Henning defends Wildcat calls again http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2010/10/henning-defends-wildcat-calls-again.html Dan Henning defends Wildcat call on third and 6 http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sport...sweblog+(Miami+Dolphins+|+Sun-Sentinel+Blogs)
No one disputes that 95% of Henning’s calls are very good. It’s the 5% that kill drives that we’re worried about.
You don't win today's games on last year's success. It worked last year because it was something new, and it caught a lot of teams off guard. Most have made the adjustment now. And, defenses that are fast and disciplined can much better defend it now. IMVHO, it's time to pull the plug on the Wildcat, and just focus on calling a balanced game of conventional run and pass plays. Don't be cute. Cute don't work.
That 3rd and 6 WC call was about as mind-boggling as the Ricky Williams HB pass in Buffalo last year after running the ball down the field at 6.5 yards a clip. I agree with Desides. For the most part, I like the games he's called. But it's those few 3rd and mid-long WC in games where we were passing at will at the time with great pass protection. I usually don't question playcalling because majority of the time it's a "hindsight is 20-20" thing, but those few calls were mindboggling when I saw the formation from the start
My only problem I have with him, {and its not the wildcat}, is his philosophies in creating an identity with the run, and how he approaches favorable down and distance scenario's.
there is nothing cute about Ronnie Brown taking a direct snap {with motion} using his instincts and Power behind an unbalanced line...
EXACTLY!!!! Its that 5% that has the bald spot on the back of my head getting more visible, and the gray hair getting thicker by the day. Its that 5% that makes me want to punch Henning in the Keester!!!
If we lose next week what's the over/under at for new posters named "Mr. ****theragman"? Which I guess was a phrase that was known back in the '40's? (shoulda went with Mr. Crackerjackswellyoumug...) I'm setting the line at 4.
I like Hennings call quite often but I must say that some of his first down calls have killed me this year. Not just the call, but calling it over and over at the same points in drives in which it ends up killing it. If it aint working over and over, why beat the dead horse each and every time? Try something totally different a few times then go back to it...
imo that was more on ricky than anything else.it was a option type pass and ricky crappped on himself..had ricky tucked and run it the 3 yards thats a touchdown..i can't blame that solely on henning.
That's not really what I meant when I wrote that DJ. Although, I can see where you might think that. What I meant was more along the lines of the ill fated pass Ricky through last year in Buffalo, and other similar calls. In other words, there are times when you call a play, even when it's obvious what you should do (i.e., run on 3rd and short, pass on 3rd and long, etc.). But, Henning tends to "get cute." It's my own terminology. You may not like it, but hey...that's cool. Bottom line, I think the Wildcat served a purpose, as I believe it masked in deficiencies we had on offense. With Henne having the equivalent of a full season of starting under his belt, and the addition of Marshall, I just don't think it should be relied on for anything more than the occasional red zone call.
IMO, Ricky Williams should've never be given the option to pass ever. For that reason alone, I put that one on Henning.
Everyone has their own opinion on how well he's done calling the plays this season but to say he's done very well???? You must be missing something to say that. In no way has he done very well.
It wasn't something new. It was ran by the Dolphins in 2008. The actual formation - the single wing variation - was ran by the Jets the same year as the Dolphins. Leon Washington was the ball carrier at that time. It was ran in the nineties by some teams, not a base formation but same as what we did. It was ran in the 40's by the Steelers. It has been ran for a long time. It has been adjusted to for a long time. If you look at Steve Belichick's book - Bill's father - he has a whole chapter on how to defend it. You slide your defensive line a man over to the strong side and rotate the secondary.
I think this is an excellent point. Hennings main problem is that he kills drives as they are starting. He may not have completely awful play calls afterwards but it's normally too late to recover because of how he called the first play or two.
Don't understand why the 3 and 6 call was half as controversial as it was. They were playing for a field goal in a situation in which it was perfectly reasonable to play for three, and selected a play they thought could get a couple of yards to move them from the 36 into more normal field goal range.
Does play calling ever not get blamed in situations in which either result or execution are not what is desired?
How is it a perfectly reasonable situation to play for three? We were playing against the number one offense in the NFL and we only needed six yards for a first down. I can understand playing for the field goal if it's 3rd and long but six yards should not put us into a run only formation. That is a losers mentality.
My first thought was that they were planning to go for it on 4th if they didnt make it, then decided to punt when (SURPRISE?) Meriwether blitzed the WC and we lost yards. I can't see the logic behind playing for a FG when you're at the 36 yd line on 3rd and 6 of the opening series. 3rd and 16 maybe, but not 3rd and 6. If that's what we were doing then, .
There was no score, on the opening drive, and the reality of the game is that it would have been a low-scoring, conservative game that the Dolphins had an advantage in, sans Henne/Special Teams meltdown in the 2nd half. Going for 3 isn't a losers mentality, the idea that nothing besides going for 6 was acceptable is a Madden player mentality. If going for three in that situation was unacceptable, it's pretty much unacceptable in any situation that isn't a game winner by itself.
I'm aware of the origins of the Wildcat, Alen. But, thanks for the history lesson nonetheless. I still say it was a new "wrinkle" to the conventional offense that was being run up until they unveiled it. Whether it was '08 or '09 is really rather academic. The bottom line is everyone knows we run it, so they game plan for it now. As a result, it has lost much of it's effectiveness. I'd rather keep Henne in the game, and run a conventional play, be it run or pass. JMHO.
You stated that it was something new in 09 but it wasn't. It was re-revealed in 08. I don't think it has lost its effectiveness by game planning. I think its lost its effectiveness because of the lack of quality blocking up front. JMO though.
The reason for Hennings occasional downright comical lapses of judgment? Senility. Pretty soon hes going to be found walking down south beach wearing his pajamas at 4am, dragging his mobile IV along while yelling at imaginary critics...probably still defending the wildcat.
I am very positive on the team, but have been very troubled by the wildcat starting at the end of last season and continuing on to this season. When did the wildcat become reduced to the same two plays where Ronnie gets the snap and runs into the centers butt? I remember many plays that were highly successful but are not being used - why? What is the point of running a wildcat offense unless it surprises the defense and creates a big gain? There are a million variations that haven't even been touched. How about a wildcat flea-flicker? How about running the wildcat with a tackle eligible as a hidden receiver in the redzone? If I can draw these plays, so can Henning. It's time for him to get creative or get replaced.
Actually Alen, I think what I said was "it worked last year because it was something new, and it caught a lot of teams off guard." Which is inaccurate from the standpoint it was first unveiled in '08 (not '09) as you have so fastidiously pointed out. It's hell gettin' old Alen...one year just kinda runs into the next. Talk to me again in 30 years. As for it's lack of effectiveness, I must wholeheartedly disagree with you re; my game planning theory. It is after all a copycat league. And, once the rest of the league saw Baltimore totally dismantle us in the playoffs (umm...what year was that again ), it wasn't long before everyone else figured out a way to negate the effectiveness of it. However, you may have a point re; the blocking scheme, or lack thereof. That thought crossed my mind as well. Nonetheless, I have stated my position and stand by it. Less Wildcat, more conventional run and pass plays (and, at logical times). We may just have to agree to disagree on that though.