CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Miami coach Tony Sparano and assistant David Lee get plenty of credit for making the wildcat a much-copied NFL sensation.
Offensive coordinator Dan Henning had little trouble making it work -- perhaps because he first used direct snaps to running backs when directing Carolina's offense in 2006. It's a story that's often forgotten when the formation's rise to prominence is discussed.
"Dan added his two cents into the mix when we started talking about it a little bit and drawing up for our preseason stuff," Sparano said. "He did mention at that time that it was something (the Panthers) did."
It's with that backdrop that the Dolphins (4-5) and Panthers (4-5) meet Thursday night in a critical game for their renewed playoff hopes. The main component of Miami's wildcat, running back Ronnie Brown, won't play because of a foot injury. But that only makes the Panthers more nervous in a short week.
What will Henning, fired by Carolina in 2006 amid criticism he was too conservative, cook up to make up for Brown's absence? Will Ricky Williams line up in that formation? What about rookie Pat White? Will they not use it all?
"I have all the trust in the world of Dan on game day to let him do his thing," Sparano said. "One of the things I learned as a play caller was that the head coach can get in the way sometimes. People in your ear, too many chefs in the kitchen, that can be a problem. I like to stay out of the way of Dan as much as possible."
That wasn't the case with the Panthers. Conservative coach John Fox limited what Henning could do. Many felt Henning was made the scapegoat after a miserable 2006 season -- even after his inventive way to win a game late that season.
Jake Delhomme was hurt and backup Chris Weinke was hampered by an injured throwing shoulder. Henning lessened Weinke's load by occasionally putting DeAngelo Williams behind center against Atlanta. The then-rookie picked up first downs on seven of eight third-down carries. The Panthers threw seven passes all game and won 10-3.
A month later, Henning was gone, and the Panthers have used the wildcat sparingly since.
"He's a good football coach, a very smart man," Delhomme said. "I do miss him, but that's coaching. Sometimes things just don't mesh at certain times."
After a year out of football, Henning returned to work for buddy Bill Parcells, unveiling double-reverse passes by running backs that Fox never would have signed off on as the Dolphins won the AFC East last season.
The Panthers, with Jeff Davidson calling plays in their run-first approach, won a division title, too. Both teams got off to 0-3 starts this year before winning four of their next six to put them back on the edge of the playoff picture.
"Mirror images, both had double-digit wins last year and they're just trying to get back to .500," Delhomme said of the first Thursday game in Carolina's 15-year history. "We're doing some decent things and we've got to see if we can carry it over."
Carolina veered from its play-it-safe approach a bit Sunday, using a no-huddle offense that produced two touchdown passes to Steve Smith in a 28-19 win over the Falcons. Delhomme went turnover-free for the third straight game after 13 interceptions in his first six.
But the Panthers lost left tackle Jordan Gross to a broken ankle, causing them to shuffle the offensive line. Delhomme hinted that might lead to ditching the no-huddle.
Sparano said maybe Brown's injury will mean no wildcat, too. Or, with only three days of preparation time, maybe both teams are already running misdirection plays.
"You have to recover from a game pretty quickly," Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor said. "I'm not 25 anymore."
Joey Porter is expected to line up with Taylor at linebacker Thursday after he was a healthy scratch in Sunday's uncomfortably close 25-23 win over Tampa Bay. But how much he'll play is uncertain after replacements Charlie Anderson and Cameron Wake combined for two sacks.
The Panthers will play their second game without weakside linebacker Thomas Davis, lost for the season with a torn knee ligament. The Panthers were helped Sunday when Michael Turner left with a second-quarter ankle injury after already rushing for 111 yards.
Now Carolina faces the NFL's fourth-ranked rushing offense without Brown. Ricky Williams rushed for 102 yards in his place Sunday and is averaging 5.3 yards a carry despite being 32. He's taken some snaps in the wildcat, but Brown's injury could mean more time for White.
"It's good to have that kind of backup at the running back position, so we aren't going to change our package," quarterback Chad Henne said.
It might be tweaked a little bit, though. Henning, who declined interview requests this week, may have a few surprises for the team that didn't give him much freedom, then sent him packing.
"Dan Henning, he was good for us because he knew how to take the personnel and craft plays around what he had," Panthers receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "That's what he's doing in Miami. He crafted this style, trick plays, wildcat and all this different stuff."
