is used to run an OBP, should also be used to run other plays, to ensure the defense can’t guess what’s coming. If the Dolphins need both Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown to be on the field for the Wildcat, why not trot them both onto the field for use in a shotgun formation with a RB on either side of Pennington? If the defense sent out a package of players geared to stopping the run, wouldn’t this catch them off guard and leave a bulky linebacker to cover Ronnie Brown in space? This is why I should be the Raiders offensive coordinator, I have to be smarter than anyone they pulled out of Bed & Breakfast Management classes.
OBP Rule #2 – Don’t overuse your “surprise”
OBPs are most effective when the defense only sees them 5-6 plays per game. The Wildcat could possibly be used 9-10 plays if there are enough variants from the original 2 or 3 options. Plays like end-around passes can only be used once every 3 or 4 games, not all the time. If an OBP is over-used, it ceases to be a surprise and obviously no longer keeps a defense “off balance”.
OBP Rule #3 – Create new variations that look like old variations
The key to keeping OBPs successful over the whole season or multiple seasons is to make the defense believe they’ve seen this before. A perfect example is the Patriots use of the fake TE screen to one side and then throwing a RB screen to the other side. They started this practice a few seasons ago. The Pats had become so screen-dependent that defenses were expecting it, so they faked the screen. Not only did it open up the RB screen off the fake, but later on, it made the TE screen viable again. The variation I’m waiting to see this year is for a team to fake the wide receiver screen and then have that same WR go deep on the double move. Not only will it catch an aggressive CB biting on the quick throw, but it could create space for the WR Screen again later in the game.
OBP Rule #4 – If the formation contains the surprise, snap the ball quickly
For plays like the flea flicker and double screens, the formation the offense lines up in doesn’t usually tip off the defense. In the case of the Wildcat, once the defense realizes that Ronnie Brown is behind center, they have an idea of what to expect. In these cases, a quick snap count gives the defense less time to realize what’s going on and adjust. I know it seems simple, but I saw a few times last year where teams would survey the defense for too long and give the defensive leaders time to bark out orders to the rest of the squad.
So, since I think the Wildcat and other OBPs have a bright future in the NFL, I suppose you’d like to know what I think is coming next? For starters, I think there are a number of teams that could incorporate more OBPs into their offenses this year.
Atlanta Falcons – with Jerious Norwood on the team, a slight hesitation by the defense could mean a long touchdown. I could see the Falcons using he and Michael Turner in a Wildcat-type set a few times per game. Don’t forget that offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey used Antwaan Randle El in an OBP role when he was in Pittsburgh.
Cleveland Browns – The Man-genius used Brad Smith under center a few times last year, but teams saw it coming. Why not try Josh Cribbs? If he’s the team’s legit 3rd or 4th WR, he will be on the field fairly often, so having him line up in the shotgun with Jerome Harrison at his side on a 3rd and 4 will definitely catch the offense off guard. He’s also a former QB, so the pass option is available. He’s the ideal Wildcat “QB” in my opinion.
Tennessee Titans – Isn’t this the ideal way to ensure Vince Young gets playing time and is a contributing member of the offense? I’m not saying they should run the Wildcat as Miami did, but why not a version of the spread offense? If Vince lined up in the shotgun with Chris Johnson at his side and the defense spread out with 4 WR’s, he could wreak havoc. They could run the zone-read he used at Texas and still have pass-run options for him attacking one side of the defense at a time. All they would have to do is send this package in once per half and go no-huddle to tire out the defense. If the defense looks adept at stopping it, switch back to a power running game with LenDale White. It’s not like the Titans offense is so prolific that they’d lose their “rhythm”.
I’m sure many other teams will run a few snaps in the Wildcat just to see how it pans out, but in my mind, these are the teams with the best chance to take it to another level.
With athletes getting more and more versatile, and more college programs using run-pass options for their QBs, I could see the spread being the next dominant OBP, much like the Wildcat was used by Miami this year.
No related posts.
The wildcat is dead.
4 plays – 3 yards
Although I agree with your premise about OBP's being successful. Maybe we'll start to see more of the option that is successful in college?
The Pat White thing is interesting. He is a great athlete who can throw the ball. They say he might even lineup in as a WR in a spread offense, just to get him on the field.
I think he will tried to be used as whatever will get the ball in his hands…similar to Percy Harvin in Minneapolis. Word is Childress might even line up Harvin as a running back. Both Harvin and White can juke and although they might not break many tackles, they have breakaway speed.