Could RB Cam Akers become the Shohei Ohtani of the LA Rams?

WildCam Formation

And here’s another thought worth salivating over. Just two words: Wildcat formation.

We’ve already seen a few glimpses of the Wildcat. Think Rams’ playoff loss to the Packers in January. Didn’t we see McVay deploying a few wildcat plays for Akers in that game? Yup. One such Wildcat play resulted in a 7-yard TD.

Do more, please. The changeup only makes the fastball look that much faster. I’ve heard the changeup referred to as the “dreaded equalizer” in baseball before.

So when the D expects the Rams to zig, they zag. Akers can be the team’s equalizer.

Show ’em the dual-threat he can represent. In hockey parlance, deke out the goalie. In this case, deke out the defensive coordinators of the league. Make them think about it.

Could we see more of that this upcoming season? Why not let Akers throw a few passes and keep opposing defenses guessing? Put that vaunted versatility on display. Pull out all the stops.

I likes trickery, deception, and razzle-dazzle football plays. Who doesn’t?

Trivia time timeout: Q: What coach brought the wildcat into the NFL?

A: In 1998, then-Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator and future Super Bowl-winning coach of the Baltimore Ravens Brian Billick began using formations where QB Randall Cunningham lined up as a wide receiver and third-down specialist David Palmer took the direct snap from the center with the option either to pass or run. Defenses were befuddled, unsure which way to go, who to defend.

More wildcat trivia: Q: Why do they call it the wildcat?

A: The Wildcat scheme is actually a derivation of Pop Warner’s single-wing offense that dates back to the 1920s! The Wildcat is credited with being invented by Billy Ford and Ryan Wilson and was originally called the “Dual” formation. The offensive coaching staff of the Kansas State Wildcats adopted it and used it frequently. Hence, The Wildcat. (Once again, the NFL took a l’il something from the college game and brought it to the big leagues.)