‘All of a Sudden it has a Name’
Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey wasn’t shocked by the uptick in single wing or “Wildcat” formations in the NFL last season.
In fact, if you listen closely, you can hear his confusion with the hype.
Regardless, the Falcons joined the Dolphins and other teams in the NFL in implementing some direct-snap plays to running backs.
It worked because of Jerious Norwood’s various talents.
“His ability to do some of the things as a quarterback (allowed it),” Mularkey said. “(But) we’ve been doing that for 10 years. I don’t think we caught anyone off guard with it. All of a sudden it has a name but Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle El and Roscoe Parrish have been doing those things for 10 years now.”
For the record, Mularkey coached Ward and Randle El in Pittsburgh. He wasn’t afraid to call the trick play, though the “Wildcat” is more of a nod to football’s past than its inovative tricksters.
(I watched similar plays in my days covering high school football).
Surprisingly, defenses had trouble containing the formation in 2008, leading experts — and Madden 2010 programmers — to think its sticking around.
Good news for Norwood who, according to Mularkey, can also throw the ball out of the formation.
Getting Norwood the football more is a hot topic among fans this offseason, who are dazzled by his speed and play making ability. With Pro Bowler Michael Turner starting at running back, however, some sharing is in order.
“We have a plan every week that involves Jerious,” Mularkey said. “We have a plan for every guy. Really, situations dictate whether those plans or plays get called. A lot of it is based on down, distance, field position, score… If those things evolve to get them. I think sometimes people believe we don’t use him enough but he has some plays.”
But the Falcons didn’t depend strictly on situations to get Norwood in the game in 2008.
He was the team’s primary kickoff return man, racking up 1,311 return yards. In just three seasons he’s moved to third place on the team’s all-time list for return yards.
Working on special teams allows Norwood more touches and puts him in line with Turner in terms of production.
The fourth-year back had 2,138 yards last season (rushing, receiving and returns). Turner had 1,740, but caught only six passes. The Pro Bowler had 200 more carries, but Norwood accounted for 27.8 percent of the total yards generated by the offense and special teams.
He averaged 5.1 yards per carry, a number that could go down with more rushing attempts.
But the Falcons aren’t concerned with numbers as much as creating mismatches. That changes with the game and the formation.
That’s where the Wildcat — or whatever you call it — comes into play.
And Norwood gives the Falcons something not every team has.
“He’s an explosive player,” Mularkey said. “He’s a fun player. He’s one of my favorite guys I’ve ever coached just because of the way he practices and approaches the game. He just has fun and is a good player.”
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yea lets get him the ball more!
Probably my favorite falcon. One of the best attitudes on the team on and off the field. Talk to him all the time off the field and he is a great guy. I would have never thought that he accounted for more all purpose yards than Turner, even though I feel he has the ability to start. I wish he would get the ball more. He deserves it, and if he can hold up give him the rock. When he gets in the red zone hand it to the big man. He can truck someone to if he has to, don’t doubt that
Well put. Jerious is a fantastic guy in the locker room and a good interview. The yardage is interesting, but makes sense when you throw in kick return yards. That’s a huge number.
I think the Patriots would use Jerious a lot catching short passes out of the backfield, and I hope we do more of that this year. There probably isn’t a LB in the NFL who can stay with his quickness on a short route. And we know how capable he is of turning a short pass into a long run. Moreover, Gonzalez is going to attract a lot of attention when he releases, freeing up some room for Jerious to maneuver. This is going to be exciting!!! I can’t wait.
This is picking nits, but it’s Hines, not Heinz. Heinz is where Hines plays his home games. Or John Kerry’s wife. Take your pick
Always good reading here though.
i want to see norwood get the ball on screen and small routes to the outside and some trick plays…lets surprise the league.
They had one play in the home game against TB where everyone and their brother went right…except for Norwood. Ryan did a quick option-style pitch to Norwood who was left with one DB on outside contain on the weak side. If I recall correctly, he broke the first guy and managed to get 18-20 yards out of it.
Not to mention the 90something yard return he had against the Rams, I believe it was. It was great of the coaches to let him punch it in after he couldn’t quite take it all the way on the kick.
Norwood is an excellent athlete and I hope the Falcons follow up on their word and give him more touches. He definitely deserves it.
One more thing, I think Wes Durham first coined the term “WildBird”. I think we should just call it the WildBird formation and go from there.
JMike, not to be pedantic, but its Hines Ward, not Heinz. Although Hines does have 57 flavours of awesome on the field.
LOL! You’re right. Change made. Thanks for the heads up.
Mr. Norwood is a great guy, not because we are both from Mississippi, well that may be the reason. But seriously he is. on his bio he has a video of when he got an award at Miss. State, its pretty heart warming you guys should check it out.
@Zippo
I think the “Wildbird” sounds great! Can you pass that onto the coaches!
JN is one of the great players in the NFL today!He doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves!I don’ think that nicknames will do him justice.He is a hardnosed player who complements a team with his talent.He deserves a better contract when he is a FA.The Falcons need to get a returner to help elongate JN’s life in the NFL.JN ,if you see this feed,I wish you well with your profession!
if the cardnials don’t sign hermon johnson , i think he would make a great converted DT ! he is HUUUUGE !!!!!!!!!
wildcat sounds good and getting Norwood the ball more, but by the end of the year it seems DEFS. were stopping it more and more.dont you think teams will be better perpared for the “WILDCAT”?
we should sign a cornerback thats the possesion we need most!
get a veteran like…”BLY”
@enrique
Nay dont wanna pay veteran minimum or more for someone with maybe 3 years left….
i suggest waiting and see how our current cb corpse does and if that doesnt work out theres always the draft next year with out a 2nd round draft pick but it will all work out…. WE HAVE TD
Not to rain on anyones parade, but adding in his kick return yards is kind of deceptive. It is largely a function of how often our defense allows the opponent to score. He needs to get the ball more often on offense, perhaps more of him and Turner on the field at the same time.
J Mike do you think Norwood should just be used in situational player,or we need to devise plays that counter any situation defenses show us,and give him the rock anyway?
@teeg
You’re right Teeg, but it is still a measurement of Norwood’s explosiveness. The man is amazing back there, it doesn’t matter why he’s there.
I think I’m gonna puke – don’t hurt your arm patting yourself on the back, Mularkey. Except what you were running last year (and probably 10 years ago too) was a direct snap to the RB/WR, with a simple zone read-option if Turner was in the backfield with him – not a true “Wildcat” like the Dolphins were running. The Miami version had several distinct features that set it apart: 1) Unbalanced line with LT Jake Long lining up outside RT, 2) TE/H-back to the right, behind the two right tackles, 3) second RB (Ricky Williams) split out to the left slot, coming in motion pre-snap, and getting to the first RB (Ronnie Brown) precisely when the snap arrives, and 4) the LG usually pulling to the right.
But really, the main reason I’m feeling queazy is because I think Norwood can be so much more – he doesn’t have to be pigeon-holed into some special packages to “trick” defenses. He’s a great Running Back – let him run more from the standard offensive set!!
NORWOOD IS ONE OF THE BEST FALCONS EVER..THIS GUY HAS A ATTITUDE YOU DREAM OF AS A COACH AND A FAN…IF YOU DONT PULL FOR HIM YOUR NOT A FOOTBALL FAN AT ALL….HIS ATTITUDE AND HIS SKILLS ARE OFF THE CHART!!! HE MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A FALCON FAN.
Norwood is an underutilized talent! We definately need to get him MORE involved in the offense. We could be like Byner/Mack or Jacobs/ward and have two 1000yd rushers in the same season. That would really open up our pass game quite a bit!
Call it the dirty bird formation