Is the Wildcat dead (postponed indefinitely)?

I for one don't need to see Ricky trying to throw from the formation. Is there no longer the right personnel or need to run tbe Wildcat with the emergence of Chad Henne?

The purpose of this post is to explore how Wildcat principles and it's misdirection and unbalanced power might be used to run effectively out of a spread formation with Henne as QB.

What if Nate Garner could be a decent Right Tackle? He played that position in college and worked at that position in his first year in the league before moving to left guard due to injury. We have seen that Vernon Carey has struggled with speed rushers from the right side and probably should be moved inside to guard eventually where he would be a huge (literally) asset in the run game. What if Nate Garner (6-7 325) who is already the backup right tackle, could handle the position full time (with pass protection help from the running back).

My idea for discussion is this: How about move Vernon Carey to Left Guard right now? The left side of the line would not only be extremely expensive, but it would dominate. Put Justin Smiley at Right Guard with relief for his sore shoulder from Donald Thomas. If you pulled Smiley/Thomas left, there would be some serious ownage on the left side of the line. Obviously, teams would load up on the Fins' left to stop this ownage and that's where the misdirection comes in.

Introducing the Return of the Ricky as Wildcat Spread Formation:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ DB _ _ _ _ JL VC JB JS NG _ _ _ _ _ _GC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

RW _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _PW

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CH _ _LH

I would really like to see Kory Sheets in the Wildcat role with Ricky in the backfield taking the handoff over the left side, but the Trifecta must not like what they see in Sheets, or maybe they haven't contemplated this formation yet...

Pat White actually has a place in this formation, but if you don't want him on the field, just replace him with Brian Hartline.

You can run the Wildcat either left or right (Ricky motions right, PW/BH would motion left).

You get your power up the middle against a spread out defense with your back in the backfield who also helps Garner with pass protection on the right side.

If the defense loads up to stop the run, you can pass short to your speedsters (RW/PW/BH) and then let them run, or send your speedsters deep and have DB or GC settle down in the cleared out zone.

Note that after Wildcat motion, you have one receiver (either DB or GC) isolated on one side and the other side of the field flooded with three receivers.

It's not the Wildcat, but it would bring the excitement of the Wildcat misdirection into the spread formation and make running the ball a dangerous option versus just a handoff to a back from the shotgun.

Thoughts anyone?