Wildcat Offense Still Alive In Miami

NFL News - July 5, 2009 - Written by Ryan

After a 2007 NFL season in which the Miami Dolphins won only one game (1-15), Bill Parcells was hired as the general manager and president of operations.  With Parcells came a new head coach Tony Sparano , and with Tony Sparano came a new offense, the wild cat.  Believe it or not the Dolphins played the first two games of the 2008 season traditionally with out the use of the wild cat formation.  The Dolphins were defeated in those two games, with a loss to the New York Jets in week 1 and, a loss to the Arizona Cardinals in week 2.  Week 3 rolled around and the Dolphins took a trip to New England to play the Patriots in what everyone thought was going to be a Patriot blow out over the struggling Dolphins.  Sparano and the Dolphins came prepared, with 2:29 left on the clock in the first quarter RB Ronnie Brown lined up under center and took a direct snap and rushed into the end zone from 2 yards out.  The play surprised Patriot defenders and, fans wonder why Brown could be tackled before breaching the goal line. 

The Patriots returned fire with a Stephen Gostkowski 37 yard field goal and, all was forgotten about the Dolphins new formation until the next Dolphin drive.  With 8:19 left in the second quarter the Dolphins applied their new formation again, splitting quarterback Chad Pennington out a s a wide receiver and letting Ronnie Brown take the direct snap for a 15 yard scamper into the end zone.  The Dolphins capitalized on 5 touchdowns using the wild cat formation that day, including a 19 yard pass from RB Ronnie Brown to TE Anthony Fasano after he faked the run and threw the ball. 

Tony Sparano and the Dolphins look to use the wild cat formation even more in the 2009 NFL football season.  Both RB Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown can block for each other as well as make a big plays individually.  However the wild cat will see some minor adjustments as head coach Tony Sparano and staff have had a full off season to devise new strategies to hide and utilize the Wild cat formation.  The drafting of four year starting quarterback Pat White from West Virgina with the 12 pick in the second round and the 44th pick overall, indicates the Dolphins have just added a player to the Wild Cat formation.  Whether used as a primary weapon or just a decoy Pat White will be heavily involved in the Dolphins offense his rookie season. 

Pat White ended his college career with 6,051 yards passing and 56 touchdown passes thrown, as well as 4,480 yards rushing and 47 rushing touchdowns, totaling over 10,000 combined yards and over 100 touchdowns, amazing numbers for any college player.  The Dolphins know he can throw the ball, and the Dolphins now opposing teams know Pat White can throw the ball.  Tony Sparano will use this to his advantage often times putting Pat White, Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown and, Chad Pennington on the field at the same time.  The Dolphins look to repeat as AFC East division winners but, might have shined a bit to much last year.  After last seasons 11-5 record the Dolphins will have to improve every year or it will be considered sub par.  Whether the Dolphins make it to the playoffs or not in 2009, we know one thing for sure they will be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the 2009 NFL football season.