Is it time to retire the wildcat?

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?

Back in 2008, Miami first used the wildcat week 3 in a game against the New England Patriots. During this game this scheme was used 6 times and resulted in 4 touchdowns. The Patriots couldn’t stop us and oh how good it felt to beat the Patriots 38-13 in Foxboro after starting the season with a 0-2 record. We were all sold!

During the 2008 season the Dolphins used the wildcat a total of 88 times for 579 yards averaging about 6.58 yards per play, but most importantly, the wildcat led us to win games. Other teams around the NFL started to adopt the wildcat as well but none of them were as successful as the Dolphins were.
The success of the wildcat certainly came not only from our ability to run it with the players that we had, but also because other teams just didn’t know how to stop it; they either couldn’t or weren’t well enough prepared to. But when we made it to the playoffs the Ravens defense stopped the wildcat cold by allowing only 7 yards to be gained out of the formation the two times it was used. We were dealt a crushing 27-9 loss and out playoff dreams were done.

During the first 6 games of the last season the wildcat was used 59 times for a total gain of 351 yards (5.95 yards per carry) and accounted for approximately 34.34% of all our rushing yards in those games. The next 5 games the wildcat was used 31 times for a total gain of 56 yards (1.81 yards per carry) and accounted for approximately 8.40% of all our rushing yards in those games. This decline wasn’t due to Ronnie Brown injury since he actually played in 3 of those 5 games.
The next couple of games the wildcat failed to make an appearance altogether. Still we managed to average 136.6 yards per game compared to the 153.55 we had averaged in the first eleven when Brown and the wildcat where in full use.

In looking at those stats it's easy to see that the success of the wildcat has diminished and will probably continue to diminish, especially when used against divisional opponents who have had a chance to prepare and encounter it several times by now.

Does that mean that we should stop using it altogether then? No! The wildcat should definitely continue to be a weapon for the offense; it just shouldn’t be the main weapon. If used occasionally the wildcat will continue to be an effective scheme when trying to throw off an offense who has been successful at stopping the pass or when used as an offensive weapon while we are in the endzone. Keeping the wildcat in our playbook will force other teams to spend hours studying film to be prepared to stop it when it comes and it will leave them with less time to prepare for the rest of our offensive plan which should be a lot different next season and should incorporate more passing since we have the weapons to do that now and other running schemes which we have also proved we have the tools to run.

Finally, considering that we already have the personnel that can run the wildcat effectively I don’t believe any part of the draft should focus on building up solely for this aspect; we have too many issues in other areas that need to be addressed during the draft. We drafted Pat White last season solely for this purpose and we all saw how great the wildpat turned out to be.

With Ronnnie Brown running it.. I wouldn't mind seeing it 2, 3 times per game...

With Ronnnie Brown running it.. I wouldn't mind seeing it 2, 3 times per game...

I would up that to 5-8 times per game. With the right personnel, RB, RW and PC, the package was VERY effective this season. It ended up fairly ugly, but 2/3 of the reason why the package works was not there.

Actually if you look at the numbers the wildcat's success greatly diminished after week 6 last year and I think part of it was that we were using it too much. I don't think we should retire it I just think we should limit it to use in the endzone and to throw the defense off

If you mean only use it in the redzone, that's probably the one area of the field we should not be running it in.

The field is already so clogged up, now your asking teams to stack the box even further?

I agree with eleaf. 5-8 times a game with Ronnie...0 with PW....but keep it in between the 20's.

I thought the WC -[and its variations] was MOST effective in the red zone, as long as we are not passing out of it. With Ronnie running it, the WC can be lethal inside the 30 yard line.

When it comes to the Wildcat, some of you need to remember that "The Wildcat" was something in the back of Parcells mind even before he came to Miami. It will not be dead. The Dolphins just need a back up option to Ronnie Brown if he gets injured. I think the stiff-necked media will be shocked to see it in action next year and will attack it as often as they can.

As far as the WildPAT, I think the Dolphins were trying to have a passing option with a running QB. It's a nice idea, but Pat White needs to bulk up and adjust to the NFL. After watching how little arm strength he had in our last game, I cannot understand what the heck our coaches were seeing in practice. If White could not do it in practice (as was reported numerous times) then you surely cannot do it in a game.

No Way! You'll love the Wildcat even more when we draft Tebow

If we draft Tebow, I think I'll puke. No. I know I'll puke. In fact, I will puke more than any human has ever puked before.

If we draft Tebow, I think I'll puke. No. I know I'll puke. In fact, I will puke more than any human has ever puked before.