"Wildcat" play questions

[Moiraine]

I'm just curious when this play received a name, and whether it's different than what Nebraska did in the 90s. Nebraska direct snapped to the running back once or twice per game. Is Wildcat different than that? It seems like people think it's special and new now, but I don't get why unless I'm just not understanding the difference.

[kansas husker]

It's not so much a play as a formation. There use to be several differnt names for it, Joker , is the one I can think of. The Dolphins made it popular they happned to call it the wild cat now that is the name of that formation.

[The Dude]

Grandpa Snyder started it.

[Moiraine]

It's not adding up for me yet. I don't get the difference. I specifically remember Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green taking direct snaps. There must be something different about it.

 

The modern version of the Wildcat was first used by Bill Snyder, head coach of the Kansas State University Wildcats with Michael Bishop as quarterback in 1997 and 1998 when they made a run at the top of the national rankings.[citation needed] In 2001, Mississippi State ran the formation with the QB initially lining up in shotgun then splitting out wide, and WR Ray Ray Bivens taking the shotgun snap

[The Dude]

It's not adding up for me yet. I don't get the difference. I specifically remember Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green taking direct snaps. There must be something different about it.

 

The modern version of the Wildcat was first used by Bill Snyder, head coach of the Kansas State University Wildcats with Michael Bishop as quarterback in 1997 and 1998 when they made a run at the top of the national rankings.[citation needed] In 2001, Mississippi State ran the formation with the QB initially lining up in shotgun then splitting out wide, and WR Ray Ray Bivens taking the shotgun snap

Did they line up as a QB and take direct snaps or did they just stand next to the QB?

[Moiraine]

It's not adding up for me yet. I don't get the difference. I specifically remember Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green taking direct snaps. There must be something different about it.

 

The modern version of the Wildcat was first used by Bill Snyder, head coach of the Kansas State University Wildcats with Michael Bishop as quarterback in 1997 and 1998 when they made a run at the top of the national rankings.[citation needed] In 2001, Mississippi State ran the formation with the QB initially lining up in shotgun then splitting out wide, and WR Ray Ray Bivens taking the shotgun snap

Did they line up as a QB and take direct snaps or did they just stand next to the QB?

 

I guess it was more of a trick play. The QB would line up behind the center and the center would snap diagonally to the RB. So that's it? Wildcat is just "we're not tricking you. We're just giving it to the RB." ?

[The Dude]

It's not adding up for me yet. I don't get the difference. I specifically remember Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green taking direct snaps. There must be something different about it.

 

The modern version of the Wildcat was first used by Bill Snyder, head coach of the Kansas State University Wildcats with Michael Bishop as quarterback in 1997 and 1998 when they made a run at the top of the national rankings.[citation needed] In 2001, Mississippi State ran the formation with the QB initially lining up in shotgun then splitting out wide, and WR Ray Ray Bivens taking the shotgun snap

Did they line up as a QB and take direct snaps or did they just stand next to the QB?

 

I guess it was more of a trick play. The QB would line up behind the center and the center would snap diagonally to the RB. So that's it? Wildcat is just "we're not tricking you. We're just giving it to the RB." ?

More or less, yeah. The Wildcat is a formation, not a really a trick play. Like when they lined Burkhead up at QB in the Holiday Bowl.

 

You can run a bunch of different plays out of the Wildcat. Even pass plays.

[Bradr]

Doesn't the wildcat line the QB up as a receiver? Don't remember that too often back in the day.

[Enhance]

It's not adding up for me yet. I don't get the difference. I specifically remember Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green taking direct snaps. There must be something different about it.

 

The modern version of the Wildcat was first used by Bill Snyder, head coach of the Kansas State University Wildcats with Michael Bishop as quarterback in 1997 and 1998 when they made a run at the top of the national rankings.[citation needed] In 2001, Mississippi State ran the formation with the QB initially lining up in shotgun then splitting out wide, and WR Ray Ray Bivens taking the shotgun snap

Did they line up as a QB and take direct snaps or did they just stand next to the QB?

 

I guess it was more of a trick play. The QB would line up behind the center and the center would snap diagonally to the RB. So that's it? Wildcat is just "we're not tricking you. We're just giving it to the RB." ?

More or less, yeah. The Wildcat is a formation, not a really a trick play. Like when they lined Burkhead up at QB in the Holiday Bowl.

 

You can run a bunch of different plays out of the Wildcat. Even pass plays.

This.

 

Green, Phillips, or any other running back that stands next to the quarterback in the traditional shotgun formation and takes a snap isn't considered a "Wildcat" play. As mentioned this post by The Dude, the Wildcat is a formation and not an actual play.

 

The Wildcat is most effective when you have a quarterback who isn't exactly the most mobile person in the world. Save one failed Wildcat attempt by us against Idaho, the Wildcat doesn't make sense for us because we have an explosive running quarterback. I mean, it could help in various situations depending on the play, but overall I think the Wildcat doesn't do much for us at this point in time.

[The Dude]

It's not adding up for me yet. I don't get the difference. I specifically remember Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green taking direct snaps. There must be something different about it.

 

The modern version of the Wildcat was first used by Bill Snyder, head coach of the Kansas State University Wildcats with Michael Bishop as quarterback in 1997 and 1998 when they made a run at the top of the national rankings.[citation needed] In 2001, Mississippi State ran the formation with the QB initially lining up in shotgun then splitting out wide, and WR Ray Ray Bivens taking the shotgun snap

Did they line up as a QB and take direct snaps or did they just stand next to the QB?

 

I guess it was more of a trick play. The QB would line up behind the center and the center would snap diagonally to the RB. So that's it? Wildcat is just "we're not tricking you. We're just giving it to the RB." ?

More or less, yeah. The Wildcat is a formation, not a really a trick play. Like when they lined Burkhead up at QB in the Holiday Bowl.

 

You can run a bunch of different plays out of the Wildcat. Even pass plays.

This.

 

Green, Phillips, or any other running back that stands next to the quarterback in the traditional shotgun formation and takes a snap isn't considered a "Wildcat" play. As mentioned this post by The Dude, the Wildcat is a formation and not an actual play.

 

The Wildcat is most effective when you have a quarterback who isn't exactly the most mobile person in the world. Save one failed Wildcat attempt by us against Idaho, the Wildcat doesn't make sense for us because we have an explosive running quarterback. I mean, it could help in various situations depending on the play, but overall I think the Wildcat doesn't do much for us at this point in time.

Unless Burkhead can throw, then Taylor lining up at WR could get interesting.