Wildcat and Harvin Watch Starts Friday
Preseason NFL games often provide minimal
entertainment but the Percy Harvin factor
offers appeal as the
Vikings prepare for their 2009 opener on Friday against the Colts in
Indianapolis. The No. 1 draft choice from Florida will debut his speed
package, and where he will be positioned is a major part of the
intrigue.
Harvin is listed on the roster as a wide
receiver and his play-making ability there potentially fills a need.
Bernard Berrian, the best at the position, has been labeled
inconsistent, and past production by other wide receivers hasn’t always been so impressive. Harvin and Berrian give the Vikings deep threats on the field at the
same time.
Harvin, though, could also contribute
returning kickoffs or punts, but likely not both, as the two
assignments demand different skills and increase potential for injury.
Then, too, Harvin is expected to line up this season at running back, and
where things could be particularly interesting is seeing him featured in
the wildcat formation.
How much or little the Vikings run out of
the wildcat in Indy and during their other three preseason games might
be a tip-off to the extent which coach Brad Childress intends to use
Harvin in that scheme. Minimal use in preseason (under-exposing
the wildcat to future opponents) may signal plans for much more during
the season.
The wildcat is a variation of the
stone-age single wing formation where the running back takes a direct snap from
the center and has the options of running, throwing or handing off the
ball. At Florida Harvin ran the wildcat in an explosive college offense
that also featured Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Tim Tebow.
(See
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knv9wR0M5m4).
With consistency and production in doubt
from the quarterback position, the Vikings potentially could benefit
from a wildcat package each game. Perhaps a half dozen plays out of the
scheme will throw defenses off enough that the Vikings could benefit
more than usual from the passing out of the west coast offense by
quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels. Then,
too, the wildcat is a potential distraction to benefit Adrian
Peterson in the run game.
But Childress and his coaches must be
convinced that the Vikings, including Harvin, can run the wildcat with
minimal mistakes. Team training camp priorities include orienting
Harvin, partially rebuilding the offensive line (center, right tackle)
and developing a starting quarterback.
No doubt Childress will keep the wildcat
in mind. “You
have to be able to hurt people (with the wildcat),” he said. “You cannot
line up in it just to say you are in it. It is whether you can be
productive in it, whether it is run or pass.”
Starting on Friday night we may be able to start grading the production
and speculate on what’s coming.
