"Wildcat" Offense

[Xetuoh1836]

Question to all and my view of this formation.

The "wildcat" offense puts Ronnie Brown behind center, taking the direct snap. It moves Pennington to the tailback or slot receiver position. At that point, Pennington loses the protection of the QB position and is "fair game" and the Defense can then treat him as any other player. Or is he still considered the QB, with the "don't touch me" rule?
Also, if Ronnie Brown receives the direct snap from center, does he get the same QB protection rules as a "normal" QB would?

If Pennington loses the QB protection rules, then I'd have a LB/DB assigned to him and cut off the head of the snake. You'd think twice about sticking your QB (especially one who has only one year in eight seasons of going a full 16) out there naked (Trent Green anyone?).

Thoughts?

[FinNasty]

Sparano has already addressed that.

Pennington has been instructed to immediately hit the ground or run out of bounds if someone comes after him. You cant touch him if hes on the ground.

And if you want to waste one of your LBs by putting him out on Penny and not having him to help stop Ronnie in the middle of the field... go ahead. I wont complain... :D

[Xetuoh1836]

I see your point FinNasty but, if it's only one play and Pennington goes "Trent Green" on y'all, as a position player outside that of a QB and a player that has only had 1 full 16 game season thru an 8 year career, after the exchange from center, I'd dig a hole or start the play out of bounds.

[FinNasty]

I see your point FinNasty but, if it's only one play and Pennington goes "Trent Green" on y'all, as a position player outside that of a QB and a player that has only had 1 full 16 game season thru an 8 year career, after the exchange from center, I'd dig a hole or start the play out of bounds.

Pennington stays out of the way... and clear of hits in that formation.

And think about it... a lot of the hits he takes in the pocket are going to be harder than a jam at the line. Especially blindside hits.

If he someone charging him... he just has to drop to the ground. Its just like sliding, except he isnt trying to fight for extra yardage so he will hit the ground as soon as possible...


You arent the first person to bring it up... but I dont see it as an issue for the reasons explained above...

[Xetuoh1836]

Not that I'd want any of our players to get hurt or place a Buddy Ryan "bounty" placed on any players head but, if Pennington is on the field and doesn't have the "protection" of the NFL QB "rules", he'll eventually get clocked. With that said, how does the NFL "rules" book see the play? In essence, he isn't the QB on any play, from the wildcat. And don't say the jam would be less violent at the LOS cause, a hit on someone with injury issues like Pennington, would be to take him down.

[FinNasty]

Not that I'd want any of our players to get hurt or place a Buddy Ryan "bounty" placed on any players head but, if Pennington is on the field and doesn't have the "protection" of the NFL QB "rules", he'll eventually get clocked. With that said, how does the NFL "rules" book see the play? In essence, he isn't the QB on any play, from the wildcat. And don't say the jam would be less violent at the LOS cause, a hit on someone with injury issues like Pennington, would be to take him down.

He is considered a WR on the play... although I'm sure they will call anything that is malicious.

We dont run that formation a ton. I mean, we've only used it 17 times in 2 games. He aint going to get rocked, b/c he is very aware out there protecting himself. Hes not going to allow someone to get a clean lick on him. All he has to do is drop to the ground... its easy.

[Wolverine]

Sparano has already addressed that.

Pennington has been instructed to immediately hit the ground or run out of bounds if someone comes after him. You cant touch him if hes on the ground.


Please tell me that was a joke.
Otherwise they might as well put a skirt or a pink tutu on him. :rolleyes:

[Xetuoh1836]

Hell'ave gamble there FinNasty! With 2 weeks of game film (and yes, 17 plays are a minimum overview and is a small sample) but, tendencies can be ferreted out. It would help my team, if we had anyone not named Richard Smith calling the Defense! Yet, we've a few guy's who can play outside RS game plan and it keeps his job.

Here's to a clean and injury free game and good luck with your Tuna-fish, just not this Sunday!

[FinNasty]

Please tell me that was a joke.
Otherwise they might as well put a skirt or a pink tutu on him. :rolleyes:

Hes a QB... they all wear pink tutu's in this league... lol

He doesnt do anything on these plays anyway... so he should stay standing and take the hits "like a man"?

I dont want him taking 1 **** hit out there. He is extremely important to our team. It would be dumb for him to not get on the ground if someone wants to put a lick on him.

Do you think a QB should put on a skirt if he slides while running for a first down too? You dont think QBs should get on the ground to protect themselves? A lot of good that did Sage last week, huh?

[FinNasty]

Hell'ave gamble there FinNasty! With 2 weeks of game film (and yes, 17 plays are a minimum overview and is a small sample) but, tendencies can be ferreted out. It would help my team, if we had anyone not named Richard Smith calling the Defense! Yet, we've a few guy's who can play outside RS game plan and it keeps his job.

Here's to a clean and injury free game and good luck with your Tuna-fish, just not this Sunday!

I am very interested to see how you guys line up to stop it. Its going to be a whole different animal going against a 4-3 front.

[The Don]

Please tell me that was a joke.
Otherwise they might as well put a skirt or a pink tutu on him. :rolleyes:

You mean the same skirt and tutu every texan player seems to wear?

[Xetuoh1836]

I am very interested to see how you guys line up to stop it. Its going to be a whole different animal going against a 4-3 front.

Ha! We are too! The thing with Jake Long v. Mario is a mute point when you see Mario line up anywhere on the field (except MLB cause Demeco owns that patch of ground).

[HJam72]

Assuming he does not have the ball and the whistle has not yet blown, a QB is fair game, even on the ground. Who says they can't "fall" on him? :D

[FinNasty]

Assuming he does not have the ball and the whistle has not yet blown, a QB is fair game, even on the ground. Who says they can't "fall" on him? :D

lol...

If hes on the ground, you cant legally do anything to him...

[Matt_in_KW]

It is interesting and reminds me of watching a game on saturday and not sunday or monday. That said, I see D's stopping it cold by week 8. Time to pull a new trick play out.

lol...

If hes on the ground, you cant legally do anything to him...

Wana bet? He is an O player in the 5yd CHUCK area. You can maul him till the whistle blows on every play he is in that situation. Think of it like an OL getting driven into the ground and hammered...it applies to him also. And NO FLAG CAN BE TOSSED.

[texanfreak]

A lot of good that did Sage last week, huh?



Touch'e.

[Texan Naija]

I think the only really dangerous thing about the "Wildcat" would be our Defense over committing to a target. We should definately do our best to take out Brown in the backfield but we have to worry about him no running and going for passes as well. Which unfortunately he ain't bad at.

Still, if our defense plays well, we probably won't see to much of the Wildcat.


Edit: On a completely unrelated note, hey FinNasty how is former Texan LB Charlie Anderson doing over with you sea mammals?

[TEXANSWILDBILL]

That's right... down with the sea mammals!

[FinNasty]

I think the only really dangerous thing about the "Wildcat" would be our Defense over committing to a target. We should definately do our best to take out Brown in the backfield but we have to worry about him no running and going for passes as well. Which unfortunately he ain't bad at.

Still, if our defense plays well, we probably won't see to much of the Wildcat.


Edit: On a completely unrelated note, hey FinNasty how is former Texan LB Charlie Anderson doing over with you sea mammals?

I didnt realize he was from Houston...

He is playing pretty well. During TC, he was slated to be the starter at WOLB. But Roth emerged at SOLB from converting from a DE... and Porter was able to move over to his natural position of WOLB... and it bumped Anderson back...

[Texan Naija]

I didnt realize he was from Houston...

He is playing pretty well. During TC, he was slated to be the starter at WOLB. But Roth emerged at SOLB from converting from a DE... and Porter was able to move over to his natural position of WOLB... and it bumped Anderson back...

Yeah, he was really one of the low key players you had to look for. Although he was making good strides late in the season. He was in the same position over here as well playing backup and special teams.

[TEXANBRONCO]

i think we are gona shut down the run....almost TOTALLY...DEMECO( I WANNA HIT SOME1 FROM MIAMI) RYANS is gona have a field day with BROWN. i just dont see the running game beatin us this week:D and as for a QB playin a WR....hehe:D we all hope ya do sumtin stupid like that:D

[TexSid]

I have watched both the NE and SD games. The read is not the problem in the wildcat. It is a run. Your CBs have the same obligations but Ronnie is not gonna beat you hitting TEs like a real QB. The problem is that Miami is very creatively using overloaded lines (can you say line up 2 tackles on the right side and then bring in motion a "tackle eligible" to the SAME side! Also Ronnie Brown has very good vision and picks his hole as it opens. He does not go down with initial hit and even when we saw him last year and beat the fins he was a beast. This will be a game our O must win. Our D will be giving up yards and time off the clock so we will to score earky and often and put Miamia behind. Running games are not great at catch up.....