kremenull
Footballguy
I believe there will be quite a few teams that will incorporate the "Wildcat" formation in their offensive attack in the upcoming '09 season. I don't think this can be brushed off as simply being a "one-hit wonder" so to speak (w/regards to the Dolphins big game vs N.E. last season). The following is a projected list of teams who I believe will incorporate the wildcat into their attack.....some more heavily than others, and I'll rank them accordingly. Of course, I do not expect a team will utilize this pkg more than 6-8 plays per game on avg, but hey, ya just never know the actual number till we see it play out as I would not be surprised to see some of the more versatile (i.e., dangerous) teams use it up to 10 times in a given game.
MOST HEAVILY INCORPORATED + MOST DANGEROUS
1. Miami - They already have the coach on staff who was instrumental in deriving the Wildcat package at Arkansas in the McFadden/Jones heyday, David Lee, and the addition of Pat White will only enhance their ability to stretch defenses who have to fully respect the pass option of their wildcat pkg. Don't be surprised to see several big plays from them out of this pkg this season as well as a regular dose of plays each week.
2. Minnesota - The addition of Harvin no doubt had HC Childress envisioning implementation of this pkg, among other spread-type looks. But here is another twist to the formation, with the addition of Brett Favre, this will allow Tarvis Jackson to come in on special pkgs like the Wildcat and be the trigger man ala Pat White, thus strengthening the pass option of the formation for them as well. Envision Tarvis in shotgun, "All-Day" to the left of him, Harvin to his right, Shiancoe in motion, Rice or Berrian out wide (the open spot is for the extra o-lineman or TE for blocking purposes). But you can bet your bottom dollar that Harvin will also see some snaps as the trigger man in this pkg.
3. Tennessee - What to do with Vince Young? Put him in the Wildcat pkg for a few times a game. With their passing game not the most effective or dangerous, this pkg would open up some options to them for more big plays. Vince will feel as if he's part of the team's success, and also, he just might regain his confidence along the way. Other possible trigger men for the Titans could include CJ3 or Nate Washington, but I'd question their passing ability.
VERY INTRIGUING POSSIBILITIES
4. Oakland - Let's see....McFadden already has enjoyed huge success running the formation in college and is a reliable/trusted trigger man with the ability to read which run to utilize. And he can throw! Michael Bush was a H.S. QB and started his college career as a QB, is left-handed thus can run/throw on opposite rollouts in comparison to McFadden......lots of speedy, explosive (yet raw, to be fair) targets all around (Higgins, Schilens, DHB, Murphy)......So I ask, why so late to the Wildcat Party, Raiders? Could easily be amongst the most successful and most dangerous to defend in this formation. And don't discount the Raiders ringing the phone of a certain QB who was recently released from "breaking rocks" in Leavenworth......
5. Seattle - Yes, Seattle. Why? Seneca Wallace. The forgotten (and overlooked) figures in the Wildcat discussion/hype are the backup QBs. These guys can come in the game as they are already on the active roster on game days and often sit on the sidelines without breaking a sweat.....but with Pat White being singled out by the Dolphins, some teams will realize that they too have a usable option on board to execute the formation.
6. Philadelphia - They already showed a preview of this last year with DeSean as the trigger. What better way to get Westbrook, McCoy, DeSean, Maclin, and possibly Booker all on the field at once......Just take out McNabb and put in these guys along with 6-7 o-linemen and WATCH OUT! Just as long as one of these guys can throw pretty well, they could actually have a very dangerous pkg......
7. San Francisco - Michael Robinson was a QB at Penn St., and has the size/speed to initiate and/or take a blow (contact) in the running game. Also, Battle started out as a QB at Notre Dame and has a very strong arm from what I've seen in the past. For the 49ers, this would be another way to get playmakers on the field and in space - Robinson/Battle as the trigger, Gore to his side, Crabtree and/or Morgan out wide, VD lined up at TE to run block or release.......
COULD EXPERIMENT A BIT WITH SOME (HOPEFUL) SUCCESS
8. Washington - Randle-El as the trigger man....
9. Pittsburgh - Hines Ward or even Santonio as their trigger...Mewelde as a RB/WR option
10. Dallas - Stanback, another former college QB, Crayton, Choice, or rookie QB McGee as possible triggers.....but Felix would be their key guy to get the ball to in space.
11. Chicago - Maybe Wolfe as the trigger, Hester is the key player for them and could be deployed in the Wildcat pkg in a variety of roles: in the backfield, in motion, split wide, or even as the trigger........doubt the Bears are creative or gutsy enough to try it though, even on a pretty limited basis.....But hey, we'll see....I certainly would do it.
12. The team that signs Matt Jones
Well, I'm sure there are plenty more if I thought a little more about it.......maybe you all have some potential candidates. One thing that I do have a strong feeling about though is that the Wildcat and/or Spread type attacks will be on the rise in the coming years, and sure it might just be a fad for the NFL ala the Run N Shoot, but just look at how many of the college teams are running these spread attacks and their top players, as several very talented QBs on the horizon like Tebow and Pryor could also be factors at the pro level in these pkgs.....
MOST HEAVILY INCORPORATED + MOST DANGEROUS
1. Miami - They already have the coach on staff who was instrumental in deriving the Wildcat package at Arkansas in the McFadden/Jones heyday, David Lee, and the addition of Pat White will only enhance their ability to stretch defenses who have to fully respect the pass option of their wildcat pkg. Don't be surprised to see several big plays from them out of this pkg this season as well as a regular dose of plays each week.
2. Minnesota - The addition of Harvin no doubt had HC Childress envisioning implementation of this pkg, among other spread-type looks. But here is another twist to the formation, with the addition of Brett Favre, this will allow Tarvis Jackson to come in on special pkgs like the Wildcat and be the trigger man ala Pat White, thus strengthening the pass option of the formation for them as well. Envision Tarvis in shotgun, "All-Day" to the left of him, Harvin to his right, Shiancoe in motion, Rice or Berrian out wide (the open spot is for the extra o-lineman or TE for blocking purposes). But you can bet your bottom dollar that Harvin will also see some snaps as the trigger man in this pkg.
3. Tennessee - What to do with Vince Young? Put him in the Wildcat pkg for a few times a game. With their passing game not the most effective or dangerous, this pkg would open up some options to them for more big plays. Vince will feel as if he's part of the team's success, and also, he just might regain his confidence along the way. Other possible trigger men for the Titans could include CJ3 or Nate Washington, but I'd question their passing ability.
VERY INTRIGUING POSSIBILITIES
4. Oakland - Let's see....McFadden already has enjoyed huge success running the formation in college and is a reliable/trusted trigger man with the ability to read which run to utilize. And he can throw! Michael Bush was a H.S. QB and started his college career as a QB, is left-handed thus can run/throw on opposite rollouts in comparison to McFadden......lots of speedy, explosive (yet raw, to be fair) targets all around (Higgins, Schilens, DHB, Murphy)......So I ask, why so late to the Wildcat Party, Raiders? Could easily be amongst the most successful and most dangerous to defend in this formation. And don't discount the Raiders ringing the phone of a certain QB who was recently released from "breaking rocks" in Leavenworth......
5. Seattle - Yes, Seattle. Why? Seneca Wallace. The forgotten (and overlooked) figures in the Wildcat discussion/hype are the backup QBs. These guys can come in the game as they are already on the active roster on game days and often sit on the sidelines without breaking a sweat.....but with Pat White being singled out by the Dolphins, some teams will realize that they too have a usable option on board to execute the formation.
6. Philadelphia - They already showed a preview of this last year with DeSean as the trigger. What better way to get Westbrook, McCoy, DeSean, Maclin, and possibly Booker all on the field at once......Just take out McNabb and put in these guys along with 6-7 o-linemen and WATCH OUT! Just as long as one of these guys can throw pretty well, they could actually have a very dangerous pkg......
7. San Francisco - Michael Robinson was a QB at Penn St., and has the size/speed to initiate and/or take a blow (contact) in the running game. Also, Battle started out as a QB at Notre Dame and has a very strong arm from what I've seen in the past. For the 49ers, this would be another way to get playmakers on the field and in space - Robinson/Battle as the trigger, Gore to his side, Crabtree and/or Morgan out wide, VD lined up at TE to run block or release.......
COULD EXPERIMENT A BIT WITH SOME (HOPEFUL) SUCCESS
8. Washington - Randle-El as the trigger man....
9. Pittsburgh - Hines Ward or even Santonio as their trigger...Mewelde as a RB/WR option
10. Dallas - Stanback, another former college QB, Crayton, Choice, or rookie QB McGee as possible triggers.....but Felix would be their key guy to get the ball to in space.
11. Chicago - Maybe Wolfe as the trigger, Hester is the key player for them and could be deployed in the Wildcat pkg in a variety of roles: in the backfield, in motion, split wide, or even as the trigger........doubt the Bears are creative or gutsy enough to try it though, even on a pretty limited basis.....But hey, we'll see....I certainly would do it.
12. The team that signs Matt Jones
Well, I'm sure there are plenty more if I thought a little more about it.......maybe you all have some potential candidates. One thing that I do have a strong feeling about though is that the Wildcat and/or Spread type attacks will be on the rise in the coming years, and sure it might just be a fad for the NFL ala the Run N Shoot, but just look at how many of the college teams are running these spread attacks and their top players, as several very talented QBs on the horizon like Tebow and Pryor could also be factors at the pro level in these pkgs.....
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Anyhow, Felix Jones, Isaiah Stanback and Patrick Crayton could all see time as the trigger man. Crayton himself, along with Stanback, was a college quarterback. I can't verify so much on the rookie McGee being involved, and he will most certainly be inactive on gamedays unless somebody gets hurt. It has also been noted that Crayton has the strongest throwing arm on the roster for the last couple of years as far as distance is concerned.
Nice to see a few folks in here with some understanding and 'vision'......It's all about creating opportunities to make plays in the NFL, and if coaches believe the Wildcat can have some impact, for which Miami has shown it can, they will explore opportunities to implement it themselves in some form or fashion. No one is saying that the Wildcat will become the primary structure of any team's offensive attack, but only time will tell how involved the pkg becomes for certain teams and how many teams try to implement it.
