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STILL RUNNING SMOOTHLY: The Wildcat has its detractors, but no one can argue with its success so far this season.
By ALAIN POUPART
Dolphin Digest Associate Editor
It has, in just about every possible way, been a very painful start to the 2009 season for the Dolphins.
But there are certain things the Dolphins have done well, and at the top of the list is running the ball. And a big reason the Dolphins rank third in the league in run offense after three weeks has been the success of the Wildcat.
There are many observers, even some other players around the league, who thought the Wildcat already had run its course after one season, but that's clearly not the case.
If anything, the Dolphins have gotten better at it.
In the first three games, the Dolphins have run plays out of the Wildcat 22 times, including two plays where the defense was flagged for offside.
That leaves 20 plays that counted, and six of those plays produced gains of 12 yards or more. Nine others gained between 5 and 9 yards, which would qualify as successful plays in anybody's book.
It spearheaded a running game that produced 239 yards and helped the Dolphins control the ball for 45:07, the highest total for a losing team since the NFL started keeping time of possession as a stat in 1977.
That night, the Dolphins used the Wildcat to rip off gains of 9, 14, 13, 15, 14, 19 and 8 yards. Sure, Indianapolis doesn't have a great run defense, but that's impressive work against anybody.
The success of the Wildcat has quieted those who saw Baltimore shut it down in last year's playoffs and decided that teams had figured out how to stop it.
Dolphins players kept insisting throughout the offseason that the problems against Baltimore stemmed from poor execution rather than a poor game plan.
It's clear the middle of the Dolphins offensive line is in better shape than it was at the end of last season with guards Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas back from injuries and free agent Jake Grove coming in to take over at center, and that has made a big difference.
The key man in the Wildcat remains Ronnie Brown, who is off to a great start, his goal-line fumble at San Diego notwithstanding. Brown has taken all of the snaps in the Wildcat this season (rookie Pat White has taken four snaps but not out of the Wildcat).
Brown obviously has delivered because the Dolphins' 20 Wildcat plays have gained 153 yards, for an impressive 7.7-yard average.
For comparison purposes, the Dolphins averaged 6.4 yards per play when they ran the Wildcat last season - and keep in mind they also had their share of big plays out of it, starting with Brown's 62-yard touchdown run at New England.
Really, the big play is the only thing that's been missing from the Wildcat so far this season.
Also, the pass has not been a factor. Brown has not attempted a pass yet after throwing two last season - one he completed for a touchdown to tight end Anthony Fasano at New England and another where he underthrew wide-open tight end Joey Haynos down the middle in the finale against the Jets.
As much success as the Dolphins have had running the ball out of the Wildcat, there may come a time this season when opponents start crowding the line of scrimmage or blitzing every time the Dolphins are in the Wildcat.
At some point it would be nice - maybe even necessary - to see some passing out of the formation.
Maybe it will come from Brown, maybe it will come from White, or maybe it will come from new quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who like White is a run/pass quarterback but with more NFL experience.
Early on, though, nobody can complain about the Wildcat. In addition to being third in the league in run offense, the Dolphins also are third in time of possession and they rank first in third-down conversions.
Chad Henne will make his first start at quarterback Sunday against Buffalo, and he's likely to go through some growing pains through the rest of the 2009 season. It certainly would make sense to try to relieve as much pressure on him as possible, and that's where the Wildcat could come in.
Actually, the way it's been working so far, who could blame the Dolphins if they decided to go wild with the Wildcat?
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