Question about motioning and/or shifting

[clownfish]

I brought this up in another thread about the wildcat formation and never got a real solid answer. I was wondering if any of you know if it is legal for Ronnie, as the 'QB', to motion Pennington, as a 'WR', to line up under center? I researched it a bit and I can't find anything that says it would be illegal.

If it were legal, I really hope our coaching staff realizes it and uses this idea. It would create even greater mismatches, as defenses would already be scrambling to try to stop the wildcat. Then BAM, Pennington hits Bess or Turner on a slant, etc, etc. We could move from wildcat to standard formations and back, thus creating absolute unpredictability. What do you guys think?

 

[NY8123]

I brought this up in another thread about the wildcat formation and never got a real solid answer. I was wondering if any of you know if it is legal for Ronnie, as the 'QB', to motion Pennington, as a 'WR', to line up under center? I researched it a bit and I can't find anything that says it would be illegal.

If it were legal, I really hope our coaching staff realizes it and uses this idea. It would create even greater mismatches, as defenses would already be scrambling to try to stop the wildcat. Then BAM, Pennington hits Bess or Turner on a slant, etc, etc. We could move from wildcat to standard formations and back, thus creating absolute unpredictability. What do you guys think?

It is very legal as long as the offense resets for 1 second before the snap.

Ronnie isn't the QB in the wildcat he is a running back lined up behind center for a direct snap in which he can throw or run or lateral whatever.

I don’t believe a running back can line up under center and take a snap or at least I have never seen this, it is always a direct snap in the back field. I am not sure why you would want to run from a snap under center with a running back anyway, it takes away the ability to survey the field and forward motion on contact. The same can be said about a quick passing game and the shotgun formation. It takes away seconds that the QB can assess the defense and react.

Here is a great article on the wildcat and its benefits and shortcomings.

http://www.doublewingsymposium.com/dws_new/articles/WILDCAT%20ARTICLE.pdf

 

[Geforce]

There is nothing illegal about Pennington, or any player with an eligible number, to start out as a WR/RB/TE in any formation and then to shift to the QB position. I think, but not totally positive, as long as Brown doesn't actually line up under center, Pennington could shift from WR to QB without any cause for penalty.

As for trying to catch the defense off-guard by such a tactic, I don't think it would. With two WRs instead of two TEs, it would look like a passing formation from the start so they might be looking for a pass or flea-flicker instead of a run.

 

[Never say die]

I brought this up in another thread about the wildcat formation and never got a real solid answer. I was wondering if any of you know if it is legal for Ronnie, as the 'QB', to motion Pennington, as a 'WR', to line up under center? I researched it a bit and I can't find anything that says it would be illegal.

If it were legal, I really hope our coaching staff realizes it and uses this idea. It would create even greater mismatches, as defenses would already be scrambling to try to stop the wildcat. Then BAM, Pennington hits Bess or Turner on a slant, etc, etc. We could move from wildcat to standard formations and back, thus creating absolute unpredictability. What do you guys think?

Like others have noted I think anyone can line up under center provided their number qualifies (single digits to 19) I believe Ginn even lined up their once last year if memory serves. However, I do wonder about the logic as the defense would shift accordingly once CP moved behind center and with a blitz from his left he's exposed as we'd be in an unbalanced line with Jake to his right instead of protecting his backside. I think the D might actually welcome this kind of shift.

 

[Zounds]

I thought that if a WR went into motion, he was not allowed to stop and set behind the OL, although the ball could be hiked while he was still in motion behind a lineman. If that makes any sense.

 

[Never say die]

Someone could break out the rulebook........ but a few things to consider on the formation itself... i.e Does Penny cover up anybody specifically the H-back or the tight end? Is he on the line or off? What's the unbalanced line rules, if any? Will his re-lining up under center require two men in motion at different times meaning you'd basically have to adjust as a shift rather than motion after the line is set? ....What else?

 

[clownfish]

Wow, I didn't think I'd get such a negative response. I really think some of you are jumping the gun a bit on your opinions of this idea.

First of all, we will come out of the huddle into the wildcat, what, at most 5-12 times per game? It takes the defense 10 or so seconds to read and react. We motion or shift Pennington (or White) under center and hike the ball within 2-3 seconds, that won't give the defense much time to readjust. How does this NOT create mismatches and confusion? Even if we catch one out of the eleven defensive players off his game, that can make a huge difference.

Secondly, someone mentioned the unbalnaced line leaving Pennington open to a blindside hit, but if we shift Jake from his TE spot to his LT spot, the problem is solved. Or we could shift Pennington, then motion Jake on a running play. Imagine him getting a running start to throw his first block. He could pancake 2 guys before sustaining a 3rd. We could also leave the unbalanced line and shift White to QB. He is a lefty and can elude pass rushers better than Pennington.

And lastly, someone mentioned being at a disadvantage with only one WR being on the field for a passing play from Pennington, suggesting that we'd be too predictable with the run in this situation. But Pennington excels passing to the TEs and RBs and our cast of these players are good receivers (especially Ronnie and Cobbs).

With the slow part of the offseason reaching its peak, my mind has been swimming with ideas for the wildcat. I just think that the possibilties are endless with this formation, as I've said in other posts, and the people that call it a gimmick or a flash-in-the-pan or full of crap, IMO. Some people are afraid of creativity, I guess.

 

[clownfish]

Someone could break out the rulebook........ but a few things to consider on the formation itself... i.e Does Penny cover up anybody specifically the H-back or the tight end? Is he on the line or off? What's the unbalanced line rules, if any? Will his re-lining up under center require two men in motion at different times meaning you'd basically have to adjust as a shift rather than motion after the line is set? ....What else?

Great questions. This is the kind of discussion I was hoping to inspire. Anyone know the answers?