Week 2 Primetime Game Thread

[Mags FTW]

Hey, it's Frank Gifford's corpse! Time for MNF!

[Icness]

Props to the Dolphins for not getting shaken by Dallas Clark scoring on the first play of the night. The Wildcat is working tonight.

[Icness]

Much better game that I expected. MIA looks sharp, IND looks bigger than before.

[studcrackers]

what a pass to clark at the end of the half with 8 seconds left. also donald brown made a great stutter step to set up that play 3 plays before

[studcrackers]

they're giving the wildcat to much credit, the dolphins are murdering on the ground no matter what

[Bleeding Blue]

Great drive, donald brown is a stud....wish we would have taken some more time off the clock though, our D needs the rest

[durden_tyler]

New NFL Fan here. In layman's terms can anyone explain what's a "wildcat" play?

[Bleeding Blue]

The Wildcat is an offensive formation that focuses on changes at the skill positions thusly: The quarterback lines up as a flanker (aka wide receiver), the halfback lines up as the quarterback, and there is a fullback or other tailback in motion from a split out position just before the play begins.

The wildcat is confusing to a defense because so many things can happen as the play unfolds: You can hand the ball to the guy in motion, or that guy can go to the weak side and throw a block. The quarterback (at receiver) himself may throw a block or go out for a pass.

It also very effective due to the blocking matchups. Miami is running it with an unbalanced offensive line (which Cleveland runs alot out of most formations.) That unbalanced line takes the left tackle and plays him on the right side inside of the tight end. This fortifies the other side of the line so as to make the play asymmetrical as the motion begins with the split-wide halfback left to right. (Or the same scenario only right to left and you have two tackles on the left side instead, etc.)

In all, the Wildcat formation is effective because it is impossible for the defense to know who to block until it is too late. The play begins with a man running side to side. Does he get the ball? Is it just a play action? Is it a fake handoff and then a run up the gut by the halfback?

[durden_tyler]

The Wildcat is an offensive formation that focuses on changes at the skill positions thusly: The quarterback lines up as a flanker (aka wide receiver), the halfback lines up as the quarterback, and there is a fullback or other tailback in motion from a split out position just before the play begins.

The wildcat is confusing to a defense because so many things can happen as the play unfolds: You can hand the ball to the guy in motion, or that guy can go to the weak side and throw a block. The quarterback (at receiver) himself may throw a block or go out for a pass.

It also very effective due to the blocking matchups. Miami is running it with an unbalanced offensive line (which Cleveland runs alot out of most formations.) That unbalanced line takes the left tackle and plays him on the right side inside of the tight end. This fortifies the other side of the line so as to make the play asymmetrical as the motion begins with the split-wide halfback left to right. (Or the same scenario only right to left and you have two tackles on the left side instead, etc.)

In all, the Wildcat formation is effective because it is impossible for the defense to know who to block until it is too late. The play begins with a man running side to side. Does he get the ball? Is it just a play action? Is it a fake handoff and then a run up the gut by the halfback?

Thanks! i'll get the hang of all these eventually

[studcrackers]

what in the hell are the dolphins doing? they just lost the game b/c of some of the worst clock management ive seen

[ElectricMayhem]

Wow, this is some of the worst clock management I've seen in awhile. Do they have a plan?

[Mags FTW]

Just horrible, beginning with the first 2 runs.

[Icness]

The downside of Chad Pennington as QB--dude cannot come from behind in limited time. Couldn't even do that at Marshall. Great game anyways.

[studcrackers]

The downside of Chad Pennington as QB--dude cannot come from behind in limited time. Couldn't even do that at Marshall. Great game anyways.

maybe so but they lost the game before the 2 minute warning w/some of the most moronic and lacadaisical playcalling w/3:15 on the clock and they get just 2 plays off

[CircleCitysportsfan]

Wow, this is some of the worst clock management I've seen in awhile. Do they have a plan?

High school plays=High school clock management.

[Latrell]

Colts had the ball for less than a quarter and put up 27 points with 2 rookies scoring TDs. That is why Peyton Manning is the best QB in the game....Sometimes its scary to think where we'd be even with a mediocre guy at QB..We'd be right there with the Lions and Radiers.. This Colts defense is pretty bad, especially at stopping the run and putrid on 3rd downs.. Outside of a wicked pass-rush combo we dont have much on D.

[Flash3]

Wow, this is some of the worst clock management I've seen in awhile. Do they have a plan?

that is what we were asking ourselves.