Single Wing & Wildcat

wingback stationed outside end could quickly move to a crucial blocking position. Third, the fullback and especially the quarterback could lead the ball carrier producing interference. Finally, linemen, usually guards, would pull at the snap and block at the specified hole. Line splits were always close except for ends who might move out from the tackle.



The single-wing formation depended on a center who was skilled both at blocking and at tossing the ball from between his legs to the receiving back. The center had to direct the ball to any of several moving backs, with extreme accuracy, as the play started. Single-wing plays would not work efficiently if the back had to wait on the snap because quick defensive penetration would over-run the play. The center was taught to direct the ball to give the tailback or fullback receiver a running start in the direction that the play was designed to go. The single-wing formation was a deceptive formation with spectators, referees, and defensive players often losing sight of the ball. A backfield player, called a "spinner," might turn 360 degrees while faking the ball to the other backs, or even keeping the ball or passing it. Defensive players were often fooled as to which back was carrying the ball.



The one play that was unique to the single-wing formation was the buck-lateral football play. The terminology for this series of plays associates the word "buck" with the intent of the fullback to plunge into the line. In addition, the short toss, or lateral of the ball, can be made to the quarterback or wingback who may take the ball and do other maneuvers including passing the ball. Consequently, when the fullback takes the ball, he appears to be headed to buck the line. Typically, fullbacks were bigger players who ran plays intended to smash the defensive front. The fullback's initial move pulls the defensive players toward the expected point of attack. Next, the fullback tosses the ball to another back causing the defense to change pursuit angles, thus losing a step in their catching the ball carrier.



The strong side of the formation, where the extra lineman and wingback lined-up, put pressure on the defensive end. Defenses might move extra players to that side or shift the whole defense to compensate. The cut-back play could succeed regardless of how the defense reacted. The cut-back play started like a strong side sweep with offensive guards and quarterback running interference for the tailback. The fullback would fake a smash over the guard hole to occupy the defensive tackles. The play was designed to make the defensive end over-react and try to stay outside to contain the runner. If the defensive end gave ground to the sideline, the tailback would cut-back inside to let his interference push the defensive end out of the play. If the defensive end came too far inside, then the ball carrier would run

THE SINGLE-WING TODAY



Although the Single-wing has lost much of its popularity since World War II, its characteristic features are still prevalent in all levels of modern football. They include pulling guards, double teams, play action passes, laterals, wedge blocking, trap blocking, the sweep, the reverse and the quick kick. Many current offenses, such as that of the Florida Gators' coach Urban Meyer, use Single-wing tendencies for running plays (also known as the Wildcat Offense), while using wide receivers instead of wingbacks. Once a strong running formation, the single wing has been replaced by formations that facilitate passing, while minimizing the running aspect of the game. Today the single-wing has evolved in what coaches call the spread offense or shotgun, with the emphasis on passing. The most noticeable feature that remains of the powerful Carlisle formation is the long toss from center to the main ball-handler. The main talent and field general has become the quarterback instead of the tailback. The other single-wing backs have moved close to the line of scrimmage and are split farther from the main line. Wide receivers are called split-ends, flex ends, slots, and flankers. Also, linemen spacing has increased in distance. Moving offensive players farther apart serves the purpose of also spreading the defense. The goal is to make defenses cover the whole field on every play.



The current incarnation of the Wildcat Offense, which has been adopted by many college, NFL, and high school teams utilizes many elements of the single-wing formation.



SUCCESSFUL SINGLE-WING TEAMS



Nevertheless, the single-wing has had a successful revival at youth leagues, middle schools, high schools, and some colleges.



Once again the Single Wing sole focus was to exploit the weakness between the defensive tackle and the defensive end. The end's job on defense was to force the play inside, and because he had no help from the outside, he played wide. This left a big gap between him and the defensive tackle.



Warner developed a power-packed running game by placing seven offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage, with two offensive guards between one tackle and the end. His quarterback was mainly used as a blocking back, and lined up behind and between the offensive guard and tackle. And Warner set a wing-back out-from, but behind the tackle - flanking the outside defensive tackle - so his team

HIGH SCHOOL



There has been much conjecture about the origins of the Wildcat offensive scheme. Some claim it is named for the Wildcats of West Genesee High School, where Miami Dolphins assistant coach Steve Bush once worked. Others claim that the offense was created by double-wing guru Hugh Wyatt, a longtime coach in the Pacific Northwest. Wyatt, coaching the La Center (WA) High School Wildcats, published an article in "Scholastic Coach" magazine in 1998, where he explained in detail his offensive system. Many other high school football programs across the United States run or have in the past run similar schemes.



The wildcat offense's key trait, that either the quarterback or running back can receive a direct snap.



COLLEGE



The Wildcat was popularized on the college level by current Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, and current Miami Dolphins quarterback coach David Lee in their former jobs as offensive coordinator with the Arkansas Razorbacks. In 2006, Malzahn, and in 2007 Lee, was the offensive coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team. They both ran a variation of the Wildcat formation in which running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were prominently featured. The Wildcat formation was sometimes called the "WildHog" (in honor of the Razorback mascot at the University of Arkansas) and subsequently rebranded as the "WildRebel" when Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt went to Ole Miss as head coach (Ole Miss' mascot being the Rebels).



While the Wildcat formation is often seen as successful for offenses, there have been several instances where the wildcat formation has indeed kept the defense on their toes, but the offense has not followed through. Kansas State has used the Wildcat offense more recently as has the University of Pittsburgh, The University of Pittsburgh has had great success with the formation lining up with two running backs with either taking the snap.