Dallas Cowboys news & notes (Wildcat edition)
by Dave Halprin on Mar 26, 2009 2:55 PM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys News
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PrintIsaiah Stanback has suddenly become a popular guy with the media. The minute Jerry Jones mentioned the Cowboys would like to install a package that sounds very much like a Wildcat formation, two names popped up. Pat White and our very own Stanback. As you can imagine, Stanback is willing - anything to get on the field. But what does Jerry think of the idea?
"We may have [our Wildcat quarterback] in Stanback, but I want to be careful about taking away time from Stanback on his potential development as a receiver," [Jerry] Jones said.
Could be an interesting training camp for Stanback, unless the Cowboys grab a Wildcat candidate in the draft and leave Stanback at receiver exclusively.
All charges have been dropped against Anthony Spencer from the drunk and disorderly incident, and Jerry says he doesn't expect any NFL discipline.
Wade Phillips on T.O.'s departure and why he didn't want to talk to the media about it.
"I think you're worse off if you respond to all that he said, she said, they're saying this, we say that, all that stuff," Phillips said. "Get through it, get over it, let's go to the next year. And we have to get over it at some time.
"I'm not even going to discuss that because that's why I didn't want to talk about it in the first place. . . . I'm through with that."
You can check out a lot more of what Wade said here and here.
RW interview over at the official Cowboys site.
My friend Brian over at Buffalo Rumblings has an interview with our old friend Jim Jeffcoat.
Also on the SBN network is a mock draft by team blog. It can be found over at our draft site, Mocking the Draft. I think we get to pick in 10 days or something.
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I think this wildcat thing is being overblown.
I don’t think its a bad idea, but I don’t think it’ll be used anymore then maybe 7-8 times in the season.
Perhaps I’m wrong, but you can’t keep your million dollar QB off the bench for too long.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
Blah...
That should read on the bench
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
it wouldn't really make a difference whether he was on the bench or on the field...
95% of the wildcat will be a designed run… which would cut romo out of the play anyways
if they do implement the wildcat, they won’t skewer the run to pass ratio…. unless they want to run out the clock, or whatever…
by CowboysFan4Life on Mar 26, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Aaaah
But it does make a difference, because while a Wildcat is sorta neat and offers something a little different… for the most part you know its a run either inside or out.
With Romo there, you don’t KNOW its a run.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
yeah...
i was just saying, if romo is on the field and its a run, he’s not earning his millions of dollars… so if it was a run in the wildcat, it wouldn’t matter if he was on or off the field…
however, its not like theyd run this all the time… i’d like to see it maybe 5-10 times per game, or about 25% of the run game
by CowboysFan4Life on Mar 26, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't even want to see it...
5 times a game, thats alot a game.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
Really, +10000
didn’t you guys learn during the Chan Gaily years?
You don’t make your living in the NFL off of trick plays.
by Realist Larry on Mar 26, 2009 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions
since when is the wildcat a trick play?
thats like calling a counter a trick play… or a zone read a trick play…
its just getting playmakers on the field, in position to make plays
by CowboysFan4Life on Mar 27, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Well....
I wouldn’t compare it to a counter.
It’s not a “trick play”, but it is definitly a special package. Anytime your QB isn’t behind the center in some fashion, it’s a bit out of the norm.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
I beg to differ.....We can come out and line up in a 3 Wide Out Formation...Austin, Williams, and Stanback...which would induce the D to go nickle/dime...
Break huddle and have Romo line up out wide left, while a motioning Stanback slides under center….Felix Jones in the backfield….then you have Stanback option right, opposite side of Romo, (to keep ’ole golly gee out of harms way) , then you have Stanback either taking the ball off tackle, pitching it to Felix, or you have Witten there on the strong side blocking, as well as the RB, on a QB roll out, and fing Austin 70 yards down field……..
I love the idea….we already have one of the most dominant “wildcat” QB’s (Stanback) on our roster…..use him..
by CowboysRnumba1 on Mar 26, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Interesting point
Duely noted.
I never really thought of it like that.
You could also do alot more of what I think of as zone reads out of that package, ala 2005 Texas Longhorns.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
A "dominant Wildcat QB"??
What in the world does that mean?
Has he ever RUN the Wildcat?
Will he even be on the roster as a WR? He’s one good draft pick from being cut.
He’s never even thrown an NFL pass, much less a 70-yarder.
Will the Wildcat even work as well now that NFL teams have seen it?
I don’t mean to jump on you, but that’s a lot of excitement for an unproven player doing a trick play…..
by Realist Larry on Mar 26, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm befuddled as well.
What was Stanback’s longest run in college? Did he even have any runs of over 20 yards? He might be able to throw elementary passes but unlike Ronnie Brown there’s no proof he’s any kind of legit much less highly dangerous running threat out of the wildcat.
I hve to respectfully disagree Rnumba
In that formation whoever is covering Romo comes off and goes straight to the backfield. Unless Romo shows the capability of catching a TD pass he is getting no coverage what so ever. That formation is just making it easier to blitz or double cover someone else.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
I'm sure he can too
but would you cover him? Put someone on him put him on his butt then chase the ball. It is not a good formation to have one guy out there that is contributing nothing. It gives the defense superiority of numbers, and lets them know they only have to really defend half the field. Even if they do throw it to him it is only to try a flea flicker type play. Also, I’m sure there is a safety just waiting to clean his clock if he catches it. The formation is a passing fad that will go away as soon as someones starting QB gets hurt.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
you have to cover him
you just can’t allow a player run down the field uncovered, qb or no qb. Hell, even kickers and punters could run down the field and catch a TD with nobody on them.
In Romo we Trust
Yeah....
I really don’t want my starting QB getting hurt though when a CB decides to jam the hell out of him on the line.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
by AirforceBat on Mar 27, 2009 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Airforce......
I agree and if he’s out there trying to catch a pass and get blasted by someone like Polamalu or Dawkins it could get really ugly.
The other implication
is to take him off the field which really turns it into just switching qb’s. I don’t like the formation and you can like it all you want Terry, but no defensive coordinator is going to lose sleep worrying about Romo running pass routes or lead blocking on a run play. If he is split out in the wild cat, you can bet you bottom dollar they are running to the other side. Anything to his side gives the corner/safety a free run at your qb, Jerry is not going to allow that. Give up a possible big play to get a free shot on the qb, what safety/corner wouldn’t take those odds.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Yeah...
I think most of the time when Miami did it, Pennington would just run off the field.
I know Chris Leak did that at Florida when Tebow would come in his freshman year.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
by AirforceBat on Mar 27, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
That formation is going to have little succes this year...
Teams will be ready for it this year. It appeared as the season wore on teams were having less success with it because teams learned how to defend it better…..Don’t count on the Wildcat, just like you can’t count on Stanback staying healthy…
Which some of you research guru's should look up......
how effective was Miami running it’s Wildcat at the end of 2008 vs. the beginning? If I were a betting person, I’d venture to say that by the end of the season, it wasn’t nearly as effective.
I think your on point tex....
I didn’t watch too many miami games, but they weren’t blowing up the highlight reels on ESPN like they were earlier in the year with that formation.
texstar....you must take into the account that Ronnie Brown offered little or any passing threat out of that formation at all...Their "wildcat" was essentially a wishbone type version.
More of a two trick pony if you will….Having R Williams and Ronnie Brown on any rushing play is difficult to defend……Any play that gains 4+ yards is a productive offensive play..There should not be any misconception that a “wildcat” is a big play offensive scheme…I have been seeing it throughout these discussions. This is not a “home run” formation, and really only should be run in “red zone” situations, or if the regular running game is being stiffled, or on a 3rd and 6 play , for instance….which would usually induce a nickle sub package from the defense..
This is a formation that severely tests defensive allignments, and responsibilities..One bad D read, and they’re toast…
Try defending a combo of Felix / MBII / or Choice, along with a QB that is more than capable of throwing a 10-20 yard pass route with accuracy, or sprinting off tackle for 8 + yards, or optioning off to a trailing Felix for 20 + …
You replace him with an actual “running QB” with the size, strength, and QB capabilities to be equally effective with either run/pass…it completely changes the way Defenses can defend the formation.
by CowboysRnumba1 on Mar 27, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
unmm....so if Romo lined up out wide on this formation, you are telling me the defender responsible for coverage on him would leave Romo alone, and attack the backfield via blitz ???
I assure you, that would be the biggest possible problem for any defense that tries that maneuver. Tony Romo is more than capable of running a pass route and catching a football…
That move out wide is the key to the whole play, as defenses in a nickle/dime would have to account for Romo, regardless of his possible contribution to the play. A defensive scheme comprised of 5 or more DBs would be put in a serious predicament trying to defend again a Stanback/MBIII/Felix Jones/or Choice backfield, for which all four players are well versed in the option game, and would make for a leathal combination in open space outside the tackle.
I’m just going along with the talk, and not advocating anything along the lines of implementing this formation..I do believe it would be highly successful, and we have better personel than any other team to run it. We’ll see.
by CowboysRnumba1 on Mar 27, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Stanback should be holding on PAT’s and FG’s. As for the Wildcat, with an offseason to study, I think defenses will be way more prepared for it.
I will say this...
Stanback would be a more effective wildcat QB then ronnie brown, because the dude can throw simple passes.
Hell instead of the wildcat, do the wishbone with him and have Barber and Felix in the backfield.
Haha.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
I will say this...
Stanback would be a more effective wildcat QB then ronnie brown, because the dude can throw simple passes.
Hell instead of the wildcat, do the wishbone with him and have Barber and Felix in the backfield.
Haha. Just kidding… sorta.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
Grrrrr
damn double post
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
you're just trying to make a point by double posting-LOL
I’m just kidding. Yeah, I was thinking last year that they could have used him when Romo went down in some Wildcat. Don’t know why they couldn’t . It doesn’t really matter now cause the season’s over but it seems like Stanback could have been used that way.
hm
Patrick Crayton is also a QB/WR/Athlete coming out of college, and like Stanback, is probably a better insurance salesman than a football player.
Crayton couldn't be too bad....
He has played and started for a professional football team.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
by AirforceBat on Mar 26, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions
crayton
is a solid 3rd wr, half decent 2nd… with the best hands on our team… and a very reliable punt returner
i don’t know how much more you want from a, what 7th rounder??
by CowboysFan4Life on Mar 27, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions
how can you prepare
for a combo like stanback and felix jones…
im all for anything that involves felix jones
teams spend all offseason preparing for any formation you run, so i think that “with an offseason to prepare” shpeel is getting old… when you have players to fit a scheme, you implement the scheme as a part of your overall gameplan…
by CowboysFan4Life on Mar 26, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
The same way they prepared for McFadden and Felix in college...
UNLESS Stanback actually shows that he is a threat to pass the ball.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
thats my point...
not many could stop that duo
by CowboysFan4Life on Mar 26, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Also.....
Who says Stanback is even remotely a threat to take it to the house in the NFL; gimmick formation or not? I don’t remember seeing him making huge long plays running the ball week in week out from the QB position during his college career like Pat White, Vince Young and Brad Smith did.
Stanback played some QB and ran the ball some from the QB position. He wasn’t a world-beater or ever a truly lethal dual threat.
"how can you prepare for a combo like "Stanback and Felix Jones?"
Umm, stanback has never run a play in the NFL, especially one requiring quick-thinking/decision-making.
He has absolutely nothing in common w/McFadden-who, by the way guys, is not running the ‘Wildcat’ in the pros.
by Realist Larry on Mar 26, 2009 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions
+100
Finally someone speaking common sense.
Stanback has never ever been healthy.
counting on this guy to be anywhere other than IR is just plain stupid.
Cut this guy and cowboys fans stop this nonsense with stanback.
i’m sure the d coordinators around the league are shaking in their pants because stanback might play NOT!
by oneforthethumb on Mar 26, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions
+10000 woohoo......preach it oneforthethumb......lol
I couldn’t have said it better…..
Stanback=BUST!
Can you be...
a 4th round bust?
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
by AirforceBat on Mar 27, 2009 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree dude ought to have outstanding hands
but so should crayton
by AustonianAggie on Mar 26, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
That's a nice Throw
that Stanbeck made. The wildcat is like the reverse and fleaflicker, nice to have in the arsenal but use rarely to improve the effect.
Even more reason to put him in
I say let us recreate the wildcat. If teams see his arm, they’ll have to respect it and not automatically expect the run or a short, quick pass. They’ll have to back their safeties up. If I were JG I’d be all over this.
I think
I think what a lot of people are kind of missing is one other guy that has already been discussed. Matt Jones. This is just one more reason for JJ to be salivating for the guy. He is an ex QB, Arkansas alum, and reclamation project.
I just pray that they do not take Pat White in the second round.
If I'm Matt Jones (snifffffff)...
Where was I? Oh yeah, if I’m Matt Jones looking for a place to rehab my career (and myself also) I think the Cowboys are about as good a place as possible.
I’ve played for a couple of their coaches, I’ve met Jerry Jones( fellow Hog alum) and I would only have to beat out Austin, Crayton, Hurd, or Stanback to get enough playing time to show what I can do.
Dallas will be able to get him at an even cheaper one year deal than if he had never been cut for only poor performance without the coke bust. And, if he’s serious about turning his life around, he’ll play hard and keep his nose clean (literally).
Seriously I think it’s going to be a very real option that has to be considered, probably sometime after the draft and before camp starts.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Mar 26, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I think his value is lowest just prior to the draft
The prospects are all packed full of potential and this guy is an underachieving cokehead. After the draft Matt Jones becomes the best available free agent WR.
We're trying to improve team character,
we finally cut TO, no more Pacman, Tank Johnson goodbye,
and you want to bring this loser to your team?
Let Oakland or the Lions or someone pay him, signing guys like him, looking for the easy way out, is one reason the Cowboys are turning into a joke franchise…
by Realist Larry on Mar 26, 2009 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions
I am only pointing out it's an obvious fit
And I didn’t say I wanted him or not, I only said he’s probably going to get a look from Dallas.
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Mar 26, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Ummm....
You aren’t really being a realist then are you? Like it or not JJ is going to look at what can improve this team. He did some coke, he doesn’t have a history of destroying a locker room, he doesn’t have a record of keeping enough guns in his house to stock a small army, he did not go to a strip club and have such poor discretion which lead to a man being shot and paralyzed. He did a drug that 25 million people in the US have tried at least once. He isn’t as much a character risk as someone like Gerald Sensabaugh who was just signed
Based on the actions taken this offseason, I don't realistically think JJ will even "sniff" MJones.
I think he’s realized you don’t build a winner by signing everyone’s castoffs.
But you are right, you never know what he’ll do.
by Realist Larry on Mar 26, 2009 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions
you know, i never thought of that before...
but wasn’t jerry quoted as saying he wanted to add a 3rd qb, not “draft” a 3rd qb but add a 3rd qb… this could mean either through the draft of FA….
and if thats the case, matt jones does make perfect sense… i wonder if thats who he was talking about
by CowboysFan4Life on Mar 27, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't think...
that JJ would be adding Matt Jones at the 3rd QB. I would tend to believe that he would be added as a legitimate number 3 WR with the upside of being a number 2 but with the flexibility to line up at either side or as a QB in the wildcat or just being able to run a WR option through him. At first I was also against him because of the coke problems, but am now kind of a believer. He has 4.3 speed which is rare for a player of his size. He could really help this team.
I think they still need to draft a young QB in the middle part of the draft. Probably with one of the 4’s or a 5. Like I said before, just please not Pat White.
The difference in a Dallas Wildcat with a Stanback
is that they would have two QBs. Miami’s wildcat keeps Chad Pennington on
the field, but splits him wide. That’s one reason why Dallas would want Stanback
to continue to progress as a receiver. If he could play the 2nd WR spot, Dallas could
flow seamlessly from their base sets to the Wildcat and back without the opposition
being able to predict.
Probably because Crayton isn't the running threat Stanback would be
Speed. Crayton has decent speed. Stanback would be dangerous in the open field.
exactly Raf....and I'm sure that's the jist of it....to force the D into going nickle/dime to respect the 3-WR sets we throw out there...
then just split Romo wide, and have Stanback run a “wild hog” alas DMac & Felix (circa 2007), and Hillis (MBIII)
by CowboysRnumba1 on Mar 26, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions
whoa,
You figure out a way to get seven skill position guys out there? :)
I count Romo, Felix, Barber, Williams, Stanback and then Crayton? Austin?
You counting Witten as a WR or taking him out of the game?
huh ? I'm counting 6 skill guys out there...but intermatch all you want...
Roy W, Crayton , and Hurd are good blockers…or go Witten or Bennett in place of one or two of the WR’s…
single back, 3 WR’s or
2WR’s and 2 RBs. or
2 WR’s + Witten + 1 RB or
2 TEs + 1 RBs + 1 WR or
1 TEs + 2 RBs + 1 WR or
1 TEs + 3 RBs or
3 TEs + 1 WR
PLUS Romo and “wildcat” QB
plenty of options…
by CowboysRnumba1 on Mar 27, 2009 4:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Raf
let’s see stanback make it through training camp before we give him any snaps.
by oneforthethumb on Mar 26, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions
anybody know if Courtney Brown is moving back to CB
eccspecially if Scandrick is moving to FS, shouldn’t Brown be moving to CB…..
i thought the same thing
it’s funny how idioms and cliches become… well, cliched
How about a wishbone?
Stanback at QB, with Felix, Barber, and Choice behind him?
Just run option left, option right!
Those NFl defenses won’t know what hit them, we’ll call it the Hydra……
Every 5 or 6 plays Stanback can throw a pass to keep the D off balance.
That allows us to trade Romo, maybe pick up a 1st rounder for next year.
there is a reason teams dont use options in the NFL, players will
simply get killed. Hydra reminds me of D Trump reality show, but the best part is trading Romo, LOL, nevertheless Stanback will be gone at camp end this year
?
are we giving out dunce caps or something ?
by CowboysRnumba1 on Mar 26, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions
DUDES! It was a joke making fun of the obsession with the 'Wildcat'
in this post!
I thought the ‘trade Romo’ would tip it off….and the stupid ‘Hydra’ nickname—dry humor can get lost in the translation, I guess…..
by Realist Larry on Mar 26, 2009 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions
The Wildcat..
..worked for Miami primarily because it was so unexpected by the defense.
Jerry Jones announcing that we are considering drafting a “Wildcat” QB is just part of that pre-draft red-herring game that all teams play. What’s next? We’re looking for a QB who can successfully master the ole’ Statue of Liberty play?
"He has a peculiar felicity of expression." John Adams
Where's Jared Zabrensky?
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Mar 26, 2009 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think it was unexpected as much...
after they ran it for several games. I think that it still boils down to the same as any play or system. If it’s executed properly by the offense then it will work. I don’t see this as a mainstay for the offense, but just another wrinkle that opposing defenses have to prepare for. The more things they have to prepare for the better.
I still think we’re going to move into a more run-oriented offense with the backs that we have… which will also open up our play-action passes. This will also limit Romo’s mistakes while he matures as a QB.
Scott in Austin
Yep.
Exactly. A wrinkle.
If Dallas does it.. which they probably will, your talking about seeing it maybe a few times in the year.
Not 5-10 times a game.
You hit it on the nail Scott.
Webster's definition of irony: Keyshawn Johnson calling another football player selfish.
by AirforceBat on Mar 26, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
I doubt we'll see the wildcat
5 times the entire season. Just Jerry spouting his usual nonsense. So many things are said and thought of in the offseason that are just never utilized.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Mar 27, 2009 4:26 AM CDT up reply actions
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