Unleash the Wildcat: How 0-2 NFL Teams Can Solve Offensive Problems

What do the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Dallas Cowboys all have in common?

They are all 0-2.

They have all scored less than 30 points in their opening two games.

They all have question marks at the quarterback position (except Dallas).

And they have all have a wildcat package in their offense.

So why aren't we seeing these teams, who have failed to put enough points on the board to win games, run more plays out of the wildcat formation?

The wildcat formation features an able rusher in the shotgun taking a direct snap. Whether it be a running back, wide receiver or rushing quarterback, the wildcat quarterback takes the direct snap. He can then run it behind the unbalanced offensive line, hand the ball off to a man in motion, or throw the ball. Basically with the wildcat formation, the possibilities are endless. Though defenses have a better idea of how to stop the wildcat since it has become more popular in the NFL, the formation can still pose big problems for a defense.

The wildcat can catch defenses off guard. With everything that goes on pre-snap and after the snap, it is hard to predict what offenses are going to do in the wildcat and requires defenses to try and shut down the run but also stay disciplined so they don't overpursue a potential fake or reverse.

These struggling offenses have all run wildcat in the past and getting the ball in their playmaker's hands could be a solution to their offensive problems.

Take the Cleveland Browns for example.

Without a doubt, their best playmaker is Josh Cribbs. The dynamic return man is dangerous with the ball in his hands and was a key element in the Brown's four game win streak to close out last year. Cribbs is a threat to score from anywhere on the field, but two games into the season, we have yet to see Cribbs get extensive playing time in creative offensive packages. Whether it's Seneca Wallace or Jake Delhomme under center, the Browns don't have the luxury of a Peyton Manning or Drew Brees, so they must be creative and find ways to get the ball into their playmaker's hands.

After running wildcat on five occasions in two games, Browns head coach Eric Mangini has said he wants to see it used more often, so expect to see more Josh Cribbs over the next few weeks.

Another team struggling in the AFC is the Buffalo Bills.

Two weeks into the season and the Buffalo Bills have put up a mere 17 points. Chan Gailey said on Monday, "we're looking for a spark." I'm not sure that spark is Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been named the starter ahead of Trent Edwards. I think the spark lies in the Bills backfield. As well as Fred Jackson, who had success in the wildcat last season, throwing a touchdown pass, the Bills have CJ Spiller. The do-everything back out of Clemson possesses electrifying speed and was the only player to score a touchdown in every game during the 2009 College Football season.

Used sparingly during the first two games of the season, Spiller can be the spark Chan Gailey is looking for. The Bills experimented with Spiller running the wildcat during practice in the preseason.

With Chan Gailey's reputation as an offensive innovator and the versatility of Spiller, we will hopefully see the former Clemson Tiger in the wildcat very soon.

Many people's preseason pick for the Super Bowl, the Dallas Cowboys have gotten off to an awful start, losing to the Redskins and the Bears. The Cowboys offense actually ranks fourth in the NFL in terms of yards, but their 27 points ranks 26th in the league. This is partly due to missed field goals, but the running game hasn't really gotten going in Dallas either. Enter the wildcat.

The Cowboys ran 16 plays from the Wildcat last year and averaged 6.75 yards a carry from the formation. Tashard Choice took all the snaps, and if the Cowboys can utilize the wildcat with Choice more, it will help keep Marion Barber fresh. They also have Felix Jones, who has big play ability and was a part of the wildcat offense during his college career for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

One of the problems I have identified with the Cowboys is that they have abandoned the run too early. Tony Romo has attempted 98 passes in two games. The wildcat gives Romo a rest and gives defenses something else to think about. With a tricky road game at Houston and staring a potential 0-3 record in the face, I think it's time to unleash the wildcat in Dallas.

Another surprise 0-2 team, the Carolina Panthers have problems of their own. The Jimmy Clausen era starts this week for the Panthers after Matt Moore failed to build on his strong performance last year. While much of the focus will be on the rookie quarterback, there shouldn't be so much pressure on Clausen. With Jonathan Stewart and Deangelo Williams, the Panthers have one of the strongest running back tandems in the NFL.

The Panthers were actually one of the first teams to use the wildcat in the NFL. In 2006, Deangelo Williams took snaps as the wildcat quarterback. The offensive coordinator at the time, Dan Henning, then developed the wildcat in Miami two years later.

With a rookie quarterback and an offense which has gotten off to a slow start, now is the time to bring out the wildcat formation in Carolina. If the Panthers can get Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart on the field at the same time, it will cause problems for the defense.

Another threat, rookie receiver Armanti Edwards who was a standout quarterback at Appalachian State could also line up in the wildcat. The Panthers debuted their “Mountaineer package'' in the preseason game against the Steelers. With Edwards as the 'wildcat quarterback, there is the option to throw which gives the Panthers a different look on offense. 

So as we head into Week Three, it remains to be seen whether we will see the wildcat from these teams. One thing's for certain: they need to do something different, and the Wildcat package could just provide the spark these teams are looking for.