All signs point to Miami Dolphins refreshing
After the second day of the NFL Draft, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland downplayed the significance of Daniel Thomas' history running the Wildcat offense in college as a reason for trading up to draft him.
Whether Ronnie Brown returns or not, all signs point to the Dolphins reinvigorating the Wildcat offense in 2011 / AP
"I wasn't looking for that," Ireland said. "I was looking for a running back. That's what intrigued me about this kid, is that this guy knows how to run the football."
It's hard to blame Ireland for downplaying the Wildcat, as the formation has become somewhat of a dirty word in South Florida. The directsnap formation, which the Dolphins unleashed on the NFL in 2008 en route to a surprise division title, grew stale and predictable in 2010.
Though successful in spots particularly in the win over Tennessee the Wildcat formation produced just 191 yards on 56 attempts (3.4 yards per play), with only three plays over 10 yards (long of 28), one touchdown and 0 completions on 3 pass attempts. And Bill Parcells admitted that it cost the Dolphins a secondround pick when the team drafted Pat White 44th overall in 2009, though he was ultimately too small and inaccurate for the NFL.
But despite Ireland downplaying Thomas' skills in the Wildcat offense, and the Dolphins potentially moving on from the two trigger men who ran the Wildcat the past three years (Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams), all signs still point to the Dolphins rebuilding, not retiring, their Wildcat/directsnap offense in 2011.
1. The Dolphins drafted two skill players with extensive history at Wildcat quarterback.
Thomas, the Dolphins' secondround pick, played quarterback in junior college, completing 31of67 passes for 578 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. And then he served as the Wildcat trigger man for two years at Kansas State, completing 8of12 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Thomas, who stands 6foot2 and 228 pounds, also would be a significant upgrade for the Dolphins as the Wildcat QB: A better thrower than Brown and a bigger, more physical player than White (511, 190).
"Just his versatility was what we were looking for, Ireland said of Thomas.
And Hback Charles Clay, the Dolphins' sixthround pick, also has extensive history running the Wildcat offense at Tulsa, though he never threw a pass. It was one of five positions Clay played in college Wildcat QB, tailback, fullback, tight end nikecarolinapanthersstore.com/Authentic-Brandon-Lafell-Jersey and slot receiver.
"He has a very unique set of skills," Ireland said. "That's what we liked about the kid, was his versatility."
2. The Dolphins drafted a quick, athletic center who has a history with the Wildcat, too.
When the Wildcat was successful in 2008 and 09, the interior linemen were Samson Satele, Jake Grove, Nate Brandon LaFell Black Jersey Garner, Donald Thomas and Justin Smiley. Panthers Brandon LaFell Jersey Not one of them played for the Dolphins in 2010. Last year's interior line of Richie Incognito, Joe Berger, John Jerry and Pat McQuistan struggled with the formation, in part because they were not as quick to get to the second level as their predecessors.
In this nowfamous video of former Dolphins QB coach David Lee explaining the Wildcat (which he brought with him from Arkansas), watch how the offensive linemen are pulling around the formation Brandon LaFell Youth Jersey on every play:
Enter Mike Pouncey. The Dolphins' firstround pick, who will likely play center but also started at guard for two seasons at Florida, "is very athletic like his brother," Ireland said. Watch in this video his quickness in getting out to the edge and the second level of blocking:
It also doesn't hurt that Pouncey also has experience in the Wildcat Percy Harvin ran it periodically for the Gators in 2007 and 08.
And multiple sources have said that although Pouncey did not receive a playbook in his quick visit to the Dolphins facility after the draft, he did receive material pertaining to the Wildcat, to allow him to start familiarizing himself with some of the various plays and concepts.
Plus, Garner will likely be back in 2011, giving the Dolphins another quick, athletic lineman to help run the formation.
3. The Dolphins have a new offensive coordinator with a history of running the Wildcat, as well.
Brian Daboll didn't just run the Wildcat in his two seasons as offensive coordinator in Cleveland.
Trigger man Josh Cribbs, who like Thomas was a converted college quarterback, had 55 rushing attempts and four passing attempts for the Browns in 2009, mostly out of the Wildcat. And Cribbs had 20 rushing attempts and three more passing attempts in 2010, mostly out of the Wildcat, though he struggled with a foot injury for much of the season.
Daboll may not run the same "Wildcat" as did the Dolphins, but Daboll has shown that he isn't afraid to run a singlewing attack or get creative on offense.
4. The Dolphins' new offensive coordinator also has experience in using the Wildcat to hide quarterback's deficiencies.
Dolphins management wasn't thrilled with Chad Henne's performance in 2010, but instead of trying to find a different quarterback in 2011, the team has instead tried to improve the pieces around him a new center in Pouncey, two new backfield members in Thomas and Clay, a new speed threat in Edmond Gates, a new coordinator in Daboll, a new quarterbacks coach in Karl Dorrell.
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