Wildcat or wild card? Atlanta Falcons' Jerious Norwood can be the wrinkle in the offense

Jerious Norwood, AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

Last season the Atlanta Falcons added their name to the list of teams that successfully used the Wildcat formation when Jerious Norwood scored on a direct snap in Week 17's win over the St. Louis Rams.

Norwood lined up as the quarterback and scored on an 8-yard run, just before halftime to give the Falcons a 17-14 lead.

But what makes the fourth-year running back such a special player is his knack for contributing in different ways to the Falcons. The dynamics of Norwood's abilities were on display just two plays before his Wildcat touchdown run when he set up the score with a 92-yard kick return. 

Not to be outdone by his first-half heroics, he added a 45-yard touchdown run, breaking two tackles in the process and showcasing his world-class speed, late in the fourth quarter to seal the 31-27 victory. 

Head Coach Mike Smith bestowed high praise on Norwood's play in the final game of the season, a game that showed, when healthy, all the ways Norwood can help Atlanta win. 

"It is no doubt that they were game-changing plays in terms of the kickoff return, the 45-yard run, and also the score on the eight-yard line as well," Smith said following the game. "I think those were big plays in the ball game. Jerious is a very explosive player." 

"Explosive" and "Norwood" have become synonymous and in 2009 the fastest man at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine (4.26 40) looks to help make the Atlanta Falcons offense equally as volatile.

The team's offense has playmakers aplenty. Already featuring Pro Bowlers Michael Turner and Roddy White and the rising star Matt Ryan, Atlanta added future-Hall-of-Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to the mix this offseason. Not short on weapons, they also have the steady Michael Jenkins and the impressive, ready-for-a-breakout-season-from-the-slot receiver Harry Douglas.

Norwood can be the Wildcat, the wild card, and the wrinkle in the offense. In short, he has "big play" written all over him, perhaps more so than any other weapon in the offense.

Last season, though slowed by injuries during the middle of the season, he played in all 16 games, rushing 95 times for 489 yards (5.1 ypa), adding four touchdowns. The 45-yard touchdown run against the Rams was the longest of 2008, but not of his career--that came in his rookie season when he ran for a 78-yard touchdown.

Norwood was well-utilized out of the backfield as a receiving option last season as well. He caught 36 passes for 338 yards (9.4 ypc) and two touchdowns. His 67-yard touchdown catch in Week 10's win over New Orleans was the longest of the season and his career.

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is nicknamed "Inspector Gadget" for his penchant for trick plays and his ability to creatively use the talents of many of his players. It's possible the Norwood-under-center Wildcat formation will be used even more in 2009.

Speaking with Atlanta's AM 790 (The Zone) on Monday at the team's Verizon Wireless Network of Champions Golf Tournament, Norwood shared his approval of the unusual scheme.

"I think it's always a plus to be able to run the Wildcat because the defense really doesn't know exactly what you're going to do," Norwood said. "You've got a couple of threats: the quarterback can fake it to the running back, take it around the end, or he can give it, or he can draw back and throw it to the tight end. They never know what you're going to do, so it's always a plus..."

Norwood, who looked very impressive and in mid-season form at the team's recent mini camp, doesn't, however, believe the team views him as strictly a trick play performer. The Wildcat is simply a dimension to an offense, designed to keep defenses off balance. It's not a revolutionary offense that will change the game forever, that's why teams still must do the things they've always done to win--run the ball consistently and establish a deep-pass threat. He believes he's ready to play an even bigger role in that consistent running game.

"I feel like the coaches treat me just like every other running back," he said about how he's used in practices and game plans. "I basically do everything that the other running backs do."

But don't forget, as the Rams did last season, Norwood is also a return man. Sporting News recently ranked him as the eighth-best specialist in the NFL. In 2008 he ranked ninth in the NFL with a return average of 25.7 yards. His 1,311 total return yards was good enough for fifth-best.

Whether it's as a Wildcat quarterback, a change-of-pace running back, a backfield receiver, or a return specialist, Norwood is ready to make an impact.

With team officials privately saying that Turner cannot carry the ball a league-leading 376 times next season, fans can expect to see Norwood more involved.

No matter the title given to what Norwood does on the field, expect it to be accomplished with his trademark speed and explosion in 2009.

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