Miami's Wildcat Formation

[steelreserve]

Originally Posted by fansince'76

I fail to see what it's gotten them besides an 0-2 record. They went down 27-23 with 2 minutes and some change and looked absolutely lost trying to run a 2-minute offense and managed the clock like a Pop Warner team - for a minute there I thought Holmgren replaced Sparano as their HC. Maybe they are making trickery and the Wildcat the focal point of their practices on offense, because they're obviously not practicing the 2-minute drill, that's for sure.

True enough. Not saying the wildcat has made the Dolphins into a great team by any means, just that they've mastered running it. They've got plenty other problems -- like the defense gives up too many points and the regular offense has been playing like crap.

I don't know if the second part is related to spending too much time on the wildcat or not. It could well be. Or it could be that Pennington and the rest of the offense played way over their heads last season, and this year they've returned to normal, which means they're in deep shit.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Originally Posted by Crow-Magnon

The Fins lost (DY Manning!), but their Wildcat was awesome last night. How do you control the ball for FORTY-FIVE MINUTES and still lose?

well letting manning throw for 300 + in 15 minutes might be a place to start the investigation...lol

[RoethlisBURGHer]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

well letting manning throw for 300 + in 15 minutes might be a place to start the investigation...lol

Just think of what Manning could have done with 20 minutes!

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

The one thing that makes Miami's offense work is the fact that Jake Long, Jake Grove and Vernon Carey are just pushing defenders all over the place.

Did you see the last TD by the Fins?? The O line surge went 5 yards deep in the end zone. That and Jake Long handled Dwight Freeney by himself.

[steelreserve]

As much as I think it's a bad idea to take offensive linemen with top-five picks, Long looks like he's doing a hell of a good job.

Is that worth $10 million a season? Probably not. But his play was impressive.

[hindes204]

yea, long looked damn good in that game.......but i agree 10 mil a year is way too much

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Originally Posted by steelreserve

As much as I think it's a bad idea to take offensive linemen with top-five picks, Long looks like he's doing a hell of a good job.

Is that worth $10 million a season? Probably not. But his play was impressive.

You should read "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis.

It basically explains how the evolution of the game with pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor, Chris Doleman, Bruce Smith, etc made it necessary to have premier pass protectors on the "Blind Side" of the QB.

Its why the blue chip LT is often the 2nd or 3rd highest paid player on teams and a consistent top 10 draft pick.

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

You should read "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis.

It basically explains how the evolution of the game with pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor, Chris Doleman, Bruce Smith, etc made it necessary to have premier pass protectors on the "Blind Side" of the QB.

Its why the blue chip LT is often the 2nd or 3rd highest paid player on teams and a consistent top 10 draft pick.

At what cost though? It seems like in Miami's case it was at the expense of a D that gave up 300+ yards through the air and a game away in about 15 minutes of on-the-field time to Manning. Miami's D looked nonexistent other than a couple of pressures by Porter (who, IMO, they also way overpaid for) last night.

[steelreserve]

Originally Posted by El-Gonzo Jackson

You should read "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis.

It basically explains how the evolution of the game with pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor, Chris Doleman, Bruce Smith, etc made it necessary to have premier pass protectors on the "Blind Side" of the QB.

Its why the blue chip LT is often the 2nd or 3rd highest paid player on teams and a consistent top 10 draft pick.

I think what I've got here is more of an issue with rookie salaries and salary-cap strategy in general. It's definitely an important position. I just think you can find guys who will do a fine job there for $4-$6 million, and if you spend a lot more than that, you'll really hurt the team. Giving ANY lineman $10 million is a mistake from the salary cap perspective because you'll either have to shortchange the rest of the line or skimp on some other position.

Again, if there was no salary cap, or if the top picks didn't get such ridiculous contracts, I wouldn't feel that way. The current system basically makes it so that even if LT is your top need, filling it with a top pick is not a great option.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I dont know. If you have OT's in the prime of their career like Jon Ogden, Walter Jones, Orlando Pace, Jordan Gross........those guys market is pretty close to $10mil a season.

I agree that Rookie salaries should be slotted and capped like the NBA, but I disagree that only the QB, RB, WR's deserve $10mil a season sentiment.

Miami invested big money in Jake Long and Vernon Carey. They brought in Porter in free agency and I think are paying Ronnie Brown OK money too. Then Parcells drafts Langford, Merling, vontae Davis and Sean Smith. Its kind of like the Steelers in you pay the cornerstone vets and draft young talent to play cheaper.