The Offense: Wildcat Adjustments?

by DolphDallas on Oct 31, 2009 1:39 AM EDT

The Wildcat could have been the secret weapon to pull off an upset against a potent Saints offense by burning TOP and wearing out the Saints D. The Saints corner blitzed it (and Fasano/receivers dropping passes that failed to convert 3rd downs didn't help).

Is the Wildcat solved?

Are there adjustments that can be made which will make the Wildcat dangerous again?

Is Miami's base offense good enough to stand alone (assuming Hartline for Ginn brings some explosiveness in the pass game OR Turner active???)?

Here are some thoughts from Greg Cosell's Coaching Tape on the Saints game.

Dolphins initial use of the “Wildcat” in this game had Henne on the field split wide outside the numbers; Also it was evident that FS Sharper stayed deep to guard against a possible pass by Brown

On the first 3 snaps Henne was not in the game in the “Wildcat”, the Saints attacked with both corners blitzing; The corner to the side that Williams went in motion was especially aggressive, since he had safety help – It was an effective tactic

Dolphins clearly had more success running out of the “Wildcat” when Henne was on the field split wide, The Saints did not corner blitz with Henne on the field

SS Harper very effective as an add-in defender in the run game, Attacks downhill with aggression and control

Saints really picked up their blitz frequency in the second half, and the Dolphins did not handle it well

Dolphins very limited offense out of conventional sets, both run and pass; They really struggle to run the ball with Henne under center, and their pass game features an inexperienced QB behind an average pass protecting OL and an average group of receivers – Without deception, the Dolphins has very little

Saints blitzed the “Wildcat” with Henne on the field for the first time in third quarter on a 3rd + 2, and they stopped Brown for 1 yd

Dolphins still clearly protecting Henne, A very limited passing game

The “Wildcat” breakdown: 16-35, 2.2 yds per play – The “Wildcat” was not a significant factor in this game

If they fired Dan Henning now and hired you, what would you do?

Poll

If I'm the new OC I would...

just stay the course and execute better

11 votes

adjust the Wildcat (maybe White/Thigpen at WR) or pass more in the Wildcat

32 votes

Abandon the Wildcat and try to get the Base Offense going, take the training wheels off Henne

1 votes

Use Henne in a spread offense or some other non-traditional formation

2 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Here's mine: Sub in Pat White or Tyler Thigpen for Henne in the Wildcat at WR and use 3 RBs

Use Ricky Williams in the Patrick Cobbs role of backside reverse / blocker / flea-flicker receiver. He is a superior player to Cobbs and an upgrade.
Use Kory Sheets as the Wildcat motion back.
Throw the ball more in the Wildcat…short easy throws to receivers in space, let them run with the ball. Run screen pass plays in the Wildcat…take advantage of overpursuit and DB blitzes.
New Wildcat Formation (Thigpen Variant):
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _JH JS JG DT VC JL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _TT
BH _ _KS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _RW
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RB

Note that you could MORPH into this formation using the same personnel…
My “Tomcat” Spread Passing Formation:
BH_ _ _ _ _ _ _ JL JS JG DT VC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _JH
_ KS _ _ _ RW _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RB
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _TT

Sub in Chad Henne for Tyler Thigpen and Patrick Turner for Joey Haynos and Davone Bess/Greg Camarillo for Kory Sheets and you have…
BH_ _ _ _ _ _ _ JL JS JG DT VC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _PT
_ DB _ _ _ RW _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RB
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _CH

Feed the Studs (RB and RW) either by run or pass, but feed the studs!
You can keep them fresh using Lex Hilliard, Kory Sheets, and Lousaka Polite as subs…
A favorite variant on this formation uses Kory Sheets and Lousaka Polite to give the studs a breather…
BH_ _ _ _ _ _ _ JL JS JG DT VC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _PT
_ GC _ _ _ KS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LP
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _CH
KS motion right to take wildcat/play-action from Henne sweep right with Polite lead blocking:
1 RB, 1 FB, and 3 WR in a non-traditional spread formation.

Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.

by DolphDallas on Oct 31, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions

Nice work here Dolph,

…but i’d hold off on K. Sheets and instead have P. WHITE jus for da fact that i actually believe the kid is gettin’ more and more comfortable on da field (or that im jus drunk and making up shizz now…)

FINz4Eva!!

by solefinatik on Oct 31, 2009 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions

i really thought brown's passing, has come in good burst's of acuracy.

if the te. make’s that play, whole new ballgame. even with what transpired throwout the game, that was a key drop right in the hand’s. & then there’s that addage once again it’s a game of inche’s. many game’s week to week go by 7 sum can be said if for one play or for that extra inch well yes the wildcat can be sumed up in that cadagory also!!!

by wild zion beaver on Oct 31, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Nah Sweep to Ricky

and hand off to Henne. The last thing we need is quarterbacks as receivers. We cant even catch a ball, why would be have QBs trying? LOL try passing more, but Id trust Ginn catching over White or Thigpen.

by g35phin on Oct 31, 2009 3:40 AM EDT reply actions

We need that FINISH games

not pass to QB’s. Are we getting desparate or what?

by g35phin on Oct 31, 2009 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Please don't misunderstand...

I’m NOT saying throw the ball more TO the QB split out wide.
There is definitely the threat of White or Thigpen going deep and catching a flea-flicker (more than say Henne split out wide).
However, what I AM saying is have Ronnie throw more short passes and screens out of the Wildcat to Hartline, Sheets, Haynos, and yes even Pat White / Tyler Thigpen and let them run with it instead of trying to run some complicated route and expecting a pinpoint accurate throw from Ronnie. Short = quick out like the 67 yarder to Hartline catch and run in the Saints game. That takes away the defenses propensity to send safety and corner blitzes which seem to stifle the Wildcat.
Thigpen’s over 20+ receptions by the way is 1-1 100% 1 TD. It was an over-the-shoulder grab and he made it. Thigpen also has good size 6-1 224 and is a pretty good athlete.
The QB split out wide who has wheels (as opposed to Henne) is a THREAT to be a viable receiver (sadly more so than Ginn), and still would be a THREAT to throw off of a reverse, or just run.

Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.

by DolphDallas on Oct 31, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

To add to that I read somewhere that KC was in the process of converting Thigpen to

reciever when we traded for him. I say put him in there as a reciever. Coupled with the threat that he can trow really gives the D something to think about.

Great write up again D. Rec’d.

"I hope you know a lot more than you believe in"-Gram Parsons

by texascowpunk on Oct 31, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed

by g35phin on Oct 31, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Henne

I agree with what your saying here. I don’t like seeing Henne spread out as a receiver. Put White or TP out their. We finally," I hope", have our future QB and I don’t think we should put him at risk and if he’s out their he should be a threat.

by FinFanFromCA on Oct 31, 2009 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

we need to just play our game

our opponents this week could not stop our ground game last time and even with adjustments I dont think their physical enough (NT especially) to stop our dominating O-line. If we can stop their passing game i wouldn’t worry about their offense. The only two jets players that hurt us last time was Edwards and Washington, who’s out fir the season. Their other backs are good but our front seven stopped those backs from getting too many yards.

OFFENSE- Protect the Quaterback at all costs
DEFFENSE- Get to the Quaterback at all costs
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by kewlguy on Oct 31, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

I wish the NFL would just suspend Edwards already.

Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.

Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.

by Farorefox on Oct 31, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

why?

OFFENSE- Protect the Quaterback at all costs
DEFFENSE- Get to the Quaterback at all costs
I HART DOLPHINS
Nobody dies a virgin, Life fucks us all

by kewlguy on Oct 31, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Because he punched the guy in Cleveland. And he's the only offensive weapon New York has for Sanchez

Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.

Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.

by Farorefox on Oct 31, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

adjust it

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by Patssuck456 on Nov 2, 2009 1:00 AM EST reply actions

Haynos gets open quite a bit when he releases out of the WC

and he’s as surehanded as they come so I would try to get RB rolling to the heavy side and throw it more often.I would also add a wrinkle by having RW stop when he gets to RB and then use him as the lead blocker for RB up the middle or back to the left,when RW comes in motion you can watch the D start cheating that way and I think changing direction would cause even more mismatches.

by firedanhenningnow on Nov 2, 2009 3:58 AM EST reply actions