When I took a halftime break during the last Viking-Packer game, it didn’t look good for the Vikings. They were down two touchdowns and replacement quarterback Joe Webb, after a good start, was looking to be in over his head. Yet, I posted on Facebook that the Vikings were still in it and they would soon unleash Joe Webb.
Why did I make such a dumb statement? It was my thinking that the Vikings would take a page from some previous teams and throw a different and unusual offense at their opponent.
There were hints that they might do so in the pre-game show. It seemed that it was the only option left to the Vikings if they were to make a game of it.
Darryl Royal, who just passed away, was a proponent of the Wishbone offense. Barry Switzer and the Oklahoma Sooners dominated college football for a great deal of the ‘70s and ‘80s with the formation.
The Wishbone consisted of the quarterback taking the snap from center with a number of options. He could fake or hand off to the fullback, slide along the line, pitch back to the trailing back, run it himself, or pass. It gives the quarterback four options and, if done properly, forces the defense to commit itself and take itself out of the play without the offense needing to block them.
It is primarily a running offense and that is not the NFL’s game, but it is the Vikings’ game. I thought that with the athletic and fast Joe Webb, (he runs a 4.4 40), it would be a success against a defense that was not prepared for it. Then too, the Vikings had the league’s premier running back in Adrian Peterson, who seems particularly well suited for the Wishbone.
What a surprise it would be to the Green Bay Packers! The Vikings wouldn’t use the formation until after halftime. Then the Packer coaches would not have much time to adjust the defense. And, if Webb and Peterson could remain uninjured, what a tactical advantage it would give the Vikings for the rest of the game.
There are certainly disadvantages to the Wishbone at the professional level. Your quarterback is constantly under siege and wouldn’t last long without being injured. But for one game, or in the Vikings’ case, a half of a game, he could probably escape injury. Another disadvantage to the Wishbone offense is that it is not a come-from-behind offense. All that running burns up the clock which is fine if you are ahead, but not if you’re behind.
Another problem with the Vikings using the Wishbone formation against the Packers or any other team is that it takes time to learn. The Vikings had a difficult enough time getting Christian Ponder and his receivers on the same page during available practice time.
So, the Wishbone was not really practical for the Vikings to use, but it would have been fun to see. And as a postscript, it would have given next year’s opponents something they would have to spend time on in practice, in case the Vikings might spring it on them.
The Vikings finished with a record of 10-7, which was about five more wins than expected — a fine season regardless of the final game. Next year should be a doozy. The Vikings do have some holes which need shoring up; pass receivers primarily, but their running game is the best in the league and Peterson is talking about a 2500-yard season next year. With help from Christian Ponder and a passing game, he just might do it.
