Dan Pompei

The Wildcat offense is not going away, as some had predicted. Nor is it spreading all over the country like H1N1.

But it’s absolutely thriving in Miami. And only in Miami.

Now, other teams have dabbled. Approximately half of NFL offenses have run some plays with the offense. But no team comes close to getting the kind of consistent production out of it that the Dolphins do, and most only use it as a once in a while trick play.

So besides the palm trees and warm breeze, what’s different about Miami?

“They have innovated it, so they do it the best,” said Saints safety Darren Sharper, who will be trying to defend against the Dolphins’ Wildcat on Sunday. “Everyone else is just trying to emulate them. And they have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. No one else does.”

Part of the Dolphins’ secret is they have the most experience with the offense. Quarterbacks coach David Lee and offensive coordinator Dan Henning are the men who brought the offense to the NFL, and no one has been more aggressive or creative with it.

But ultimately, the scheme wouldn’t have a chance if the Dolphins didn’t have the players to execute it. What really makes Miami different is they have two outstanding tailbacks, and quarterback Pat White is an ideal fit.

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“The scheme flourishes with the Dolphins because they have two really good running backs,” a pro personnel man familiar with Miami said. “It’s not so much the offense but the athletes. It’s about the players. With average running backs, the scheme wouldn’t look so good.”

Said Sharper, “Even though you are in the right spot to make the tackle, it doesn’t always get done because they have talented runners.”

The Wildcat creates opportunities for players who can run, throw and catch, which Brown and White can. And Williams’ ability to pound the ball is the perfect complement.

Really, the Wildcat is just a variation of the old single wing. It starts with an unbalanced line, pre-snap motion and a direct snap to a player like Brown or White. From there, it’s all about using misdirection.

The Wildcat has its share of critics. The highly respected Ron Jaworski, who breaks down the tape on ESPN’s NFL Matchup show, recently called the Wildcat a “gimmick and a gadget” that won’t help a team win a championship.

Jaworski’s point is the Wildcat alone won’t get the job done. And there is little doubt the Dolphins would benefit from mixing in a more traditional vertical passing game to complement the Wildcat.

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But you have to wonder if the Dolphins would be leading the league in rushing with an average of 177 yards per game if not for the Wildcat. They are averaging 6.6 yards per play in the Wildcat. And 44 percent of Brown’s rushing yards have come Wildcat style.

So, while the Dolphins might not win a championship, there is little doubt the Wildcat has made them a more competitive team, contributing to both of their victories over the Bills and Jets.

It will be interesting to see how the offense adapts and transforms as the season goes on and defenses continue to make adjustments. “Anything that you do something for awhile, people catch on to it,” Sharper said. “But it hasn’t happened yet. They are leading the league in rushing. If you have good blocking and running, it doesn’t matter how people defend you, you still will be hard to stop.”

And the Wildcat is definitely hard to stop — as long as the Dolphins are running it.

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