🏈 Member Feedback: What Bamafans Don't Understand About the Wildcat.

[CRIMSONTUSKS.COM BLOG]

RollTideBama.com's own, USN92, took the time to put "fingers to keys" this week with some opinions on the new Wildcat formation. With so many Bamafans a little leery of what this formation brings we felt his thoughts on the matter were worth sharing. There was a little tid-bit passed along ...

Read More Here on the Crimson Tusks Blog...

 

[TerryP]

Very well done USN92. You bring up a point in your breakdown that was discussed a bit in this thread about the pistol formation.

Another has <input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">the quarterback in motion, getting the handoff and then dropping back behind <input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">the running back. Thus, <input name="IL_MARKER" type="hidden">the quarterback is in a deep shotgun position with the running back acting as a personal protector, which enables the H-back/tight end to fake his line of scrimmage block and get over the middle or down field with the wide receivers

If you compare the way the pistol formation is when they set up, versus what that particular option results in from the wildcat, they aren't identical, but could easily be called fraternal twins.

Bottom line, the QB and RB end up in the same position with the same options as the pistol formation and the ones the Wildcat offers as well.

Bamafans need to give this some time and remember, it was only installed this fall.

___________

It's ironic to me that fans gave Shula a pass his first year saying, "he didn't have a spring practice." But, won't be patient with this now when we didn't practice it in the spring.

 

[Swamptick]

Nice read man. Thanks.

 

[Nothing_But_A_Winner00]

Good stuff USN92. The only reason I'm forking up $20 for the FIU game this weekend is to see what other stuff we can do out of the WildCat and the Pistol. Now that I think about it, Saban will probably show less than I expect.:swear:

 

[BamaCore]

Very good read USN92. I enjoyed it a lot, it was extremely informative too.

 

[Argo]

Great read, USN92!!

I like the wildcat. I only wish that Smelley had made a block on that first play. Not getting on Smelley, but if he had made that block, the first play out of the wildcat would have been a long touchdown run. People would feel a lot different about the wildcat than they do now.

 

[TerryP]

Great read, USN92!!

I like the wildcat. I only wish that Smelley had made a block on that first play. Not getting on Smelley, but if he had made that block, the first play out of the wildcat would have been a long touchdown run. People would feel a lot different about the wildcat than they do now.

That's another point people keep missing.

They are used to seeing the Wildcat in a spread out formation, like 92 mentioned, and we are using it in a "bunch" formation, as Brother Oliver calls it—basically a power Wild Cat.

No one else in the NCAA really runs this variation of the scheme. At least, not that I can think of.

 

[psychojoe]

It is throwback football. The Wildcat is much like the old single wing formation. Power football with elements of counter plays and misdirection, passing if you have a passer. That's what my HS team ran until my senior year. By then we had a passer who couldn't run and switched to the wing T.

 

[UAgrad93]

Personally, I like the formations (wildcat & pistol) because they give alot of the same plays from a different look. This drives D coordinators fits when you have to throw 10-15 more formations at a team when preparing for them. So many times, the inability of the reaction to the formation by the D is what causes a simple play to be run out the gate. Execution is that other key ingredient.

 

[BamaDelta]

I'm trying to keep an open mind, but could anyone tell me the most yards we gained with it on a single play? I know we sure have much room for improvement.

 

[Argo]

Ingram had around 10 yards on a carry to the left side of the line.

 

[IllinoisTideFan]

I'd like to add that the people who are hootin and hollerin for Star Jackson to be out there running this thing are missing the point.

When you run Star out onto the field, the defense can react and make it's own personnel changes. When you keep the same players in, but they come out of the huddle and line up in odd places (like in the wildcat), then the D starts thinking more and reacting less.

Ultimately, with Star running it, it's not a different formation, it's a different offense.

 

[BamaFan425]

I think it had alot more underlying effects than most realize. It kept people guessing and obviously we did not show all we could have. I look forward to bringing out some plays outta the formation. Saban plans plays with more implications than just one game.

 

[UAgrad93]

Thing is people, this offense could be shelved for several weeks. There is no need to show anymore the next 2 weeks and no sense in even using it really. It throws into everyones head in the SEC as to OH S&%* !! They have to look at all of the possibles with the Wildcat and even the Pistol. When I coached high school ball, our D coordinator used to get so pissed off with those offenses that ran so many formations. It goes back to recognition for the Defense and there is only so much practice time a week you can put in unless you are at Michigan.

 

[TerryP]

Thing is people, this offense could be shelved for several weeks. There is no need to show anymore the next 2 weeks and no sense in even using it really. It throws into everyones head in the SEC as to OH S&%* !! They have to look at all of the possibles with the Wildcat and even the Pistol. When I coached high school ball, our D coordinator used to get so pissed off with those offenses that ran so many formations. It goes back to recognition for the Defense and there is only so much practice time a week you can put in unless you are at Michigan.

Two weeks? I don't think we'll need it against Arkansas. Kentucky? I'd think more so than Arkansas but honestly if we didn't see it again until 10/10 I wouldn't be surprised.

Now, IF I were the coach... :rofl:

 

[BamaCore]

Do you think they might shelve the Pistol as well, or will that stay?

 

[UAgrad93]

I should've said at least the next 2 weeks. I agree that it may be put on ice until maybe Kentucky. As for the Pistol, I think it may be shelved for the fact we won't need it for a while. I believe both the Wildcat and the Pistol will play into our offense significantly. It causes too many mismatches and provides a little more protection on passes( the pistol).

 

[TerryP]

Do you think they might shelve the Pistol as well, or will that stay?

It's so hard to predict—just guesses on my part.

That said, I can see us working with the pistol formation a little more...simply to test things out in a game/live situation.

We might see a few things with the Wild Cat as well...they may just use what they've already used in game and brings new wrinkles in with each game.

I don't see any reason why we can just line up in our ACE set and play very conservative football the next two weeks...

 

[usn92]

IMO we could very well see any and everything we ran against VT. Maybe not a steady diet, but maybe a taste.
1) it still needs work against an opponent who has schemed to stop it. We need to know what to expect and we need to improve our execution. Scout teams can't provide this exposure.
2) we need to have the 2nd team, and 3rd team at some positions, run it in "must produce" circumstance so they know what to do. It's no good if the whole thing has to be shelved because one or two players go down.
3) Saban has never been one to be scared by you seeing a play. See our offensive game plans for 95% of last season. We must believe if we execute it will work.
4) the more proficient we are at the basics the more the whole offense will grow and the more wrinkles we will employ.

 

[Argo]

I'd like to add that the people who are hootin and hollerin for Star Jackson to be out there running this thing are missing the point.

When you run Star out onto the field, the defense can react and make it's own personnel changes. When you keep the same players in, but they come out of the huddle and line up in odd places (like in the wildcat), then the D starts thinking more and reacting less.

Ultimately, with Star running it, it's not a different formation, it's a different offense.

+5^^^^

That's just another aspect of having McElroy out there. With him at least in the huddle with 3 receivers, the defense HAS to have personnel on the field to cover those receivers. Send McElroy out wide with Ingram taking the snap, and you now running a power play against a nickel defense.