The Wildcat is meant to take advantage of an abnormally quick transfer of the ball to the RB, who receives the ball in a direct snap from the center, which throws the timing of the defense off, allowing it less time to react, and skewing the angles of attack and contain. The Wildcat then becomes more tricky with the fact that it allows for myriad options in the play's development, including misdirection on reverses, and RB passes downfield. Ronnie Brown is 2 for 2 in passing situations this year with one TD and an average of 20 yards a pass. The Dolphins hadn't unveiled the Wildcat when we played them in week one. They saved that revelation for the Patriots, who got whooped by it. The Wildcat will be effective against our defense because it will stretch the perimeter and allow the RB to pick the open holes off tackle and outside. We haven't really shown over the past month or more the team speed, the toughness in contain or the tackling fundamentals to set and maintain the edge consistently and shut the outside (or inside) down for four quarters. Also, at our second level, some in the secondary especially at both safeties are not in the least bit willing to or capable of coming up to cut the runners down, or as important, the blockers, at the point, with any consistency. By the LBs - Barton cannot get outside for his life and Harris has shown some worrisome weaknesses in his game this year, especially since his return. Bryan Thomas is the best LB on the team setting the edge, and moreover we don't blitz him, but rather we blitz Pace (only on occasion). the Fins, then, will probably not run to BT's side if they can help it, but rather try to capitalize on anticipated Blitzes or Pass Dropbacks from Pace's side. Now to the defense of the Wildcat. When the Dolphins send a RB in at QB, Pennington has to flex outside to WR. This is a precarious position for a QB because at the line as a WR, he isn't protected by the regime of QB protection rules recently enacted by the NFL. I'm surprised this hasn't been done before. After all, risk is a part of the game, and teams go to unreal lengths to protect their prize possessions - their QBs. What needs to be done is to attack the QB each and every time the WC is enacted. Hit him hard, drive him to the ground. Show no mercy. The Wildcat disenables a defense from doing what it does against a set reality. There is not much of a novelty on defense to protect against it. However there is a major flaw in the strategy of employing it. Seizing on this flaw will dissolve thew Wildcat from being employed in the NFL when a team employing it considers the risks. Chad Pennington is most responsible for the Dolphins turnaround this year. The minute that team switches to Chad Henne, the team diminishes its chances of winning. Chad's savvy, his leadership, even his tangibles, have proven this year to be invaluable. Threaten them, and threaten the Dolphins at their most vulnerable point. Injure Chad, and the Dolphins are done. The point however isn't to hurt indiscriminately or without conscience. The point is to play football. Put your QB out in the field of play, like a grunt in the trenches, and let him get hit by a grunt. Let's see how long he lasts if every time they go Wldcat, we put a player on him with free reign to get after him, hit him, and hit him like a grunt. I'm not kidding. Goodbye Wildcat.
I was actually talking to somebody about this same thing the first time the Dolphins used the WC. I thought it was funny they'd line up one of those most injury prone QB's at WR. Risky situation for quick first down, especially now that we know this Miami team relies on Chad to be productive. My problem with this is that there isn't anybody on our team, that can hit hard enough to make Miami think twice. All our DB's are soft tacklers. The one person I can think of, besides lining up Jenkins with Chad (HAHA!) is Abram Elam. Definite hard hitter. Good post though, I don't think Miami will take that risk, especially with the possibility of going into the post-season.
Ty Law Dwight Lowery Abram Elam or get crazy and put Calvin Pace out there seriously u don't think they'll think twice?
If you want to win the game, you may want to do like the Ravens did and keep an extra linebacker in to help stop the run. We haven't passed out of the wildcat for a long time, will it come up Sunday against the Jets, and will they be caught off guard because we haven't done it in a long time?
I don't think they'll take the risk, especially with the possibility of going into the Post-Season. I think we do need to put him on his ass a few times and keep him out of rythm. Also, I believe the weather is going to be pretty shitty on Sunday, that will probably be a contributing factor to them not running the WC as much. Icy/Slick grass, means a slower developement of the play. That's what's truely going to be the WC killer come Sunday.
Yes bro. As a another member at our site Aqua pointed out, I think we dipped into some of bag of tricks in the KC game to come from behind that was meant for the Jets game. There was a play that the wildcat was ran,a nd Chad was on the sideline.
Jets ILBs are not fast enough - I never thought Harris was a quick ILB. Barton is not fast either. Now, add the tendency of this CS to drop back. You have a perfect storm coming right at you. In order to stop the wildcat, you must attack where everything starts - Ronnie Brown. One of the most effective way to do that is to send ILB right at him with a run blitz. Trust me. That won't happen.
yeah def, but also, if they are stupid enough to leave the QB on an island vs a Defender - smack him. The league needs to learn to do this.
I actually think the best way to defend against the wildcat is to chuck Pennington really hard whenever they line him up outside. That's perfectly legal within five yards of the line of scrimmage. I'll bet you they stop running the formation with him split wide if he gets laid on his ass the first couple of times they do it.
But if you do so, you take another defender out of the running play. Whether it is a pass play from Ronnie, or a flea flicker to Chad, I believe you are going to see more passes, especially if they see the Jets stacking the box.
Decking QB at split end is one of the most classic defense against wildcat, I agree - even though it's a cheap shot.
The point is, after two or three shots at Pennington, noodle arm will fall out. Then you are STUCK with wildcat whether you want it or not. That is the whole point of decking the QB hard.
the significant play is actually the defense on the QB. Not the running play. Trust me, a couple times, and it becomes a liability for the offense. the collateral damage will become too much to risk.
You play man-over coverage with no safeties and play solid gap control defense with the front 7. Bring a safety up as an extra LB to backup the gap control with the front 7. The key is maintaining the gaps and solid tackling, both of which we've struggled with lately.
Better yet, stick LB on Chad at split wide, and deck him whenever possible, making sure to knock him out at the earliest possible moment. Come playoff time, Dolphins will miss Chad being under the center.
