The Return of the Wildcat

[brdmaverick]

My apologies if this has already been talked about but at first glance I did not see another thread about this......

Overshadowed by the now infamous field goal penalty was the fact that the Jets utilized the wildcat on a handful of snaps. Josh Cribbs and Billal Powell were on the receiving end of some snaps, and for the most part was fairly effective.

I don't think it was the 'surprise' factor that threw the Patriots off this time around (as it was against Miami in 2008) as much as it was just being depleted by injuries up front.

While the Jets didn't do significant damage in terms of eating up chunks of yards, they were moving the chains and I for one was glad to see them revert back to a conventional offense.

What were your thoughts of the Jets wildcat?
Do you think more teams will utilize it against the Pats?
Do you think the Jets will continue to use it against their opponents?

 

[Kontradiction]

My apologies if this has already been talked about but at first glance I did not see another thread about this......

Overshadowed by the now infamous field goal penalty was the fact that the Jets utilized the wildcat on a handful of snaps. Josh Cribbs and Billal Powell were on the receiving end of some snaps, and for the most part was fairly effective.

I don't think it was the 'surprise' factor that threw the Patriots off this time around (as it was against Miami in 2008) as much as it was just being depleted by injuries up front.

While the Jets didn't do significant damage in terms of eating up chunks of yards, they were moving the chains and I for one was glad to see them revert back to a conventional offense.

What were your thoughts of the Jets wildcat?
Do you think more teams will utilize it against the Pats?
Do you think the Jets will continue to use it against their opponents?

I'm not sure about the Wildcat specifically, but I think teams will continue to take the ball and ram it right down the defense's throat like the Jets did. Earlier in the season, there was a handful of posters putting down both Big Vince's play (he was obviously injured even before going on IR) and downplaying Mayo's significance as an important member of the defense. I'd like to hear their thoughts on both of them now that we couldn't stop Powell and Ivory when it mattered the most.

 

[letekro]

I'm not sure about the Wildcat specifically, but I think teams will continue to take the ball and ram it right down the defense's throat like the Jets did. Earlier in the season, there was a handful of posters putting down both Big Vince's play (he was obviously injured even before going on IR) and downplaying Mayo's significance as an important member of the defense. I'd like to hear their thoughts on both of them now that we couldn't stop Powell and Ivory when it mattered the most.

As you note, Wilfork was playing terribly because of injury before he went on IR, so, that is the reason people were downplaying his importance to the D's stellar play early in the year. Mayo's a fine player, but I felt Talib's absence more that game than Mayo's. Don't see the Jets making all those 3rd and long conversions with Talib out there. If we can stay healthy and get Talib and Kelly back, I think BB will be able to come up with combinations and schemes that minimize the loss of Mayo.

 

[Kontradiction]

As you note, Wilfork was playing terribly because of injury before he went on IR, so, that is the reason people were downplaying his importance to the D's stellar play early in the year. Mayo's a fine player, but I felt Talib's absence more that game than Mayo's. Don't see the Jets making all those 3rd and long conversions with Talib out there. If we can stay healthy and get Talib and Kelly back, I think BB will be able to come up with combinations and schemes that minimize the loss of Mayo.

The Jets were making most of those third down conversions with slot receivers and TE's, or using the running game. Mayo's presence was missed more in this game overall just for his coverage abilities alone. With he and Talib out together, the team also (for some ungodly reason) went to mostly zone looks, which Smith was picking apart.

 

[dales804]

As you note, Wilfork was playing terribly because of injury before he went on IR, so, that is the reason people were downplaying his importance to the D's stellar play early in the year. Mayo's a fine player, but I felt Talib's absence more that game than Mayo's. Don't see the Jets making all those 3rd and long conversions with Talib out there. If we can stay healthy and get Talib and Kelly back, I think BB will be able to come up with combinations and schemes that minimize the loss of Mayo.

Yes, getting Talib healthy changes things. Clearly with all the signings of late BB is trying to rework that front 7 to do more against the run and, probably, more pass rushing. I feel good about pass coverage when it's Dennard and Talib at CB. Is stopping the run important? Yes, but not as important as stopping the pass in this NFL. Most teams can scheme to stop the run in this league but having the talent to stop the passing game isn't something every team has.

 

[Kontradiction]

Yes, getting Talib healthy changes things. Clearly with all the signings of late BB is trying to rework that front 7 to do more against the run and, probably, more pass rushing. I feel good about pass coverage when it's Dennard and Talib at CB. Is stopping the run important? Yes, but not as important as stopping the pass in this NFL. Most teams can scheme to stop the run in this league but having the talent to stop the passing game isn't something every team has.

If you have to scheme to stop the run, it hurts you in your short to intermediate pass defense, considering you're probably using LB's and bringing a safety up to help that scheme. We saw that with the Pats defense in 2010. You want the horses to stop the run and to do everything you can to avoid scheming against it. That's why the team has continued to bring in bigger DT's off the scrap heap.

 

[dales804]

If you have to scheme to stop the run, it hurts you in your short to intermediate pass defense, considering you're probably using LB's and bringing a safety up to help that scheme. We saw that with the Pats defense in 2010. You want the horses to stop the run and to do everything you can to avoid scheming against it. That's why the team has continued to bring in bigger DT's off the scrap heap.

I agree. I'm saying if a team needs to scheme on stopping the run, they can. But a team can't just scheme to stop the pass. You need the talent to do it and the Pats have it so long as Talib and Dennard are both out there.

 

[jmt57]

The use of the wildcat should not have caught anybody by surprise; the Jets have been using it a few times in every game this year.

Steelers-Jets play of the week: Wildcat Fake Jet Sweep Power | TribLIVE

Through five games, the Jets have used the wildcat with mild success — 14 carries for 59 yards — but it has proved to be consistent. Of the 14 times they've used it, eight have gone for 3 or 4 yards.

The Jets' favorite way to use the wildcat has been with fake jet sweep action.

The offensive line is in a “tackle over” set where tight end Jeff Cumberland lines up on the weak side of the formation next to guard Vladimir Ducasse, with left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson flipping to the strong side next to right tackle Austin Howard.

Tailback Bilal Powell is 6 yards behind the center as the wildcat quarterback, with fullback Tommy Bohanon up tight to the strong side of the formation in between Ferguson and Howard. Wide receiver Stephen Hill is in the slot to the right, and quarterback Geno Smith is on the outside with Jeremy Kerley in the slot to the left of the formation.

The key to the play is the speedy Kerley.

He comes in motion left to right at full speed at an angle where he passes just inside Powell at the snap so he can take the handoff around right end or fake doing so.

This is an important aspect because the play happens faster than a normal sweep or outside zone play, and if the defense doesn't react quickly or doesn't have a defender in position to make the tackle, it will result in a big play.​

I noticed that the Steelers used it on one series last week as well. It did not occur to me at the time, but that was their first game after they had played the Jets. Tomlin must must have like what he saw from it when he faced the Jets...

Ravens defense pounded by rookie Le'Veon Bell, Steelers' running game - baltimoresun.com

The Steelers utilized the wildcat formation for a change of pace four four plays as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lined up at wide receiver with Bell operating as the quarterback.

Bell handed off to wide receiver Antonio Brown once for three yards and ran it himself three times for runs of six, seven and two yards out of that package

"It was a nice little wrinkle," Tomlin said. "If we want to continue to use it, it needs more layers, more depth. We'll look at it. We'll evaluate it and kind of move on from there. We'll do anything to win football games."​

... though apparently Roethlisberger does not share the same sentiments as his coach on the formation.

Ben Roethlisberger not fond of Steelers running Wildcat | ProFootballTalk

“I don’t like to go over and just be split out wide and take a chance that a [defensive back] is going to come up,” Roethlisberger said on 93.7 The Fan, via ESPN.com. “I don’t think we’ll see a lot of it.”​

 

[Jobu]

I think the Jets don't gain much by using the wildcat.
There is no more surprise value.

Rex Ryan says it forces other teams to practice against it, consuming their practice time. But one of the hidden costs of the wildcat is the practice time devoted to it, as opposed to other plays. If it can be proven that the Wildcat nets 4.2 yards per carry for the Jets, while their other running plays average 4 yards per carry, for a net of .2, I don't think it does much.

I also wonder if it breaks their QBs rhythm.
I think it (and using Tebow) harmed Mark Sanchez last year (as bad as he was anyway).

The Wildcat is for teams with so-so QBS, and Roethlisberger is a good QB, so I think its a mistake for the Steelers to employ it.