Derrick Henry Admits Wildcat Experiment Has Been A Bust

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Wesley Dixon | Last updated Oct 16, 2026 1:17 AM ET

In today’s NFL, the Wildcat formation is often treated more like a gimmick than a serious offensive weapon, something avid College Football 27 players might utilize more frequently than actual NFL coaches. However, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has occasionally experimented with the formation, albeit with limited success.

During Thursday’s press conference, Derrick Henry acknowledged that Baltimore’s Wildcat package has struggled outside of a pivotal two-point conversion against the Atlanta Falcons.

“[It] kind of sucks, the only wildcat play we had success on was the two-point play, which was a pivotal point in the game. But the first two didn’t have much success.”

Henry went on to explain that the formation still has value in Baltimore’s playbook because it gives opposing defenses another look to prepare for. However, with a traditional power runner like Henry taking the direct snap, defenses might be more inclined to anticipate a rushing play, making the formation somewhat predictable.

A Fun Mix-Up

The Wildcat was perhaps most famously utilized by the Miami Dolphins in the late 2000s, when they had two talented running backs in Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. It was effective for a while, but defenses eventually adjusted due to how predictable the formation was. If either player was taking a direct snap, chances are they were running.

That same predictability could explain Baltimore’s struggles. Henry is a brilliant running back, but he has rarely thrown the ball in a serious context; defenses can reasonably anticipate a run and respond by stacking the box or bringing safeties closer to the line of scrimmage.

Although, to be fair, Henry does not seem averse to taking on the challenge of throwing a pass or two, he has not attempted a pass in the formation since last year; he remains confident in his arm.

“I have plenty of confidence in my arm. If it happens, it happens. All I remember was [versus] Detroit last year, when I threw a pass and that wasn’t a good pass. So, fans don’t get freaked out. I can throw better than that.”

Considering Henry’s freakish athletic qualities, perhaps asking him to complete the occasional pass isn’t completely unreasonable. Still, Ravens fans would probably prefer to see Lamar Jackson handle most of the throwing duties, leaving Henry’s arm as a potential surprise for defenses that have grown accustomed to seeing him run out of the quirky formation.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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