Could the Lions implement the wildcat into their offensive playbook? Normally a college play or a play reserved for quick 
running backs or QB’s that can scramble this is a play that the Lions were running in practice yesterday.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press the Lions were running the wildcat with both Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith under center with QB Matthew Stafford and backup QB Shaun Hill out wide as receivers.
“I did that in college, so I’m familiar with that a little bit,” Best said. “It was just something fun.”
The wildcat was in the playbook for Cal last season with Best as the running back. Best also indicated that although he never threw the ball while running the play he does have that in his arsenal too.
Head Coach Jim Schwartz said that the reason why the team was working against the wildcat was because they are likely to see it during the season from teams like the Miami Dolphins.
“A lot of teams dabble in it,” Schwartz said. “There’s a lot of reasons to dabble in it. You can spread defenses thin and force them to waste a lot of preparation time for something that you may run one or two times in the game. There are other teams that if you don’t stop it, you might see it 35 or 40 times in a game.
“I think it’s here to stay for the teams that are committed to it and it fits their personnel. It adds a totally different dynamic to your run defense when you don’t have a quarterback that’s not handing the ball off that you don’t have to account for.”
I’m not a big fan of the wildcat in the NFL but with a potentially elusive back in Best with breakaway speed you figured the team would have to try it out. At least in practice. As long as the team doesn’t run the option, which I never understood, or change the name of the play to the Wild Lion (i.e. the Wild Horse in Denver) I’m ok with it.
“I think it’s here to stay for the teams that are committed to it and it fits their personnel. It adds a totally different dynamic to your run defense when you don’t have a quarterback that’s not handing the ball off that you don’t have to account for.”
I’m not a big fan of the wildcat in the NFL but with a potentially elusive back in Best with breakaway speed you figured the team would have to try it out. At least in practice. As long as the team doesn’t run the option, which I never understood, or change the name of the play to the Wild Lion (i.e. the Wild Horse in Denver) I’m ok with it.
