Is “Wildcat” formation coming soon to Oakland?

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Friday, May 22, 2009  |  Comments( 32 )

Oakland Raiders
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The “Wildcat” formation has taken the NFL by storm and the Oakland Raiders could be the next to feature the versatile attack. Running back Darren McFadden, who starred in the role during his years at Arkansas, could end up being the centerpiece of the Raiders’ version of the "Wildcat" in 2009.

Although Raiders owner Al Davis prefers to air it out, incorporating the “Wildcat” would be a dynamic addition to the Oakland offense. Despite having the multi-talented McFadden in the backfield, the Raiders decided against lining him up at quarterback a year ago. McFadden, teamed with now-Dallas Cowboy Felix Jones during college, thrived in the backfield with the Razorbacks.

Grouped with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush, McFadden supplies Oakland with one of the most talented running back corps in the league. Fargas has already demonstrated his abilities, while McFadden and Bush have yet to realize their full potential. Having two of the three backs on the field together would certainly pose a difficult threat to stop for enemy defenses.

In addition to confusing opposing stop units, the “Wildcat” will help take pressure off young quarterback JaMarcus Russell, whose third pro season will be crucial to his career. If Russell is unable to start the season strong, he could be replaced by veteran pickup Jeff Garcia.

With a relatively young and inexperienced group of wideouts, Russell or Garcia will need to lean on the running game. That shouldn’t be a problem; after all, the Raiders racked up nearly 150 yards per game on the ground last year. Although Oakland lost center Jake Grove through free agency, it acquired Khalif Barnes and Samson Satele. In addition, Robert Gallery continues to grow into a decent guard on the interior.

Even with the immobile Chad Pennington under center last year, the Miami Dolphins thrived thanks to running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams -- who were perfect in the "Wildcat." Brown was the focal point of the Dolphins’ attack and there’s no reason McFadden couldn’t assume the same role in Oakland.

The pieces are in place for the Raiders to mimic last year's Dolphins and give the "Wildcat" a shot.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To...
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CommentsComments: 32  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
svduran1		05:11 AM
05/22/2009
Half the teams in the league are putting in at least a couple of plays using the Wildcat. It will lack the surprise it had last...
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No.2
neil b		05:13 AM
05/22/2009
It's another option for the Raider O so I'm all for it,especially if it means that Dmac gets more playing time.My only concern is...
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No.3
neil b		05:22 AM
05/22/2009
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