Football 101: The Wildcat Offense

Understanding the newfangled Wildcat offense in today's NFL can be complicated for a football novice. However, as fall is fast approaching, let us breakdown this offense that is certain be used in high quantities during the 2009 NFL season.

First, let's start with the basic wildcat personnel. Let me state this now though: There will probably be a dozen or more different personnel variations in various Wildcat offenses this season, but most of them will, more or less, fit the basic description I'm about to give you. Starting with the position of quarterback. Yes, a quarterback will always be on the field for the Wildcat offense. Now, teams such as the Miami Dolphins may use their backup quarterback instead of their starter, as a way to get yet another athlete on the field. The rule of thumb on the quarterback in the Wildcat offense is that there must be one on the field, otherwise the defense doesn't have to respect the offense's ability to pass the ball at all.

Then, you will probably have two running backs on the field. One of which will take the snap, unless there is a running quarterback in the game. If there is a running QB in the game, then you will likely see two running backs lined up offset of the quarterback or as wide receivers.

Of course, there will be 5 offensive lineman, and there is likely to be a tight end, leaving just 2 receivers in the formation. Thus, when you total it all up, you have a pro-style personnel in the game, with 1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 2 wide receivers, a tight end and a base offensive line. Having this type of personnel in the game before huddling up is vital to the success of the formation, because it mask any intention to come out in a non-pro formation, thereby putting the defense in scrambling mode once the offense lines up in the Wildcat formation.

Speaking of lining up, where exactly are all of these players going. Well, assuming the normal starting quarterback is the game, that quarterback will line up wide as a receiver, serving as a mediocre threat to catch a pass. One of the running backs will line up in shotgun to receive the snap, while the other RB will either motion across the shotgun RB right after the snap of the ball, or that RB can be offset of the RB receiving the snap. The wide receivers are lined up in slot or wideout positions, and the tight end is at the end of the line as usual.

Despite what you hear, the premise to the wildcat formation is simple: it gives the offense an extra blocker in the run game. In a traditional offensive run play with the real quarterback under center, the QB hands the ball off and has no further interaction with the play, thus the defense never accounts for him. However, when the quarterback is out wide, and the running back takes a direct snap, now the offense is essentially involving an extra man, essentially the quarterback's position, into the rushing game. Thus, if a defense needed 8 men to stop the run when the real quarterback was in the game, now they need 9. However, defenses are hesitant to put that 9^th man in the box, because 1, if the RB gets past the box, there's no one to tackle him, and 2, the corners are now left all alone to cover the wide receivers.

Thus, the Wildcat offense more or less puts the defense in a "pick your poison" position. If they put 9 people in the box, the offense could throw the ball with the running back, like Ronnie Brown did against the New England Patriots. However, if they elect to only put 8 men in the box and guard the pass, then the RB taking the snap could get a big gain on a running play, or even worse yet, break it for a touchdown, just as Ronnie Brown did against the Patriots!

Either way, the defense is in a bind, and it's a tough spot to be in. I'm sure you're asking why offenses just don't put the defense in this bind more often? Well, depending on the accuracy of your RB's arm is not exactly something you want to do for an entire game, and if a defense can begin to game plan for what holes to attack and what signals to watch out for, the element of surprise that the formation creates loses its luster.

However, luster lost or not, you will see plenty of the Wildcat formation this season. Afterall, this is a copycat league, so what works for one team is worth a shot to another one.