As I look over the Chargers roster and look at their rushing woes, the question that comes to mind is:
Why don't the install a Wildcat package?
They have big and strong WRs that can block well. Legadu Nanee and LT that have enough experience passing to at least pose a threat to pass the ball out of that formation. Sproles and Nanee lining up in opposite sides of the field and going into motion to receive the hand-off from LT would cause a lot of havoc with opposing defenses.
It would stand to reason that running 10-15 or so plays out of this package would wear the defense down a bit and allow the traditional running game the chance to succeed later in the game.
Not only that, but it would increase the chance for the offense to have long, sustained drives to keep the most suspect part of their team---the defense---off the field.
Norv Turner is supposed to be some kind of offensive genius but he doesn't utilize all the talent he has on the field effectively. Cam Cameron had much more imagination than Norv ever has exhibited. Cameron was constantly using motion plays to create mismatches. Turner has become stale and predictable.
After seeing what Miami's offense does to defenses I simply don't understand why more teams aren't doing it and especially a team with the roster like the Chargers.
The Chargers might be able to shock someone in their first game using it, but until their offensive line improves, a Chargers' Wildcat package would be nothing but a gimmick. They'd run into the same problems the Fins ran into last year: they'd have mild success against inferior competition against weak competition and get shut down by good defenses. It wouldn't make much sense for the Chargers to take the best player on their team, Phillip Rivers, off the field. Rivers and the Chargers' WRs are good enough to move the ball. A Wildcat package would be counter-intuitive.
The Dolphins success running the Wildcat this year has more to do with a vastly improved offensive line than any other factor. When the Ravens shut down the Wildcat in the playoffs last year, the Fins had three backup players on the line attempting to block Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Bart Scott, and Ray Lewis. It was no surprise we got dominated: we didn't have the talent to compete.
[Reply]
SportsTop 08:22 PM 10-13-2009
Originally Posted by CW McGraw:
The Chargers might be able to shock someone in their first game using it, but until their offensive line improves, a Chargers' Wildcat package would be nothing but a gimmick. They'd run into the same problems the Fins ran into last year: they'd have mild success against inferior competition against weak competition and get shut down by good defenses. It wouldn't make much sense for the Chargers to take the best player on their team, Phillip Rivers, off the field. Rivers and the Chargers' WRs are good enough to move the ball. A Wildcat package would be counter-intuitive.
The Dolphins success running the Wildcat this year has more to do with a vastly improved offensive line than any other factor. When the Ravens shut down the Wildcat in the playoffs last year, the Fins had three backup players on the line attempting to block Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Bart Scott, and Ray Lewis. It was no surprise we got dominated: we didn't have the talent to compete.
I don't see how it would be counter-intuitive if it leads to sustained drives that keeps the opposing offense (and the Chargers defense) off the field.
I doubt they'd run into the same problems as the Dolphins did last year because they still have the personnel to run an effective traditional pro-set.
The Wildcat would just be a formation to attempt to alleviate their issues in the running game. As it stands now defenses are teeing off on Rivers because they don't respect the Chargers running game whatsoever. At this rate there's no way Rivers lasts the entire season getting as beat up as he is.
[Reply]
Yeah...THAT Guy 10:32 PM 10-13-2009
Their OLine isn't good enough to run the wildcat. The Wildcat is alot of the OLine pushing the D backwards and the running back just pounding it in behind his line. San Diego has gotten pretty horrible at blocking.
[Reply]
Vince 10:52 PM 10-13-2009
why do ppl think that any team can do the wildcat?....some teams have decent personel for it, but have looked horrible in trying...some teams like the chiefs should just scrap it from their playbook all together...
[Reply]
SportsTop 10:59 PM 10-13-2009
Originally Posted by Vince:
why do ppl think that any team can do the wildcat?....some teams have decent personel for it, but have looked horrible in trying...some teams like the chiefs should just scrap it from their playbook all together...
I never said any team could do it. In fact, I presented the personnel the Chargers had to at least give it a shot.
The Wildcat seems less about dominant offensive line play and more about misdirection and deception. If you have speed and talent at multiple key positions then I would think you'd at least have to try it given its success.
[Reply]
Cebby 11:01 PM 10-13-2009
All of LT's passes that I've seen have been fairly short passes on HB toss/sweep passes.
Those wouldn't really have any bearing on passes from the wildcat.
[Reply]
CW McGraw 11:24 PM 10-13-2009
Originally Posted by SportsTop:
I never said any team could do it. In fact, I presented the personnel the Chargers had to at least give it a shot.
The Wildcat seems less about dominant offensive line play and more about misdirection and deception. If you have speed and talent at multiple key positions then I would think you'd at least have to try it given its success.
I agree that the misdirection alone coupled with talented RBs like LT and Sproles/Ricky and Ronnie would make it effective against mediocre competition such as most of the AFC West's defenses, but you need a good OL to use it like the Fins have this year. We struggled to run all over dog crap teams like the Rams, Seahawks, and Raiders last year but just dropped 150 yards on the #1 defense in the league. You know why? We have a much better OL.
Besides that, the purpose of the Wildcat last year was to hide our weakness in the passing game and put our two best offensive players on the field at the same time. Rivers and his weapons are good enough to score points, albeit not slowly and deliberately enough to allow the defense to rest.
[Reply]
Vince 11:34 PM 10-13-2009
Originally Posted by SportsTop:
I never said any team could do it. In fact, I presented the personnel the Chargers had to at least give it a shot.
The Wildcat seems less about dominant offensive line play and more about misdirection and deception. If you have speed and talent at multiple key positions then I would think you'd at least have to try it given its success.
Yeah, not a shot at you or anything...But I hear a lot of players begging their coaches to imploy the wildcat. Miami has mastered it. I mean, yeah some teams are gonna try it out for a few plays, but I doubt they will have the success of the Phins. The only team I can think of that even comes close is the Eagles and their success with it has been sporadic at best.
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