Miami Dolphins: Wildcat Keeps Miami From Feeding The Wolf Vs NY Jets

When the Miami Dolphins unleashed the "Wildcat" two years ago against the New England Patriots, it was a novel concept that kept a team devoid of much talent in games. In fact, the scheme was largely responsible for Miami winning the AFC East title.

Not any more.

Last night's game against the New York Jets is the only proof you need that the Dolphins need to scrap the Wildcat and either revert to a normal offensive scheme or come up with a new more prolific gimmick.

Certainly, there are other reasons that Miami lost to their hated archrivals, including poor overall play calling, a lack of a pass rush, an easy dropped interception by Kendall Langford, and Jason Allen's overall play.

However, the Dolphins could have wiped the smile off Rex Ryan's face and "fed the wolf," as their slogan suggests, simply if they dropped their ill-fated and outdated concept.

Here's why: The Wildcat precariously interrupts the rhythm of Chad Henne as a quarterback, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are no longer explosive running it, and teams have obviously found ways to defend it.

Case in Point No. 1

Early in the second quarter with a 1st-and-10 at the Jets 18, Ronnie Brown takes the direct snap and multiple defenders are able to react to the slow developing handoff to Brandon Marshall. Linebacker Bryan Thomas stops Marshall for a one-yard loss.

Case in Point No. 2

On the very next play, Ronnie Brown's predictable plunge over right tackle would have accounted for four yards, except for Anthony Fasano's illegal crackback block. The penalty nearly takes Miami out of scoring position.

The Dolphins are only bailed out by a subsequent defensive pass interference call on Jets CB Kyle Wilson. The drive ends with a Henne-to-Fasano touchdown pass. Prior to the use of the Wildcat, Henne was a perfect 3-for-3 on the drive for 44 yards.

Case in Point No. 3

In the third quarter, and on 2nd-and-15 from the Jets' 35, Ronnie Brown takes the direct snap and gains nothing.

Case in Point No. 4

Two plays later, he gets five yards around the left, but only after he eludes a defender in the backfield who should have made the stop. Brown follows the play with a four-yard gain, but it's only Henne's pass to Brandon Marshall for an 11-yard touchdown that finishes the drive. Henne is 5-for-7 for 61 yards on the drive.

Case in Point No. 5

With 1st-and-goal at the Jets seven, Brown takes the direct snap and plunges for a yard. The small gain is made possible by Pat McQuistan's blatant holding on the play. The penalty forces Miami to settle for a field goal after Henne can only get Miami to the two-yard line after incompletions on second and third down.

Before the use of the Wildcat on this drive, Henne had completed just two out of his four passes, but the completions had covered 68 yards. The penalty costs Miami four points.

Case in Point No. 6

After Henne completes his first play on the next drive for 19 yards to Brian Hartline, Miami goes right back to the Wildcat. Brown's attempt to fake a plunge into the line doesn't fool anyone and his attempt at a deep pass is a perfect spiral that falls harmlessly several yards away from Brandon Marshall.

Back at the helm, an out of sync Henne throws back-to-back incompletions. The resulting punt is blocked and the Jets convert it into three points. The failed play arguably represents a larger swing in momentum.

Case in Point No. 7

With just under nine minutes left in the game and Miami trailing 24-20, Henne completes a 14-yard pass to fullback Lousaka Polite. Brown then enters and hands the ball off to Patrick Cobbs, who is obliterated by linebacker David Harris. The six-yard loss puts Miami on its heels and only a completion to a leaping Brandon Marshall enables Dan Carpenter to convert a 50-yard field goal.

The bottom line is this: Either Miami has enough talent to compete in Bill Parcells', Jeff Ireland's, and Tony Sparano's third years, or the brain trust at least owes the fans trusting the players enough to find out if they can play.

After being arguably held back in the first two games of the season, Chad Henne completed 26-of-44 passes for 363 yards. Brandon Marshall caught 10 of the passes for 166 of those yards. Just imagine what their statistics would have been if Miami hadn't stubbornly kept trotting out the Wildcat.

Better yet, imagine a win instead of the repulsive image for Dolphin fans of Rex Ryan giving Jason Taylor a celebratory Gatorade shower.