Is Joe McKnight the New Wildcat Quarterback?

by John B on Nov 7, 2011 3:42 PM EST

One play late in yesterday's game was notable for two reasons. The first was Mark Sanchez was called for a holding on a Wildcat run by Joe McKnight. This leads to plenty of questions about why the Jets would leave Sanchez exposed to injury like that with the game out of hand.

The second is we saw New York's Wildcat package return, and McKnight was the trigger man. Jeremy Kerley took the snaps in preseason for the package, which the team has seldom used. Kerley had experience playing it in college and looked like a decent thrower for the role.

I am all for McKnight taking over. It is an extra chance to utilize him, putting the ball into the hands of the roster's most explosive player to try and break something big. McKnight did just that if not for the hold on Sanchez. I am not sure the Jets would be wise to trust him throwing the ball, but I think he could have a lot of success in the role.

Wildcat plays are usually not based on deception as much as many think. It is primarily a running package. Defenses can play up and stack the box. It is mainly about execution, both blocking and running. New York's offensive line is certainly capable of getting a push in power sets. The most surprising thing to me about McKnight with the Jets is how well he reads his blocks and cuts accordingly. I knew he was a great athlete, but the way he sees things develop sets him apart.

I hope to see more of this experiment in coming weeks. How about you?

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Wildcats belong in the wild, not in a Jets game.

If you don’t have everyone involved knowing how to do it right, don’t try it. (I remember Sánchez getting called for illegal motion or formation or something similar in another game where the wildcat was brought in).

What’s next for McKnight, kicking field goals or punting? Or will he become the nickel back when Cromartie leaves and Wilson takes his spot?

French fries are really Belgian, sausages and bagels have the same amount of protein, two countries' names mean "turkey", and Santa Claus was invented by the Coca-Cola company. Is life weird or what?

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by Rabbit T on Nov 7, 2011 3:57 PM EST reply actions

Please no wildcat

I hate that play so much, it’s unreal. It’s so unnecessary, if Schotty wants to get McKnight involved, get him out in space(a la Sproles) not in some dumb gadget play were the QB of all people gets called for holding, trying to avoid getting jammed at the line. Do better, Schotty!

by Melrenee on Nov 7, 2011 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

I third

No wild cats please

by CervezaVerde on Nov 7, 2011 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

Fourth'd

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by Bro Namath on Nov 9, 2011 12:32 AM EST up reply actions

Thats fine if they wanna direct snap to him but please keep sanchez on the sideline for those plays. We cant have him getting hurt.

by DJ. Quillz on Nov 7, 2011 4:02 PM EST reply actions

Thank you!

We have a hard enough time getting Sanchez to slide. Why do we have him potentially blocking or receiving. It’s just ridiculous.

by cult hero on Nov 7, 2011 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

Love it.

I agree that its good way to get Joe touches. Plus it makes it a bitch to prep for Joe when he’s in the game. He can run traditional RB, go to the slot/WR, or go to the wildcat. So ur not just prepping for wildcat plays, like we did with Brad. Now ur prepping for Joe and where he’ll be and what he’ll do. DCs will have to alert the defense of 3 different things and possibly make 3 different calls when Joe enters the game.

And we can create personnel mismatches. We can rip off a wildcat play and double and triple up on it until they stop it; and if they go big to stop the cat, then we can go traditional and motion Joe to the slot. Or vice-versa and run a couple bubble-screens to Joe in the slot and then no-huddle into the cat.

Its a great way to weaponize this guy.

by Crackback on Nov 7, 2011 4:20 PM EST reply actions

I remember my first impression of this wildcat in the preseason.

Kerley and McKnight ran the pitch option and all I kept saying was "that was the fastest play I have ever seen ran on a football field. I was amazed at the possibilities.
Two guys with lateral speed and open field ability reacting off each other.
Thats the kind of thing Bill Polian would bitch about in the offseason because it’s not fair for the rest of the league.

by Can'tWait on Nov 7, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

I agree, but I think we may have had it backwards.

Maybe it’ll be better to have Joe taking the snap because he’s better able to hit it up inside from time to time, yet still has the speed to get the edge.

I like Kerley’s quickness on the perimeter but i really don’t want him getting killed trying to get vertical between the tackles and getting wiped out by a backer.

by Crackback on Nov 7, 2011 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

I Agree

I’d hate to see either one get hurt but It looks like Kerley might have a little bit more of a fragile frame to him. I could see what they were thinking though with Kerley running the Wildcat in college.
Besides the first read should always be the better playmaker. He has 3 options to choose from. Kerleys role is simple. Take the pitch and burn.

by Can'tWait on Nov 7, 2011 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah Mcknight

Looks like he’s in great shape he’s been moving the pile a couple times this year.

"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."

by Atronic on Nov 7, 2011 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

I'd be willing to bet he put on some real muscle in the offseason.

He looks pretty fit

by Can'tWait on Nov 8, 2011 7:35 AM EST up reply actions

NO!!!!

No more damn wildcat ever! I think it kills any momentum the offense has going and I don’t like a RB having the option to toss the ball. It’s too little reward for the risk IMO

by GangGreen73 on Nov 7, 2011 5:41 PM EST reply actions

Can't remember last holding penalty called on a QB?

by Putnan Prince on Nov 7, 2011 6:59 PM EST reply actions

Mark may be having a better year stat wise

But he’s still making stupid mental mistakes.
I can deal with 3 or 4 wildcat plays in a game so he can hit the sidline for a little coaching and a free timeout.
We don’t have an every down back and we don’t have a probowl QB so what earth moving superstar are we taking snaps away from with a few wildcat plays?
In fact, the wildcat is tailor made for the only big play running threat we have.
Some of you guys need to relax. I don’t remember loosing any games because of the wildcat. It’s been apart of our success in the past and I have no problem with them poking a stick at it now with Joe.
Lets not forget that opposing defenses had to spend a considerable amount of prep-time on the wildcat in the past. Another plus as far as I’m concerned.

by Can'tWait on Nov 7, 2011 7:06 PM EST reply actions

THIS

Not only is it a bitch to prep for, but if you catch a team in bad personnel, you can really exploit it.

by Crackback on Nov 7, 2011 7:35 PM EST up reply actions

We can't call it a wildcat

or tiger cat or seminole anymore.

I propose “Penetrating Trojan”.

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by dvdvil on Nov 7, 2011 7:15 PM EST reply actions

Who's that with the ball?

Trojan Maaaaaaan!

by Can'tWait on Nov 7, 2011 7:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

LOL

Awesome. Freakin rec’d!!!

by Crackback on Nov 7, 2011 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

I hate the wildcat

But as long as one particular Trojan is on the sideline, safe from being treated as a WR were he can get injured, I’ll be okay.

by Melrenee on Nov 7, 2011 10:10 PM EST up reply actions

Taking out Sanchez defeats the whole purpose

The ultimate aim is to get a personnel mismatch with a run/pass threat under center. You don’t put Sanchez in the huddle and have Joe McKnight running the QB spot and you’ve told the other team “hey, put in your big set because we are going to run the ball since no one on the field can throw it.”

by J-Nasty on Nov 8, 2011 1:02 AM EST up reply actions

Well, RBs aren't known for throwing

And if the QB is lined up as a WR, it’s pretty safe to assume no one is throwing anyway. Wildcat has worn out it’s welcome, IMO.

by Melrenee on Nov 8, 2011 1:12 AM EST up reply actions

Go Joe!

by Timxing on Nov 7, 2011 8:08 PM EST reply actions

I personally find the Wildcat useless without a trigger man who can throw

I’m all for getting Joey Mac more touches, but this is a more or less a direct snap and it doesn’t really take much more prep time away from other teams when there’s no threat of the pass. I like Kerley in that role because we know at least he can throw a ball.

by J-Nasty on Nov 7, 2011 9:04 PM EST reply actions

the wildcat is an asset

why not run the wildcat once a game? worst case sinario(besides a fumble) is mcknight runs right up the middle for 0 yards but after you run the wildcat opposing teams will have to prepare for it against the jets, thus giving them less time to prepare for the offense

by MrMartain on Nov 7, 2011 10:49 PM EST reply actions