Do we have a "wildcat" package?

Submitted by Victory Collins on

In various posts (most regarding recruiting), I have seen people surmise that a certain player/recuirt may be able to contribute to our offense by operating out of a "wildcat" formation.

My question is this: do people think we really have a "wildcat" package, or did RRod have one in the past in a way that leads us to believe we will have one too?

My opinion is that the Denard Robinson snaps last year were not run out of an actual "wildcat" package. While it may have appeared to be a de facto "wildcat" package, I think it was more trying to get our backup QB some experience than an indication that going forward we will have a package where a non-QB athlete (or back-up QB) will come in and take a snap for 4-6 plays a game and mostly run it (albeit with a small threat to pass).

I seem to remember that RRod may have had Slaton take one or two direct snaps per game, and if so, maybe that is evidence that we could have something similar going forward.

BrayBray1

February 22nd, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^

Denard as QB with Devin lined up outside. We all saw the receiver skills he possesses. Hell, you could even run that play, and come back to the huddle with Devin as QB and Denard at WR...Cause some real headaches for DCs.

Wallaby Court

February 22nd, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^

Congratulations. You totally ignored what the man asked. The question wasn't should we have a wildcat package with some improbable and absurd personnel grouping that involves burning a redshirt for our presumed QB of the future on a position that he doesn't play. It was whether there is any historical evidence of RR running an package with skill players taking snaps.

theyellowdart

February 22nd, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^

Well, since most people consider a wildcat formation as being a formation where you have your best athlete at quarterback, who almost always runs the ball, rarely throwing.

Using that definition, Yea... I'd say we ran the wildcat a decent amount last year.

Magnus

February 22nd, 2010 at 12:31 PM ^

It's not a "wildcat" package when you put in your backup quarterback.

Not only does the "wildcat" refer to the single-wing formation (which we haven't run), but the new millennium meaning is "running back playing QB," which we also didn't run last year because Denard is the backup quarterback.

When Carlos Brown took some direct snaps back in '08, I guess you could call that the "wildcat."

formerlyanonymous

February 22nd, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^

Yeah, but when announcers are idiots, everything involving a QB that doesn't throw often turns into a wild[insert-mascot-or-crazy-noun-here]. Hence most people's confusion.

How different is our QB Power that Denard ran over and over again that much different than a single wing? Sure with the zone read, that's no single wing, but to start the season, I thought it was all no HB, QB power every play. That seems single wing philosophy to me, if not the exact pre-snap positioning.

mejunglechop

February 22nd, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^

The wildcat also means having an unbalanced line. From what I understand this is very tactically significant, but overlooked by most non-coaches. I don't think we've ever lined up with an unbalanced line under Rodriguez, but I may be wrong.

expatriate

February 22nd, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^

By Wildcat do you mean a dynamic rushing offense in which the quarterback has the option to throw or pass on any given play and is a legitimate rushing threat?

Yes. It is every play in the offense. Rich Rod's WVU/M offense is predicated on having an athletic quarterback who is capable of making defenders pay for playing pass. So... even if we don't technically have a "wildcat" offense with some Carlos Brown-type taking snaps, we still have the same advantage.

You don't need a wildcat set when the qb is a running threat in just about every other set. That said, Denard is definitely more likely to run it than Tate, but I wouldn't call that a wildcat.

Magnus

February 22nd, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^

I agree, but the fact that announcers are idiots doesn't change the meaning of the term. They also call end arounds "reverses," call Craig Roh "Craig Rahh," and say things like "He gains a yard...maybe more, maybe not."

I choose to operate in Reality Land rather than Moronic Announcer...Republic.

ldoublee

February 22nd, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^

Announcers are too damned lazy to understand that the "Wildcat" is not just a guy who can run around that plays QB, but rather a very specific package based on Single Wing principles.

The only thing that is even more frustrating is when they call an end around a "reverse". When FORMER PLAYERS call it that...well, I figure they took too many shots to the head.

formerlyanonymous

February 22nd, 2010 at 3:48 PM ^

Agreed.

My question was more, the H-Back type QB powers, were those not single wing? Not the usual shotgun, but the ones with Koger lined up to the side. We seemed to run that play like single wing. I'm not sure if that single play was or not. I'm too lazy to look up examples from UFRs. Too lazy and packed with work today.

Magnus

February 22nd, 2010 at 4:05 PM ^

Oh, I thought that was a rhetorical question.

Ummm...those plays were single wing-like, but not exactly single wing in the traditional sense.

Single wing traditionally implies an unbalanced line (for example, the left tackle would line up outside the right tackle; a tight end would play left tackle).

Also, technically a "wing" has to be adjacent to a tight end. So if Koger was lined up 1x1 off Webb, then he'd be a wing. If he was just lined up 1x1 off the tackle, he's just a slot or a "tight slot."

A typical single wing formation looks like:

(EDIT: Never mind. That didn't work.)

jtmc33

February 22nd, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^

No we don't. Nor will we.

As seen the NFL, the Wildcat is set on the premise that you have a drop back passing qb (Pro Style) that doesn't run; the defense prepares for this typical style offense. The direct-snap to a Wildcat-RB forces the defense to prepare for this drastically different formation with changing it's defensive scheme on the fly.

Obviously, the Henne/Brown Miami Dolphines Wildcat is the perfect example.

Having Tate, and down the road Gardner, as your qb means a passing qb that is more than capable of running --- all defenses will prepare for the spread accordingly. Adding a Wildcat doesn't change anything as far as "mixing it up" on the defense. If anything, it makes it easier for the defense because you are taking the option of the pass out of the game and the Spread-prepared defense now only has to worry about the run.

big10football

February 22nd, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^

I don't understand why the QB stays in the game in a wildcat formation. Isn't that pretty much a waste. No one worries that Chad Henne is going to go out for a pass. He isn't a skilled blocker. My understanding is that the Wildcat is used becuase you have an extra blocker, but what is the point when that extra blocker is a QB?

I never really understood that. You don't want your QB out there blocking regularly.

joeyb

February 22nd, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^

The main advantage is that the defense won't know when you are going to run it. If you pull your quarterback out, they know what play you are running in and they will run a 4-4 blitz. If you leave the quarterback in then they will call a play based on the assumption you are running a pro style offense and then have to audible at the line to get the correct play in.

Another advantage is that it allows for the occasional trick play where the quarterback gets the ball back and then throws it down field. If the defense audibles at the line to stop the run and then the offense throws the ball, it leaves the field wide open deep over the middle.

Michael

February 22nd, 2010 at 3:41 PM ^

The issue is actually that the defense does not know the wildcat is coming until they break the huddle, leaving the defense little, if any, time to substitute a player in to counter the wildcat.

The advantage is not that it limits the defense's play-calling, so much as it limits their ability to get personnel on the field designed to counter the wildcat look. By lining the QB up on the outside as a receiver, it essentially keeps that corner from being able to contribute to defending the play.

Of course, your argument about the trick plays is true.

chunkums

February 22nd, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^

Having a running quarterback is not running the wildcat guys. I suppose that every set with one running back, whether it's an ace or a 4 wide spread set is the exact same? There are these things called "blockers" which vary a lot in each set.

Gustavo Fring

February 22nd, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^

I'm pretty sure we'll have to incorporate it, whether Rich Rod has done it before or not. Arkansas did it with McFadden, Florida did it with Harvin...when you have an athlete that is faster than everyone else you want to give him a chance with an extra blocker.