Can we stop calling the Wildcat a "Gimmick" now?
39 replies
padre31luxury_boxOPThink back to the creation of the the 'zone blitz' on the defensive side of the ball, when Dick LeBeau, Defensive Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers unleashed it on the NFL in the early 90's... was that called a 'gimmick'.. or 'brilliance'?
Think about it... what's more 'gimmicky', dropping a 300 pound defensive linemen into pass coverage, or putting an athletic running back into a single wing shot gun formation?
In Super Bowl XLIII when James Harrison returned an interception 100 yards for the Steelers on a zone blitz call, I don't remember any of the TV announcers saying: "Boy, that zone blitz gimmick really had the Cardinals offense off balance on that play".
Anyone who knows anything about football knows that schemes are only as good as the execution of the players performing the scheme.
Lets start praising the player execution of the wildcat formation, and not some made up 'gimmick' pixie dust that TV announcers and certain journalists will have you believe is the only thing making the wildcat a success in the NFL.
He does have a point, Jaworski is always severly critical of the Wildcat, so is Brian Billick and yet out on the field positive result after positive result.
And the Wildcat has evolved, on plays now Pennington may not be on the field, he has been replaced by Patrick Cobbs, add in White, who could take the WC to the next level or simply remain the Offensive Staff's favorite toy.
But a Pat White having success in the WC makes it very difficult to defend and legitimizes the Wildcat imho.
HardKoreXXXNew MemberFunny thing about Harrison dropping back into coverage, he was supposed to rush the passer on that play. He later said it didn't feel right, so he dropped back.
Re: The Wildact. If there are still people who believe it's a gimmick, they'll never be convinced otherwise IMO.
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Dol-Fan Dupreeforum_veteranis that the only part of the article that talks about the wildcat? If there is more I would like to read it ;)
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
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Do you have a link? Who wrote this?
padre31luxury_boxLink added, the blogger, a retired Coach, breaks down the Spread Offense and it's subset, the Wildcat regularly.
Smart guy, loves Pat White.
like2godluxury_box"padre31 wrote:
But a Pat White having success in the WC makes it very difficult to defend and legitimizes the Wildcat imho.
He has? I must have missed that game. ;)
The WC is a gimmick, I think folks like to think of it as a negative connotation rather than how it's really being used. If you only run a set a few times a game, whether you call it a gimmick, scheme, trick play, extended offense, "set we only use a few times a game", etc it still means the same thing IMO. It isn't our base offense, it's something that we use to confuse opposing defenses.
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SCall13New MemberIn my opinion, it's a gimmick as long we can't move the ball conventionally CONSISTENTLY.
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Dol-Fan Dupreeforum_veteran"like2god wrote:
He has? I must have missed that game. ;)
The WC is a gimmick, I think folks like to think of it as a negative connotation rather than how it's really being used. If you only run a set a few times a game, whether you call it a gimmick, scheme, trick play, extended offense, "set we only use a few times a game", etc it still means the same thing IMO. It isn't our base offense, it's something that we use to confuse opposing defenses.
Actually I see it as a package.
With this explaination the shotgun is a gimmick
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
I want to be alive, I am alive! Alive, I tell you! Mother, I love you, those are no longer just words. I want to hold you, I want to run in a stream, I want to taste ice cream but not just put it in my mouth and let it slide down my throat but really eat it. - Robot Morty
cnc66luxury_boxbout time you put up a picture of your son
gimmick schimmick.. I'll bet those guys getting punched in the mouth by it don't see anything gimmicky about it.
The wildcat will always be referred to as a "gimmick" so long as it doesn't make up the majority of our packages, which it never will, else it will lose its purpose.
That's the beauty of the play. It's not a bad thing to be called a Gimmick, thats exactly what it is. The only people who use that word negatively are the teams that don't have the personnel to use it effectively.
If we could build our base offense up in terms of the receiving corp, and spreading the ball a bit more downfield (lets not get into that discussion again though please, thats just my opinion), I think the wildcat would be seriously deadly.
However we're already seeing some of the "gimmick" effect even high end defensive players. Freeny was totally thrown off his rhythm with the change in snap count between Brown, White, and Pennington. I know he got at least one offsides call, maybe 2? I'm amazed we provoked that many penalties from them with it.
Zeke0123forum_veteranNot all of the TV hacks call it a gimmick...Shlereth/Gruden call it a "power running formation" praising the physicality of it...I think Hodgy does as well but I cant swear to it...as for the rest of those tools who cares what they say.
like2godluxury_box"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:
Actually I see it as a package.
With this explaination the shotgun is a gimmick
The shotgun is a package that is used by every team in the NFL during a specific situation, the teams using the WC is pretty limited and can pop up at any time. I don't see the WC being any different than using a reverse play, it's something that pops up from time to time to catch defenses off guard.
I love you Mom, you are the greatest woman that I've ever known.
Dol-Fan Dupreeforum_veteran"like2god wrote:
The shotgun is a package that is used by every team in the NFL during a specific situation, the teams using the WC is pretty limited and can pop up at any time. I don't see the WC being any different than using a reverse play, it's something that pops up from time to time to catch defenses off guard.
I have yet to see a game with 12 reverses.
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
I want to be alive, I am alive! Alive, I tell you! Mother, I love you, those are no longer just words. I want to hold you, I want to run in a stream, I want to taste ice cream but not just put it in my mouth and let it slide down my throat but really eat it. - Robot Morty
2k5forum_veteran"like2god wrote:
The shotgun is a package that is used by every team in the NFL during a specific situation, the teams using the WC is pretty limited and can pop up at any time. I don't see the WC being any different than using a reverse play, it's something that pops up from time to time to catch defenses off guard.
We don't use it to catch people off guard. At least in the Colts game. When Pennington comes out of the game, I don't think it's hard to predict what is coming. Smash mouth football.
jetssuckNew MemberI just wish Deon Sanders would pronounce it "dead" each week......because every time he does we make him eat his words
Gimmicks don't save a team's season...
I hope we run it 30 times against San Diego
JS
padre31luxury_box"like2god wrote:
The shotgun is a package that is used by every team in the NFL during a specific situation, the teams using the WC is pretty limited and can pop up at any time. I don't see the WC being any different than using a reverse play, it's something that pops up from time to time to catch defenses off guard.
That is a bit of a false argument L2G, because other teams do not run the WC as well as we do does not lessen it's effectiveness as an offense within an offense.
Because other teams are not saying "Me Too" does not lessen it's impact, in fact it could be argued that for us it is even more of an offensive team as we are one of the few that has the horses and talent and play design to run it effectively.
HardKoreXXXNew Member"like2god wrote:
The shotgun is a package that is used by every team in the NFL during a specific situation, the teams using the WC is pretty limited and can pop up at any time. I don't see the WC being any different than using a reverse play, it's something that pops up from time to time to catch defenses off guard.
Then by that logic, shouldn't "playaction" be called a gimmick as well?
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Stringer BellsubscriberWhat bothers me is when people say we use it to confuse defenses.
Theres nothing confusing about adding an extra blocker.
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DrAstroZoomluxury_boxThe Wildcat is a gimmick like the two-minute offense is a gimmick.
cnc66luxury_box"2k5 wrote:
We don't use it to catch people off guard. At least in the Colts game. When Pennington comes out of the game, I don't think it's hard to predict what is coming. Smash mouth football.
As it was happening, I was sitting here cheering them. Telling the defense, here it comes, stop it if you can. In my book, not much is sweeter than a power running game... if you win :cry:
DaFishforum_veteran"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:
I have yet to see a game with 12 reverses.
.....or the statue of liberty or flea flicker..............
2k5forum_veteran"DaFish wrote:
.....or the statue of liberty or flea flicker..............
That would be so awesome :lol:
LikeUntoGodNew MemberWe also ran the "Fullhouse" backfield several times very well which I like. It is like a reverse wishbone using two running backs and a fullback or all three running backs. I also like Hillard in that mix. It is a really good Play Action formation because the defense is set up to stop the run. Just to be clear, the QB has no run option.
As far as the Wildcat I do not really understand White's role except to line up as a WR and once every 7-10 plays get the ball in a reverse and throw a pass.
padre31luxury_box"LikeUntoGod wrote:
We also ran the "Fullhouse" backfield several times very well which I like. It is like a reverse wishbone using two running backs and a fullback or all three running backs. I also like Hillard in that mix. It is a really good Play Action formation because the defense is set up to stop the run. Just to be clear, the QB has no run option.
As far as the Wildcat I do not really understand White's role except to line up as a WR and once every 7-10 plays get the ball in a reverse and throw a pass.
I noticed that as well but did not know what to call it, we had all 5 Rb's in on those plays, RW,RB,PC,LH, and Lou Polite.
djphinfansubscriberI agree ComPadre...its one thing i sure dont have to debate anymore...The brilliance for which ronnie Runs the cat was on display for the world to see.. finally, The pundits, see it as a power formation, just like some of us have been saying for a year...
The rest of the NFL will not catch up to us....
I think the only coach besides our that i see loving the formation is andy reid..it will be so interesting to see how he uses the formation, but, he aint got not ronnie brown now does he....sorry chumps..
After monday nite, and what we saw out of ronnie, anyone still not wanna sign him, or replace him with a draft pick?
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