Wild, Wild, Wildcat Offense

Chad Pennington

There's a new king in the NFL jungle -- the Wildcat Offense.

The distinguishing feature of the "Wildcat" offensive formation involves a direct snap from the center to an offensive player other than the quarterback, usually a running back or receiver who has the ability to throw the ball. With defenses having to account for the dual run-pass threat, mismatches are created and weaknesses are exposed.

"The Wildcat is going to be part of the league," says Falcons head coach MIKE SMITH, who used running back JERIOUS NORWOOD in the Wildcat formation last year. "I feel it will be more prevalent this year than last year. It's going to grow and expand, and you want to be up on it as much as possible."

Many NFL teams, especially the Miami Dolphins, employed this scheme at times last year with great success. With multi-talented running back RONNIE BROWN, who is an effective southpaw passer, taking direct snaps and quarterback CHAD PENNINGTON split out wide, Miami gave defenses fits last year en route to an 11-5 record and an AFC East Division title.

Fans can expect to see more of the same from the Dolphins this season

They selected versatile college quarterback PAT WHITE of West Virginia, who is viewed by many as an ideal Wildcat candidate, in the second round of the NFL Draft.

According to NFL Network analyst MIKE MAYOCK, "Pat White is the next level of the Wildcat. The defensive answer to the Wildcat last year was to take the safety out of the hole. Now you take a guy who can also throw the football like an NFL quarterback and who can also run the option. That means the safety is in the box and your cornerbacks are one-on-one with no deep help. Anytime there's a play action fake, Pat White will have the ability to throw the ball and beat one-on-one coverage on the outside."

Just having the threat of the Wildcat in the gameplan is an advantage in itself. Like it or not, defensive coordinators have to account for it as they scheme during the week.

"It will be around because it changes your rules in preparing a defense," says Carolina head coach JOHN FOX. "The quarterback position is a runner, and you have to account for him. Having that extra runner you account for creates an overload. Plus, the Wildcat is probably in 80 percent of your college offenses today."

The Wildcat offense might seem like a revolutionary idea, but it's actually a variant of the Wing-T formation, which has been utilized in one form or another at the high school, college and professional levels of football for over a half century.

In its infancy, the Wing-T was effective because it kept defenses off balance. Think of today's Wildcat as the younger, sleeker, and more aerodynamic cousin of the Wing-T.

"It's our job to do what the kids coming into our league do best and gives us the best chance to succeed," says Kansas City head coach TODD HALEY, who mixed the Wildcat into the Cardinals' schemes as Arizona's offensive coordinator en route to a Super Bowl appearance last season. "We're trying to be ahead of the curve."

With a young crop of incredibly multi-talented athletes populating NFL rosters in large numbers, the Wildcat formation will continue to challenge the ingenuity of NFL defenses this season and beyond.

"When you are a defense, all you can do is react to what the offense does," says New England head coach BILL BELICHICK. "If they give you three backs in the backfield, no backs, nine-foot line splits, quarterback in motion… whatever they do, that's what you play defense for."

Teams that used the Wildcat formation in 2008

 

 

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