What is wildcat football formation play?

Answer 1

The Wild Cat

The wildcat is basically a formation where the quarterback is replaced with one of the teams most athletic and versatile players, usually a running back. Since the ball is snapped directly to the running back, there is no time wasted handing the ball off, and there is an extra blocker. The running back also has the option to pass, making the formation even more difficult to defend.

It's an offense run without the quarterback. The Miami Dolphins turned to this formation in desperation after getting blown out of their first 2 games in 2008, and after going 1-15 the previous season. The Dolphins immediately pulled of a shocking upset of the New England Patriots, thanks largely to effective use of the play, and went 11-3 the rest of the way to win the division, before the Ravens shut down the play in the playoffs. The Dolphins run many different plays out of the Wild Cat formation, with either Ronnie Brown or Rickie Williams taking the direct snap, and then either handing off, running, or throwing.

It is a direct-snap version of a Double-Wing offense. It is the imaginative creation of Hugh Wyatt, a high school coach who came up with the idea in 1997. The Wild Cat is named after his school mascot.

Miami Dolphins quarterback coach David Lee also became famous for implementing the Wild Cat while coaching at the University of Arkansas.