Wildcat formation breakdown vs Iowa State

[kso_FAN]

It would be fun to see some more creative things out of the Wildcat, but we got pretty much what we wanted out of it vs ISU.  The defense still has to account for Coffman so we get the defense spread out and we enhance this even more by utilizing a 2 TE, 2 split set.  By utilizing a 2nd TE, essentually you create an "extra gap" for the defense to defend, and you've already given the offense an "extra man" at the point of attack by forcing the defense to remove a defender to account for the QB split out on the play.  So even though ISU defended it with 3 DBs in cover 3 and moved a safety into the box to get 8, we still get numbers at the point of attack and as long as we execute blocks we are going to get a positive play, though not necessarily a huge play.

Out of the 9 times we ran the Wildcat Saturday, 6 were lead/draw plays to Thomas, and we averaged nearly 7 yards per carry on those plays.  The others weren't nearly as successful , granted one was a bad snap for a loss and the other a called pass that Thomas turned into positive yards.  The called option got us 1 yard and ISU defended it very well, though if Thomas pitched it I think we get 5 yards minimum with Wilson on the edge.

So while it might seem like getting Wilson and Coffman out and putting in Powell and Harper (or some other sort of combination of players) would be better, right now our best results are with Wilson and Coffman and 2 TEs in the game.  Keep in mind defenses have coaches to watch personnel/substitutions and in some ways it may make it easier to make a call to defend the Wildcat if we change personnel b/c you don't have nearly as effective of a blocker to account for.  Granted, with certain wrinkles guys like Harper and Powell in with Thomas may create some advantagous match-ups and perhaps a big play, but that will be for a change up once in while, and use the Wilson/Thomas combo more often b/c if we execute, you can almost guarantee we will gain an advantage over the defense.

[deputy dawg]

Nice analysis.  Read an interview somewhere that getting hit by Braden Wilson was about like getting hit by a truck on the highway, which would lead me to conclude that having Wilson in as a blocker is a good thing.

[kitten_mittons]

Nice analysis.  Read an interview somewhere that getting hit by Braden Wilson was about like getting hit by a truck on the highway, which would lead me to conclude that having Wilson in as a blocker is a good thing.

Weird, cause I read somewhere that if Harper, Thomas, Powell, Smith, and Lamur are in the game at the same time the opposing team's defense is rendered completely useless for the rest of the game.

[Rage Against the McKee]

Nice analysis.  Read an interview somewhere that getting hit by Braden Wilson was about like getting hit by a truck on the highway, which would lead me to conclude that having Wilson in as a blocker is a good thing.

Weird, cause I read somewhere that if Harper, Thomas, Powell, Smith, and Lamur are in the game at the same time the opposing team's defense is rendered completely useless for the rest of the game.

It's called the Tecmo Bowl offense. All we would have to do at that point is zig and zag up the field for a touchdown.

[kso_FAN]

Nice analysis.  Read an interview somewhere that getting hit by Braden Wilson was about like getting hit by a truck on the highway, which would lead me to conclude that having Wilson in as a blocker is a good thing.

Weird, cause I read somewhere that if Harper, Thomas, Powell, Smith, and Lamur are in the game at the same time the opposing team's defense is rendered completely useless for the rest of the game.

It's called the Tecmo Bowl offense. All we would have to do at that point is zig and zag up the field for a touchdown.

I will say this Tecmo Bowl offense stuff isn't ridiculous, but its got to be timed right and and its got to be gameplanned well.  There are two things here; 1st using the Wildcat as a part of your offense.  You can't run it all the time b/c it would become easy to defend, but 8-12 times a game with personnel you can trust as an OC you can predict the defense you'll see and be pretty sure you'll get a positive play. 

2nd, there is gameplanning a play, or a series, to try to get a big play or a TD.  That's when you put out a unique personnel group, ie. the Tecmo Bowl group, and reasonably predict you can catch a defense completely off guard.  Or you know you can get a certain alignment from the defense you can exploit. 

And yes, you typically save those things for bigger games like NU or UT.

[ArchE_Cat]

I would like to see Tecmobowl on a 3rd and 3 or shorter inside the opponent's 30,  but only after a normal formation is used to try to draw them offsides. Then, you call a timeout and come out of the time out with Tecmobowl.

[kitten_mittons]

Nice analysis.  Read an interview somewhere that getting hit by Braden Wilson was about like getting hit by a truck on the highway, which would lead me to conclude that having Wilson in as a blocker is a good thing.

Weird, cause I read somewhere that if Harper, Thomas, Powell, Smith, and Lamur are in the game at the same time the opposing team's defense is rendered completely useless for the rest of the game.

It's called the Tecmo Bowl offense. All we would have to do at that point is zig and zag up the field for a touchdown.

I will say this Tecmo Bowl offense stuff isn't ridiculous, but its got to be timed right and and its got to be gameplanned well.  There are two things here; 1st using the Wildcat as a part of your offense.  You can't run it all the time b/c it would become easy to defend, but 8-12 times a game with personnel you can trust as an OC you can predict the defense you'll see and be pretty sure you'll get a positive play. 

2nd, there is gameplanning a play, or a series, to try to get a big play or a TD.  That's when you put out a unique personnel group, ie. the Tecmo Bowl group, and reasonably predict you can catch a defense completely off guard.  Or you know you can get a certain alignment from the defense you can exploit. 

And yes, you typically save those things for bigger games like NU or UT.

I don't know how easy it would be to defend.  You have 3 dual-threat qb's on the field at the same time.  Along with B. Smith, and W. Powell.  Ball can literally go anywhere.  If you have just CC as a WR, they just have to make sure they have a slow person stand next to him so he doesn't catch a backwards pass and throw it down field.  Then they cover the run.

[CHONGS]

If you enjoyed this brief, yet enlightening analysis, I would suggest checking out the newest article published in the goEMAWgazine, your exclusive home for the best in KSU sports news/analysis related items.

http://goEMAW.com/blog/?p=284

[felix rex]

Dumb question: Is the QB split wide (instead of an extra WR) primarily so that the personnel package isn't completely predictable?

[Rage Against the McKee]

Dumb question: Is the QB split wide (instead of an extra WR) primarily so that the personnel package isn't completely predictable?

Yes.

[kitten_mittons]

Dumb question: Is the QB split wide (instead of an extra WR) primarily so that the personnel package isn't completely predictable?

Yes.

That way they won't know it's wildcat until they break the huddle.

[kso_FAN]

I don't know how easy it would be to defend.  You have 3 dual-threat qb's on the field at the same time.  Along with B. Smith, and W. Powell.  Ball can literally go anywhere.  If you have just CC as a WR, they just have to make sure they have a slow person stand next to him so he doesn't catch a backwards pass and throw it down field.  Then they cover the run.

But defenses don't "just cover the run".  They have to align and cover all gaps that the offense provides.  

And I don't disagree that there are problems for defenses with that personnel on the field.  But for a defense, they then also know they aren't going to get a blocker that is nearly as effective with Wilson.  And not having a guy that practices and plays QB (Coffman) all the time makes it easier for a defense to set a coverage and take more chances with a blitz, or putting more guys in the box.  A good college DC is always going to remain sound against certain personnel groups, and take more chances against others.

So for our offense, its a risk/reward question.  With a line-up with more "threats" on the field is it more likely we could get a bigger play?  Definitely.  But its also more likely that we could have a bad play as well.  That's why I said the personnel we usually use is safer for us, but we are going to get a defense that we can more likely predict, rather than if we rolled the dice with more athletes.  This doesn't mean don't use the Tecmo personnel group, but you use it in spots and you use it when you want a big play.  This is different that gameplanning with the safer, but more predictable personnel group.

[DILLIGAF]

though if Thomas pitched it I think we get 5 yards minimum with Wilson on the edge.

Wasn't this around or inside the 10 in scoring position?  Was thinking that had he gave it up, it was likely a score.  And frankly the choice to keep it was hella horrible, there was no outside defender to even make it a tough choice. 

[kso_FAN]

though if Thomas pitched it I think we get 5 yards minimum with Wilson on the edge.

Wasn't this around or inside the 10 in scoring position?  Was thinking that had he gave it up, it was likely a score.  And frankly the choice to keep it was hella horrible, there was no outside defender to even make it a tough choice. 

Yes.  He may have scored, but Wilson isn't the fastest nor is he elusive.  He would've gotten the edge, but pursuit may have gotten there before he scored.

[WildcatNkilt]

I feel like we ran the end-around a couple times at key moments.  It caught the defense offguard and made them stay honest, thus letting DT run through bigger holes. 

I don't recall seeing an end-around with DT in Wildcat.  I feel like that could be a very successful play out of that formation.

[wabash909]

Mods, please merge this thread with the techmo bowl (sic) offense D_Scott amazing player quotes appreciation thread.  TIA, mods.

[DoDRepeat]

Right now the wildcat is nothing but a negative offense for us. We were absolutely running over ISU any time it wasn't in the wildcat. DT has also proven that he literally can not throw the football out of it unless it's a jump pass. He gets all antsy and just takes off.

Since snyder doesn't seem too interested in having a receiver go in motion and fake it to him at all out of it, I think they're going to have to take it in another direction.

I would like to see a split back shotgun formation with DT at qb, Braden on one side and WP on the other. If you put read options into a formation like that where you have to be concerned about WP and DT at the same time, it could become more effective.

Or maybe we'll see Lamur a wildcat-only type quarterback. If you put him out there and put another playmaker on the outside instead of having Coffman pretend like he's a threat. Then we'd be able to throw the ball out of it too.

[kso_FAN]

I feel like we ran the end-around a couple times at key moments.  It caught the defense offguard and made them stay honest, thus letting DT run through bigger holes.  

I don't recall seeing an end-around with DT in Wildcat.  I feel like that could be a very successful play out of that formation.

Good point.  We have mixed in reverses well, and out of several different formations/looks.  And a reverse out of the Wildcat would be an interesting idea.

[kso_FAN]

Right now the wildcat is nothing but a negative offense for us. We were absolutely running over ISU any time it wasn't in the wildcat. DT has also proven that he literally can not throw the football out of it unless it's a jump pass. He gets all antsy and just takes off.

Since snyder doesn't seem too interested in having a receiver go in motion and fake it to him at all out of it, I think they're going to have to take it in another direction.

I would like to see a split back shotgun formation with DT at qb, Braden on one side and WP on the other. If you put read options into a formation like that where you have to be concerned about QP and DT at the same time, it could become more effective.

Or maybe we'll see Lamur a wildcat-only type quarterback. If you put him out there and put another playmaker on the outside instead of having Coffman pretend like he's a threat. Then we'd be able to throw the ball out of it too.

How is it a negative when we averaged 5.5 yards per play out of it?

[kso_FAN]

Right now the wildcat is nothing but a negative offense for us. We were absolutely running over ISU any time it wasn't in the wildcat. DT has also proven that he literally can not throw the football out of it unless it's a jump pass. He gets all antsy and just takes off.

Since snyder doesn't seem too interested in having a receiver go in motion and fake it to him at all out of it, I think they're going to have to take it in another direction.

I would like to see a split back shotgun formation with DT at qb, Braden on one side and WP on the other. If you put read options into a formation like that where you have to be concerned about QP and DT at the same time, it could become more effective.

Or maybe we'll see Lamur a wildcat-only type quarterback. If you put him out there and put another playmaker on the outside instead of having Coffman pretend like he's a threat. Then we'd be able to throw the ball out of it too.

How is it a negative when we averaged 5.6 yards per play out of it?

[WildcatNkilt]

Right now the wildcat is nothing but a negative offense for us. We were absolutely running over ISU any time it wasn't in the wildcat. DT has also proven that he literally can not throw the football out of it unless it's a jump pass. He gets all antsy and just takes off.

Since snyder doesn't seem too interested in having a receiver go in motion and fake it to him at all out of it, I think they're going to have to take it in another direction.

I would like to see a split back shotgun formation with DT at qb, Braden on one side and WP on the other. If you put read options into a formation like that where you have to be concerned about QP and DT at the same time, it could become more effective.

Or maybe we'll see Lamur a wildcat-only type quarterback. If you put him out there and put another playmaker on the outside instead of having Coffman pretend like he's a threat. Then we'd be able to throw the ball out of it too.

How is it a negative when we averaged 5.5 yards per play out of it?

There is absolutely nothing negative about 5.5 yds/play.  (unless your defense really really sucks and you are playing catchup every drive)

5.5 yds a play is never seeing a third down.  

[DoDRepeat]

5.6 yards per play? Source?

[kso_FAN]

5.6 yards per play? Source?

I went back and watched the game and charted each play/formation for the blog for this week.  Then I compared that to the play by play chart for the game.  We ran out of the Wildcat 9 times for 51 yards according to my chart with no negative plays out of the formation. 

And if you read my orginal post you will see the exact philosophy for why teams run a more conservative version of the Wildcat, at least compared to what fans want.  It is far from a "negative offense" in that regard, but neither is it designed to be a trick or big play offense.  By adding different personnel you can create that, but then again you add risk and less assurance to what you are trying to do with your offense.

["storm"nut]

5.6 yards per play? Source?

I went back and watched the game and charted each play/formation for the blog for this week.  Then I compared that to the play by play chart for the game.  We ran out of the Wildcat 9 times for 51 yards according to my chart with no negative plays out of the formation. 

And if you read my orginal post you will see the exact philosophy for why teams run a more conservative version of the Wildcat, at least compared to what fans want.  It is far from a "negative offense" in that regard, but neither is it designed to be a trick or big play offense.  By adding different personnel you can create that, but then again you add risk and less assurance to what you are trying to do with your offense.

You just did more research that our beat write for the Star has ever done. Hats off to you.

[DoDRepeat]

5.6 yards per play? Source?

I went back and watched the game and charted each play/formation for the blog for this week.  Then I compared that to the play by play chart for the game.  We ran out of the Wildcat 9 times for 51 yards according to my chart with no negative plays out of the formation. 

And if you read my orginal post you will see the exact philosophy for why teams run a more conservative version of the Wildcat, at least compared to what fans want.  It is far from a "negative offense" in that regard, but neither is it designed to be a trick or big play offense.  By adding different personnel you can create that, but then again you add risk and less assurance to what you are trying to do with your offense.

You obviously didn't "chart" the game good enough. Right before the 3rd and 15 big reverse by quarles, DT lost 7 or 8 yards out of wildcat. Not to mention after the first down (with momentum), we went wildcat two plays and gained 3 yards. Its a drive killer.