Is it time to retire the wildcat?

[phins2phins]

This is another topic which is subject to great debate amongst us fans. We all know how effective it was when it was first introduced in the 2008 season, but, how effective will it continue to be from here on out and should we base some or any of our draft choices on this one play alone?



I have a post about this up on my blog http://phins2phins.blogspot.com/2010/01/is-it-time-to-retire-wildcat.html

I would love to hear what you guys think about it and about the topic in general

[fyo]

So... you tried to dredge up some hits for your blog and got your first post nuked.

Now, a couple of days later, you're back and doing the same.

[Brian Fein]

I think when writing a blog, its important to be educated on the subject.  For example, the Wildcat is not a "play" - its a formation.  Secondly, why would you want to "retire" any formation when 80% of the rest of the league has this package in their offenses as well. 

I think its important to understand what the Wildcat formation really is and does before you sit here and say how it doesn't work and it sucks.

[Dave Gray]

I appreciate that he's at least trying to start convo here.  I know it's tough to start a Fins site.  Give the guy a little break.  So long as he's starting topics and not just advertising, I'm okay with it.

Anyway, no, I don't think we should retire the wildcat.  I don't see any reason to.  I think you have to use it just like any other formation -- when the time is right.  If you aren't particularly great at running the shotgun, you might limit its use, but you don't tear the pages out of the playbook.

[Philly Fin Fan]

Here's a hint to our new friend- don't "post and run". We hate that. Discuss it with us, argue your points in the thread. I read your blog the other day, and to my surprise, you deleted any comments which disagreed with you.

[tubba marxxx]

it's actually quite simple

if ronnie brown gets re-signed, no

if ronnie brown becomes a free agent, yes

[fyo]

Here's a hint to our new friend- don't "post and run". We hate that. Discuss it with us, argue your points in the thread. I read your blog the other day, and to my surprise, you deleted any comments which disagreed with you.

You REALLY find that surprising?

This link-n-run crap should be banned. It's SPAM. Relevant, perhaps, but without an existing relationship with the board, it's still SPAM. (Just like posting, say, VIAGRA ads on a sexual-dysfunction forum).

[Sunstroke]

I read your blog the other day, and to my surprise, you deleted any comments which disagreed with you.

That right there is probably enough to keep me from even thinking about reading his blog...

[Tepop84]

I read your blog the other day, and to my surprise, you deleted any comments which disagreed with you.

Maybe he is just practicing to become a finheaven mod.

[Brian Fein]

Here's a hint to our new friend- don't "post and run". We hate that. Discuss it with us, argue your points in the thread. I read your blog the other day, and to my surprise, you deleted any comments which disagreed with you.

Yeah, I noticed that, too.  I guess this person is not interested in discussion, but more propagation of his own opinion.

Propaganda, party of 1...?

[Doc-phin]

I see nothing wrong with discussing this topic.  It was posted in a reasonable way, even if it was not in the fashion that most of us would have started it.

My answer...

I would lean more toward keeping it than dismissing it.  My primary interest in keeping the Wildcat is that it forces other teams out of their routine during the practice week.  In order for this to remain true, we must have the personnel to run it well and we must be able to execute with a reasonable degree of consistency.  It may be too simple to say that if we have Ronnie and Ricky we should keep it, but the concept isn't far off. 

There are a few sidenotes worth mentioning... 

I would be in favor of expanding the Wildcat to include more of a passing threat.  Pat White really let me down in this regard this year.  If he can get it together this offseason, I can see an opportunity for actual explosiveness out of this package vs. just being serviceable for a few yards. 

If we manage to get more explosive at the receiver position and one of our QBs (probably Henne) demonstrates that they are capable of giving dominating performances, I would consider heavily diminishing the role of the Wildcat in the interest of preserving QB rhythm and having our best players on the field at all times.  We definitely aren't there yet.

[tubba marxxx]

I see nothing wrong with discussing this topic.  It was posted in a reasonable way, even if it was not in the fashion that most of us would have started it.

My answer...

I would lean more toward keeping it than dismissing it.  My primary interest in keeping the Wildcat is that it forces other teams out of their routine during the practice week.  In order for this to remain true, we must have the personnel to run it well and we must be able to execute with a reasonable degree of consistency.  It may be too simple to say that if we have Ronnie and Ricky we should keep it, but the concept isn't far off. 

There are a few sidenotes worth mentioning... 

I would be in favor of expanding the Wildcat to include more of a passing threat.  Pat White really let me down in this regard this year.  If he can get it together this offseason, I can see an opportunity for actual explosiveness out of this package vs. just being serviceable for a few yards. 

If we manage to get more explosive at the receiver position and one of our QBs (probably Henne) demonstrates that they are capable of giving dominating performances, I would consider heavily diminishing the role of the Wildcat in the interest of preserving QB rhythm and having our best players on the field at all times.  We definitely aren't there yet.

i conpletely agreed with you UNTIL you said "having our best players on the field at all times".....that is the whole point of the wildcat, ronnie and ricky, our best players, on the field at the same time.  but i get what you're saying about henne and the recievers developing and they could BECOME the best players, but for right NOW they are not.