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

[BamaDelta]

+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.

This may be very elementary, but I just gotta ask. I understand about personnel on the field and such, but when GMac sprints out to the side vs. him being behind center does the opposing D not have time to react? I don't get him @ WR. It's not like we're going to do anything but run. Are you saying that most teams have enough flexibility and availability of talent that they change personnel based on who's in the game and at what position? :headscratch:

I could see the LSU's and Florida's of the world having this, but they're big enough and physical enough to stop the run at the point of the attack regardless. And I thought I knew a lot about football.

 

[BAMA74]

It's funny how so many people i talk to doubt these new formations....BAMA has plenty of talented personel to run these types of formations....i'm all for it and lets WIN BAMA:a:

 

[Argo]

This may be very elementary, but I just gotta ask. I understand about personnel on the field and such, but when GMac sprints out to the side vs. him being behind center does the opposing D not have time to react? I don't get him @ WR. It's not like we're going to do anything but run. Are you saying that most teams have enough flexibility and availability of talent that they change personnel based on who's in the game and at what position? :headscratch:

I think I just confused you with my explanation, but I think you understand.

Let's say Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator sees McElroy out there with 4 wide outs and 1 runningback. He's not going to send three linebackers in the game to run a 4-3. If he does, he's putting linebackers on slot receivers, likely Maze or Hanks. Someone's getting beat bad in that situation.

So, he sees 4 wide outs and a QB with the deep ball, and he's sending in a nickel or dime package. That's extra defensive backs and less linebackers. Now, let's say they go with the Dime personnel. That's 4 d-lineman, 1 linebacker and 6 defensive backs. Now, we run McElroy out wide and have Ingram line up in the wildcat position. Yes, they know at this point that we are probably going to run the ball. Problem is, they only have 1 linebacker on the field with 6 defensive backs and it's too late to change personnel. I like our chances if Ingram or Upchurch breaking tackles against defensive backs. I'll take that matchup all day.

If you take McElroy off the field, you also take the threat of the deep ball with him. The opposing DC isn't going to send in a nickel or dime package if they don't see a quarterback on the field. Hell, if McElroy isn't in the huddle, they know we are going to run the wildcat and will have personnel on the field to stop it. With McElroy in the huddle, they at least have to send in personnel to defend the deep ball.

I hope that made a little more sense. :lol:

 

[usn92]

This may be very elementary, but I just gotta ask. I understand about personnel on the field and such, but when GMac sprints out to the side vs. him being behind center does the opposing D not have time to react? I don't get him @ WR. It's not like we're going to do anything but run. Are you saying that most teams have enough flexibility and availability of talent that they change personnel based on who's in the game and at what position? :headscratch:

I could see the LSU's and Florida's of the world having this, but they're big enough and physical enough to stop the run at the point of the attack regardless. And I thought I knew a lot about football.

When an offense doesn't substitute its personnel, but rearranges their alignment, they do not have to give the defense time to sub players in/out. The Wildcat does not say "I'm a Wildcat" until the huddle breaks or until the QB moves to his position in the formation. Some teams have the QB go under center and then motion to his Wildcat position. The offense can snap the ball at any time. This is the beauty of the QB staying on the field. To sub for the QB is to negate the whole point of the formation.

If you have an athletic QB, like G Mac, then he has to be accounted for by the defense, thereby pulling someone out of the box to cover him or an additional area of the field. Even if he's only good for a five yard out/curl/hook he still has to be covered.

The movement of the QB eliminates the need for somebody to hand the ball off to the back. Thus his motion or alignment outside not only means one less defender in the box, but it also means the LOS blockers now have a numbers advantage for the hole in the run game or launch point for a passing play.

The threat of a handoff to the sweep man, a direct snap run, a counter/misdirection/option play, or QB/RB movement to a passing position is a threat on every snap and very few defenses can line up in normal personnel and defend all the available options.

 

[BamaDelta]

When an offense doesn't substitute its personnel, but rearranges their alignment, they do not have to give the defense time to sub players in/out. The Wildcat does not say "I'm a Wildcat" until the huddle breaks or until the QB moves to his position in the formation. Some teams have the QB go under center and then motion to his Wildcat position. The offense can snap the ball at any time. This is the beauty of the QB staying on the field. To sub for the QB is to negate the whole point of the formation.

If you have an athletic QB, like G Mac, then he has to be accounted for by the defense, thereby pulling someone out of the box to cover him or an additional area of the field. Even if he's only good for a five yard out/curl/hook he still has to be covered.

The movement of the QB eliminates the need for somebody to hand the ball off to the back. Thus his motion or alignment outside not only means one less defender in the box, but it also means the LOS blockers now have a numbers advantage for the hole in the run game or launch point for a passing play.

The threat of a handoff to the sweep man, a direct snap run, a counter/misdirection/option play, or QB/RB movement to a passing position is a threat on every snap and very few defenses can line up in normal personnel and defend all the available options.

Then based on all that either Va. Tech really defended well or we executed poorly (or more than likely a combo of the two).

 

[BamaDelta]

I think I just confused you with my explanation, but I think you understand.

Let's say Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator sees McElroy out there with 4 wide outs and 1 runningback. He's not going to send three linebackers in the game to run a 4-3. If he does, he's putting linebackers on slot receivers, likely Maze or Hanks. Someone's getting beat bad in that situation.

So, he sees 4 wide outs and a QB with the deep ball, and he's sending in a nickel or dime package. That's extra defensive backs and less linebackers. Now, let's say they go with the Dime personnel. That's 4 d-lineman, 1 linebacker and 6 defensive backs. Now, we run McElroy out wide and have Ingram line up in the wildcat position. Yes, they know at this point that we are probably going to run the ball. Problem is, they only have 1 linebacker on the field with 6 defensive backs and it's too late to change personnel. I like our chances if Ingram or Upchurch breaking tackles against defensive backs. I'll take that matchup all day.

If you take McElroy off the field, you also take the threat of the deep ball with him. The opposing DC isn't going to send in a nickel or dime package if they don't see a quarterback on the field. Hell, if McElroy isn't in the huddle, they know we are going to run the wildcat and will have personnel on the field to stop it. With McElroy in the huddle, they at least have to send in personnel to defend the deep ball.

I hope that made a little more sense. :lol:

Perfect sense....thank you.:td: And I thought I was about to go to bed without learning anything today.

 

[BamaCore]

Then based on all that either Va. Tech really defended well or we executed poorly (or more than likely a combo of the two).

It probably is a little of both. The formation is in it's infancy in Alabama, but it did it's job. It wore down some of those lineman and it gives future defensive coordinators one more thing they have to worry about preparing for.