Maybe We Take A Page From The Denver Broncos
In the New England-Denver game today, the Broncos cracked out what they call their "WildHorse" formation (ugh, plz stop with the 'Wild-blank'). In it, Knowshon Moreno lines up in shotgun, with Kyle Orton either in a slot or a over-TE H-back kind of position. Sometimes the Broncos would let Moreno take it and run, other times, Orton would quickly run behind center and execute a pass play. From my perspective, the Pats, several times, were left in less-than ideal defensive formation.
So I humbly beseech thee, o denizens of MGoBlogville: might this work with Tate in the role of Kyle Orton and Shoelace/Carlos/Minor as Knowshon?
My two cents: I think it would be an excellent twist, but the added complexities we would gain would be lost with freshmen qbs who are still learning the regular stuff. Maybe in a year or two...
October 11th, 2009 at 9:36 PM ^
I really can't believe we haven't had Denard and Tate on the field at the same time more. We should. Maybe not Minor though since he's no threat to throw.
October 11th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
Carlos Brown and Minor, both block well, both can run. Brown is the home run threat, and can throw decently as a high school qb. Imagine if the Wilcat options were Minor between the tackles, and Brown to the outside.
October 11th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
Obviously both are good runners. But Minor can't throw well. It would be good to have someone in there who could run, throw, or give it to the QB. So in order, DRob, Brown, and then Minor.
October 11th, 2009 at 9:44 PM ^
and my reply is: with such short depth at QB, why risk putting both of our guys out to get injured at the same time?
It is simply too touchy of an issue to risk. Down the road, with more depth, I agree that this could be a good idea, but why risk it if we can move the ball effectively without this package?
October 11th, 2009 at 10:55 PM ^
I agree that this could be a good idea, but why risk it if we can move the ball effectively without this package?Hey, you said it, not me ...!! [Edit - I agree that it's too early to try trick plays, but I'm pointing out why others feel that it could be a good idea]
October 11th, 2009 at 10:44 PM ^
WTF is Michigan playing for this year? Seriously, at this point, let's throw everything at our opponents we can think of. UM doesn't really have anything to lose. Denard hasn't really even been utilized, so what's the difference if he's injured? Let's get him on the field and make some shit happen.
October 11th, 2009 at 11:10 PM ^
It would be pretty spectacular to see them in the backfield together and watch what they could do.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:35 AM ^
for both QBs to be on the field at the same time. They just haven't done it, not since WMU game, I believe. Maybe, they're saving for OSU game?
October 11th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
They are both true freshman. Can we please give them time to learn the basic packages first before we expect to have mastery of trick formations?
October 12th, 2009 at 8:59 AM ^
It would be nice to execute the offense as designed with precision for a while.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:33 PM ^
Coach Rod needs to find a way to get Denard into the game earlier and get the ball in his hands. I would not red shirt Gardner, but bring him along earlier and use Denard like Florida did Percy Harvin. Just my opinion.
October 11th, 2009 at 11:31 PM ^
Will Denard stay at QB after this year? Tough question, as there are good arguments in both directions.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
I have always wondered myself why the two weren't on the field at the same time, but now I know better. Forcier has proven he cannot run between tackles. He is also very fragile and gets hit easily. The formation wouldn't work because Forcier would be a dead man walking, unable to block because of his fragility and unable to receive because of his lack of speed/height.
October 11th, 2009 at 11:04 PM ^
But it wouldn't aid us much. It was effective for the Broncos because it made the Patriots respect the Qb as a run threat. They had to come out in a defense against a running Qb, but be ready to switch to another D when Orton came under center. Any defense worth its salt will always be prepared for a running Qb against us though, so they wouldn't have to change their reads at all.
I don't think learning the extra plays would be an issue at all though. The package was really just a base set with the Qb out wide, and the only play out of it was the direct snap dive type play. Any other play they ran, Orton motioned under center, and it turned into any of the plays they could run from that base set. The only new thing a Qb had to learn was to wander towards the sidelines, or to run under center before running one of the plays he already knows.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:54 AM ^
DUDEZ, WE DON'T EVEN NEED A QB WE CAN JUST RUN BROWN OUT OF THE WILDCAT!
P.S. DEX I WILL FIGHT YOU, DUDE.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 AM ^
If you ask me, we ought to line up Denard and Tate right next to each other and let the defense guess which one's getting the snap.