Dolphins' Wildcat becomes a little predictable

[Dolph N.Fan]

First dates rarely go better than the one the Dolphins had on Sept. 22, 2008, in the quaint surroundings of Foxborough. Six Wildcat plays, four touchdowns, a 25-point road victory against the Patriots and one humbled coaching genius.

You couldn't blame the Dolphins for falling hard that day for the Wildcat. And when you're smitten from the start, you'll do anything to keep the flame lit. You spoil your love interest with lavish gifts, even if it costs you dearly — like a second-round pick on the seemingly perfect present called Pat White. You keep trying to recapture the first-date magic even as everyone tells you the relationship is doomed and destructive, and it's time to see other people.

And for the Dolphins, it clearly is. They don't need to block the Wildcat's number or de-friend it on Facebook. They can still call on it sometimes, just to see what's up. This going-steady stuff, however, has got to stop.

On Sunday against the Jets, the Dolphins tried the Wildcat eight times. They netted minus-18 yards. As dates go, that's the equivalent of her vomiting expensive red wine all over you, then berating you for letting her order it....

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...dolphins-extra-0929-20100929,0,4045778.column

It's kind of obvious it's predictable when it's this one dimensional.

 

[dolpns13]

Wildcrap

 

[oasis]

1) The Wildcat is not as effective as it used to be running up the middle. This is a combination of the blocking being not as good and opponents studying the percentages and knowing that Ronnie keeps it and runs up the gut a majority of the time. So as a defense, it's a fairly safe bet to stuff the middle.

2) I think opponents have studied and learned keys in Ronnie & Ricky's behavior that allow them to figure out if the motion man is getting the ball or not before he actually does or doesn't receive it.

3) Some of the non-traditional Wildcat plays are fairly obvious in the threats they present. That means you always cover Marshall if he's in there. If Cobbs heads to the backfield he's likely getting a reverse handoff, etc.

What I think this all boils down to is that very careful film study of Miami's wildcat has basically allowed defenses to solve it. In the meantime, our own "quality control" coaches aren't doing a good job with it. The tendencies are easily figured out and planned for...

 

[PhinsPhan11]

We need a new wrinkle and we need to run this a lot less because it kills the momentum of some drives.

 

[datruth55]

I'll reference my post in this thread. Don't feel like posting that again.

http://www.finheaven.com/forums/sho...things&p=1063596433&viewfull=1#post1063596433

 

[Swantoon]

The Wildcat was always predictable. The difference was execution.