Jon Gruden's opinion on the Eagles Wildcat offense.
Former Super Bowl winning head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and current Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden, who stated that he absolutely loves the spread, wildcat offense which is being deployed and over-deployed by various NFL teams. In fact he has battled his fellow Monday Night Football analyst and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron "JAWS" Jaworski on the subject on whether its a fad in the NFL or if it is here to stay.
Obviously if Gruden were still employed as a head coach by one of the NFL's thirty-two teams, you better believe that he would be using the Wildcat as one of his offensive weapons.
Now, our Philadelphia Eagles not only added the Wildcat to their offense but they have chosen to take it to the next step, to actually employ one single player for the sole purpose of running the Wildcat offense, that player is of course is quarterback Michael Vick. Who was actually running wildcat-like plays his entire life. But currently on the Eagles hasn't used this specialty offense to his best ability. In fact there are two players on the Eagles who currently have been more successful at running Andy Reid's version of the Wildcat offense then Vick. Those players are running back LeSean McCoy and emerging All-World receiver, DeSean Jackson.
But that is not the reason that "Chucky" dislikes the Wildcat being used by the Birds. If he were Andy Reid then he may have ripped all the Wildcat plays they currently use, out of the playbook. Because he believes that Andy Reid is playing with an already loaded gun, mixing the Wildcat offense and Michael Vick into an offense which already has one of the games best quarterbacks in Donovan McNabb.
"If I had a less-established quarterback like I had a couple years back in Tampa when I was starting a rookie, Bruce Gradkowski, I wouldn't hesitate at all to run it." Said Gruden. "I believe in it. I believe it can work at this level."
"But when you already have a multiple Pro Bowler like Donovan, I'd be wary of using it much, if at all. I'd be too concerned about the effest it might have on the flow of my offense. When you have a great quarterback like McNabb, I'm not sure I want to be taking the ball out of his hands." Gruden stated to the Daily News.
I completely agree with Gruden on this one, Donovan is way too talented to be taking the ball out of his hands. Now it is much too early to know if adding a huge dose of the Wildcat while Donovan is out there will effect the offensive flow. But still, I'd trust the arm and judgement of Donovan McNabb than I would with Mike Vick in the Wildcat formation. Where he may just lose as much yardage as he could gain. We all have seen Vick try to out fox an opposing defense only to lose ten, fifteen, even twenty yards.
Now while I don't want to see many plays being taken out of the hands of Super Five, I still wouldn't mind a minor amount being dedicated to the Wildcat. We have seen it being very successful, gaining at least five yards per attempt when it is used properly within the Eagles offense.
But if it come down to one last play and my options are a trick, sometimes successful play or keeping the ball in the hands of a starting, seasoned, Pro Bowler like Donovan McNabb....
I take SUPER FIVE all day.
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kristinmasyn said October 03, 2009
Spotella replied October 04, 2009
DMcnabb4MVP replied October 04, 2009
hollywoodeagle said October 04, 2009
DMcnabb4MVP replied October 04, 2009
But you know a lot of those injuries came due to not having good receivers; he would wait around for those sub par receivers to get open and often get popped for doing so. But now as you know he has good to great receivers unlike in years past where he would have sub par to mediocre at best.
I disagree with your not needing rhythm theory, only because the West Coast offense is a timing offense, so you need a rhythm and that is why it is so important.
You have good points Hollywood and I agree with most of them. And I just think it is too early to judge if this Wildcat offense will be a good thing or a bad thing. We have seen when used properly by D-Jack and Shady that the Wildcat can be very productive.
Mike Vick hasn't been so great in using the Wildcat. But its really only been on game, after being away for two-years Mike Vick will need some time to shake off the cobwebs and rust before we can properly judge whether or not this was a good move.
hollywoodeagle replied October 04, 2009
LILEAGLE said October 05, 2009
Spotella replied October 05, 2009
greenisback said October 05, 2009
NPhillyBirdman said October 05, 2009