Now you’re just messing with us, Kirby.
With five talented running backs and a former high school quarterback-turned-receiver at its disposal, Georgia spent some time during Wednesday’s practice working on plays out of the Wildcat formation.
Sophomore Mecole Hardman, a high school quarterback at Elberton who is now a receiver, was with the group taking direct snaps and practicing reads with Georgia running backs.
Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my chin. Ah, that’s better.
Seriously, this has the potential to be an excellent idea. Hardman didn’t throw the ball a lot in high school, but he did throw it to the tune of 17.7 yards per catch over his three years. If his ability to throw a pass for a decent gain is perceived as a legitimate threat, that should open up the run options out of the Wildcat dramatically.
Obviously, with Chubb, Michel and Eason, the Wildcat isn’t going to be anything more than a change of pace for Georgia’s offense, but, damn, if the possibilities aren’t delicious to consider. And I’d say, given that the coaches let the media see it in practice, they want their opponents to spend preparation time doing just that.
Get The Picture 
In my never been in the arena opinion there are two keys to this being successful:
We have to throw it every so often from the wildcat. If done correctly it ought to cause an explosive play and cause the defense to hesitate a bit on wildcat runs.
We have to use it when the opposition has personnel on the field that gives us an advantage.
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I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I’d go so far to say that these little wildcat stunts seem more like a loss of down than an opportunity when you have to sub in the wildcat QB. Trotting out the running QB or aligning the receiver into the QB position is nothing but a red flag to everyone in the stadium – including the defense – that you’re going to run. Until you add the possibility of throwing the football it’s kind of a laughable play when your offense usually has the threat to either run or throw.
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If I never see us line up in the Wildcat again, it will be too soon. All it has been for us is a RPO, without the P. It is damn dumb to waste practice time on it IMO.
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If we end up signing Justin Fields, we’re going to see a lot of the Wildcat looks but with a dual-threat QB.
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I will take a dual threat QB over a dual threat RB or WR any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
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I agree 😉
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1:00 minute mark.
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My bad. I forgot about that one time that we actually passed out of the Wildcat.
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Wasn’t the pass Gurley threw to Blazevich from the Wild Dawg as well? I just don’t remember.
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Yes, but it was only 50 yards and we didn’t score until a few plays later.
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It was our longest completion of the year, IIRC.
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Here it is:
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I’m more wistful about the play at 1:11. Looks like an ol’ Donnan tunnel screen…. Brings back memories of Champ Bailey running through defenses like a hot knife through butter.
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Or this one:
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We should run the wishbone and never throw it…now get a haircut and stay off my lawn.
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Ha!
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IMPOSE.THAT.WILL!
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Yes, thank you for your voice of reason. From HS to NCAAF to the NFL, show me a “wildcat” play in the last 10 years when the ball was actually thrown. This is such a wasted down. You might as well have the qb kneel down or spike it for a loss.
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One aspect of this season that I really anticipate is seeing the skills of Mecole Hardman on offense.
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Thinking the same thing. Him on a Jet Sweep (as mentioned), Tunnel Screen or Wild Dog could be a thing of beauty.
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17-25 yards per pass average is certainly Fishfry-ish levels. I wouldn’t expect that level of production in the passing game but the fear of a 1-5 of Chubb/Michel/Herrien/Holyfield/Swift is an awesome lineup to comprehend, especially if you send 2-3 speedsters in the secondary to keep your DBs occupied. Hey, maybe we should embrace this concept a little more, tough for a DC to prepare for all that could be unleashed on you. Some variety for when things get stuck would be welcome in 2017.
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If you think about it, that’s not an unreasonable expectation, actually, and for the same reason.
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Works for GT with three star athletes running it. Variety is a great weapon/diversion in an offense…if you actually use it in a few games. UGA showing that with multiple players at the controls during the media viewing time means it is meant to be a diversion. Too much for me to deal with having to think Chaney would actually fool someone with an offensive play call in a game. Hand me the smelling salts.
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As long as we don’t throw it to Eason.
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This Mecole fascination puts a spell on Kirby
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Don’t get your hopes up too high. I watched Hardman play in HS a couple of times. He’s a worse passer than Godwin. The last time I saw him play I don’t think he had a single completion. He did, however, have some big athletic receivers at his disposal going up against low level defensive backs, that’s likely where the inflated ypp comes from.
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Not a fan of the wildcat.
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I loved watching Arkansas’ offense in 2007.
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David Lee also loved watching Arkansas’ offense in 2007
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Kentucky was pretty effective with it last year, no?
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They need to concentrate on Charlie Woerner and Isaac Nauta. I want to see them used like Ole Miss used Evan Engram. Back shoulder jump balls all day.
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Godwin: “Um coach, I’ve already practiced the wild dawg and pulled it off successfully in a bowl game.”
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