Wild Horses Can't be Broken

by Vortex7 on Oct 13, 2009 2:10 PM MDT

If there were ever a weekend that proved the Wildcat formation (and the like) isn't going anywhere anytime soon, it was this one.

Personally, I never really cared for, what I considered, a fad wrinkle in several (mostly struggling) offenses. But last night the lowly Dolphins offense had an aggressive Jets defense confused all game. And let's not forget the "Wild Horse" formation. Moreno ran for a respectable 4+ yards a carry out of it against a top run defense, but it was Kyle Orton who benefitted most from it - picking apart the Pats with near perfection after trotting back under center.

Do any of you guys see us using this again? Particuarlly with 3 fairly aggressive 3-4 defenses coming up in the next few weeks? I'd actually be interested in seeing what Buckhalter could do taking the snap with Moreno as a wing (or vice-versa) and having Kyle take it from under center. I don't love the idea of making this an every game wrinkle in our system- but it's hard to argue how it put our offense in the best rhythm we've seen this year. Plus, while the formation itself was rather revolutionary, we didn't execute very many creative plays out of it. I'd watch out for what we can do when we have (arguably) our most explosive back somewhere in the mix.

How long will it be until another team starts running the Wild Horse? This week? The Browns are probably better off with Jamal Lewis just taking every snap anyway.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Are the wildcat and "wild horses" actually different formations or was it just renamed cause we are the Broncos?

by Timimus on Oct 13, 2009 2:23 PM MDT reply actions

They are different

The wildcat has two runningbacks, and often leaves the QB off the field. Even though the other team virtually knows it’s a run, the offense has an extra trained blocker on the field, in place of the QB. Coupled with misdirection, it makes the running game effective due to confusion.

The wild horse offense that the broncos pulled out last week was interesting because it is basically a singleback formation, minus the qb, who plays in the slot. While it’s not entirely creative in playcalling, it calms down the defense, keeps them from disguising blitzes, and lets the qb read the defense, though in a different way than any QB is trained. (Major Kudos to Orton for being able to do this).

It was exceptionally effective in this instance due to the surprise. I think teams will start to have multiple plans, where they play a particular defense one way, and when Orton motions under center, they switch to their contingency plan. It will be interesting to see what happens if Knowshon takes a snap while Orton is in motion, catching the defense off guard.

I don’t expect us to use it as a primary offense, since we don’t need it… but in a particularly chess-match-type game like this one, I like it as a wrinkle. Perhaps used in the second half when we need to switch things up against a D with a good gameplan.

Just my $0.02. (I thought about this quite a bit while I couldn’t sleep following that great win)

by SkinnyPB on Oct 13, 2009 2:57 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

That's a good question.

I think that the Wild Horses formation still has the QB on the field, (broken out wide),and he has the option to go in motion to under the center, and take the snap on passing plays.

Only one of the Wildcat formations that Miami used had a QB on the field, and it was designed as a draw play, all the way.

Somebody should please correct me, if I’m wrong…

by OrangeKnuckleDragger on Oct 13, 2009 2:58 PM MDT up reply actions

I may be wrong, but I think that

the QB has to be on the field or then the RB becomes the 2nd string QB and you would not be able to use your backup until the final quarter. Which is why I think they couldn’t have Pat White play until the 4th quarter last night.

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by Broncoman on Oct 13, 2009 6:16 PM MDT up reply actions

If Kansas City or Washington used it

would it be called Wild Indian?
Or Arizona would call it the Wildcard?
Or Buffalo would it be called Wild Bill?

by Broncolorado on Oct 13, 2009 2:56 PM MDT reply actions

The redskins could be the wildhogs with the way their fans dress up.

Bringing Bronco love from 1,112 miles away

by Troy Hufford on Oct 13, 2009 4:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Shouldn't it be called the Mustang Offense?

First off Wildcat is singular and it uses 2 backs, why would our single back version be plural?
Secondly, Mustangs are wild horses. Don’t be ignorant, Phil Simms.
Thirdly, Mustang just sounds cooler than wild horses.
jmho

by rollinthunder on Oct 13, 2009 3:29 PM MDT reply actions

Got to be Crazy Horse!

MORE COWBELL!

by BFF46350 on Oct 13, 2009 8:04 PM MDT up reply actions

OOOooo I like it!

by rollinthunder on Oct 19, 2009 10:42 AM MDT up reply actions

Mustang, Wild Horses, whatever...

…just keep using it. Orton was 7 for 7 for 70+ yards throwing out of the formation. Anything that throws the defense off is a good thing in my book. I’d love to see CBuck and Moreno lined up the way Miami uses the formation. When Moreno ran out of the Wild Horses formation on Sunday, he did it without any other RB in motion. It was basically just a QB draw with no threat of a pass because Moreno hasn’t thrown a ball yet, and because Orton is no threat as a receiver in the slot. With two backs, especially if either Moreno or Buckhalter can throw at all, I think we could run the formation as well as Miami did against the Jets.

Speaking of which, did anyone catch Bart Scott a few weeks back proclaiming that the Jets had “kryptonite” to defeate the Wildcat? I guess by Kryptonite he meant “getting pushed up and down the field all game long”. The Wildcat totally neutralized the Jets aggressive defense and made Chad Henne look like a stud QB.

I think McD is going to do things with this offense that are going to make the punditry’s collective heads explode. Bring on the Chargers…

by GrizBronc on Oct 13, 2009 3:46 PM MDT reply actions

I like the play...

Just hate the name… wish we could name it something else. ;)

by tunga77 on Oct 13, 2009 4:33 PM MDT reply actions

One thing that may be lost in this is that regardless if they use it again

It forces the opposing defenses to prepare for it, which cuts down on some of their other prep time, so it has an added benefit of forcing a team to devote a fair amount of prep time to it.

by Broncoman on Oct 13, 2009 6:18 PM MDT reply actions