Ron Jaworski disses Wildcat as a "gimmick".

[woodbuck27]

Jaworski disses Wildcat as a "gimmick"

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/16/jaworski-disses-wildcat-as-a-gimmick/

[channtheman]

I was thinking most of the things that the writer of that article pointed out. Good read.

[Guiness]

A good point indeed. It's a tool Miami has in their shed, and are using effectively.

At this point, it has to confuse defenses, and as long as only Miami is using extensively it will probably continue to do so. The Run and Shoot caused havoc for defenses for a few years, until some teams other than Houston picked it up, and it got analysed.

I have to say though, Monday night's game was entertaining. At one point, the O personnel Miami had on the field was 5OL, 4RB and 2TE. If that didn't have the defense scratching their head...

[Fritz]

The Harlem Globetrotters do some wacky stuff, too.

[woodbuck27]

A good point indeed. It's a tool Miami has in their shed, and are using effectively.

At this point, it has to confuse defenses, and as long as only Miami is using extensively it will probably continue to do so. The Run and Shoot caused havoc for defenses for a few years, until some teams other than Houston picked it up, and it got analysed.

I have to say though, Monday night's game was entertaining. At one point, the O personnel Miami had on the field was 5OL, 4RB and 2TE. If that didn't have the defense scratching their head...

That game had to be encouraging for Miami. A terrific game to watch. Sure beat the Browns at the Bills that viewers suffered through in the early games.

[Lurker64]

Here's how I look at it:

When you line up in your normal offense, and then have your QB split out wide and have a WR/RB line up to take the snap, then it's a gimmick. You're giving the defense a traditional look, and then asking them to adjust quickly to a nontraditional look. The Packers ran this a few time with Favre out wide and Driver taking the snap, and then running an end-around out of it.

When you line up without a QB or any WRs on the field (like Miami does), just 5 OL, 2 TEs, and 4 RB, then it's not a gimmick. The defense knows full well what is coming, and it's their responsibility to stop the offense from ramming it down their throat. You'll get occasional pass plays out of this set, but it's not really different from the classic "play-action into a deep pass on third and inches" that teams have been running since the 60s. Hell, running out of a set where you have 10 capable blockers and several different threats to run the ball is kind of smart.

[Freak Out]

You could put 10 OL and one RB or WR in the game as long as the correct number were on the line of scrimmage? That would be jumbo.....

[Brandon494]

Of course a QB says its a gimmick. The QB is worthless during a running play, in the wildcat it just gives just an extra blocker. The wildcat is not going anywhere.

[rdanomly]

What about Denver's wrinkle where Orton is in the slot, then motions back under center. The commentators mentioned that it allows the QB to get a different look at the defense. Does it seem like there is any merit to that pass variation of a pseudo wildcat, or were the commentators just guessing?

[rbaloha1]

Disagree. There are so many variations that the wildcat is only in its infancy.

Agree that a team can not depend on it consistently like the Dolphins but the wildcat is still capable of explosive plays during a game.