the wildcat

by patriotguy on May 23, 2009 8:25 PM EDT

we all seen the wildcat as a popular offensive attack with the dolphins, and they were usually successful. we know how it works and what type of weapons we must have to use it.

my post is about the fact that people think we can or should get a player to utilize for a wildcat offensive. that i don't think the pats should use the wildcat offense at all.

my arguments are that the wildcat does not fit the patriots scheme, and that i'm sick of hearing "oh, we can use this guy for a wildcat offense." also i think the wildcat is overrated. we stopped it the last time we faced them.

even though teams are incorporating the wildcat offense into their system for its uniqueness, i think instead of using the wildcat, we should make up our own unique offense, that way we'll surprise the dolphins this year instead, and teams will have something else to worry about!

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Inventiveness

This seems a useful time to ask exactly what IS necessary to invent/modify/develop a new scheme or style of attack. To be fair, in each of the atypical schemes you’ve seen lately – Ronnie Brown’s Wildcat being one, or Vick’s legs, Randel El WR reverses and passing, etc – the key seems to draft a particular brand of player, that rare versatile athlete-with-skilled-position-attributes. Either way, you may very well need that kind of guy, irrespective of the actual scheme. At the moment, with the Pats roster, I’d be more interested in seeing if BB puts out some 4(!) TE sets, or something to that effect.

by Comedic.Sans on May 24, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions

Julian Edelman

Apparently, Julian Edelman was drafted with the Wildcat in mind. Too small to be a running back, not enough arm strength to be a pure QB, and possessing very capable hands, he could just the “everything guy” a Wildcat needs.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on May 24, 2009 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

Speaking of Edelman

Here’s a good write-up on him, for those who are interested: Getting to know super sleeper Julian Edelman

by NESilver on May 24, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

i like to see bb make up a different formation

it’ll be so much fun watching teams trying to figure it out

by patriotguy on May 24, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

Patriots have used the wildcat formation before

Kevin Faulk completed his first career pass attempt when he took a direct snap from center and found quarterback Tom Brady for a 23-yard gain vs. Miami (12/22/01).

Also in the 2007 post-season Jaguar game, the fake direct snap to Kevin Faulk fooled the Jacksonville defense sufficiently to allow a wide open Welker to catch a Brady pass in the end zone.

I think that the more a team can do to keep their opponents guessing is a good thing. It doesn’t matter if the Patriots use the Wildcat as a regular part of its offense, it’s about letting other teams think they could use it on a given play. My feeling is that if we have the best QB in the league on our team, it would be a detriment not to use him as much as possible.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on May 24, 2009 9:06 PM EDT reply actions

i know that

but only a few times, plus analysts didn’t make it a big deal because it was not really a basic formation for them. miami uses it as a basic formation. I just don’t want the pats to use it as a basic formation because 1) it will not surprise anyone anymore and 2) using the wildcat will increase the chance of injuring our RB’s. let’s make formations, not copy them.

by patriotguy on May 25, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

i don't think that

it was the “wildcat” itself that made it work. last year, it just fit our personnel, and our needs. we caught teams off guard, but it worked because it fit our talent. you go with your strengths, and it was the right call at the right time.

by ncfinfan on May 25, 2009 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

absolutely

by patriotguy on May 26, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Plenty of other gadget plays....

One play I loved that the Bears used to use with Walter Payton was hand off to Payton on a run, then just let him throw it to a wide receiver (usually Willie Gault). If Payton has the ball in his hands, the safeties are going to come in, leaving one on one coverage outside. You usually need a leading fullback (Matt Suhey) to block long enough to get the pass off. Walter Payton leads all non-quarterbacks in passes completed, touchdown passes (oh and interceptions).

by SlotMachinePlayer on May 26, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions