Can't Emmitt still be on the team?

[jon_nyaz]

All,

I hate to start another thread about the Shipp vs. Smith debate, but y'all seem to be looking at this whole thing in a very black & white way. It's like, "cut Emmitt or put him on IR so Shipp can still get the ball". Whoa! Why can't Emmitt still be a part of this team and just not be the starter? Why can't he get 8 carries a game and give Shipp some much needed rest? Whether or not you like his on-the-field results, his mere presence on this team has been a God-send. He reeks winning from every pore and I think he flat out makes the guys on this team better just by being here. No one wants to take the ball out of Shipp's hands right now. Therefore, I think there is a compromise that needs to take place and I think Mac will look to find that compromise.

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by jon_nyaz
All,

I hate to start another thread about the Shipp vs. Smith debate, but y'all seem to be looking at this whole thing in a very black & white way. It's like, "cut Emmitt or put him on IR so Shipp can still get the ball". Whoa! Why can't Emmitt still be a part of this team and just not be the starter? Why can't he get 8 carries a game and give Shipp some much needed rest? Whether or not you like his on-the-field results, his mere presence on this team has been a God-send. He reeks winning from every pore and I think he flat out makes the guys on this team better just by being here. No one wants to take the ball out of Shipp's hands right now. Therefore, I think there is a compromise that needs to take place and I think Mac will look to find that compromise.

Jon, that is almost certainly what will happen. And, I'm getting optimistic that it will not be a problem.

 

[jon_nyaz]

Re: Re: Can't Emmitt still be on the team?

Originally posted by ajcardfan
Jon, that is almost certainly what will happen. And, I'm getting optimistic that it will not be a problem.

Yeah, I mean there's got to be a reasonable solution to this quandary right? The only chance that it will get ugly is if Emmitt is unwilling to compromise, in which case then we've got ourselves a problem that might require a more drastic action. But as long he recognizes that Shipp's hot and very talented and needs to have the ball and he is truly more about winning than about padding his stats, then all will be well.

 

[Stout]

I don't think Shipp and Smith can coexist. The reason? Shipp is the starter. Plain and simple. Anyone that says any differently is either lying or selling something. It's a no-brainer for Mac.

The problem is that Smith wants to be a starter. He was very vocal in Dallas about not playing second fiddle and I doubt very much he'll change his mind. Will he accept five carries a game in relief spots? I seriously doubt it.

And therein lies the problem. We do not need a future HOFer to start getting disgruntled and upset, especially if we continue to play well.

I'm anxious to see how this all pans out.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by Stout
I don't think Shipp and Smith can coexist. The reason? Shipp is the starter. Plain and simple. Anyone that says any differently is either lying or selling something. It's a no-brainer for Mac.

The problem is that Smith wants to be a starter. He was very vocal in Dallas about not playing second fiddle and I doubt very much he'll change his mind. Will he accept five carries a game in relief spots? I seriously doubt it.

And therein lies the problem. We do not need a future HOFer to start getting disgruntled and upset, especially if we continue to play well.

I'm anxious to see how this all pans out.

me too. Shipp doesn't need his rythym's screwed with - I mean, if we had say Stephen Davis - would anyone be talking about "sharing" the ball? No - and we basically do have Stephen Davis in the form of Shipp - Emmitt's touches should be minimal - I am confident the coaching staff wants to keep their jobs and will do what's best for the team at this point and not what's best for Emmitt.

 

[jon_nyaz]

Originally posted by Stout
I don't think Shipp and Smith can coexist. The reason? Shipp is the starter. Plain and simple. Anyone that says any differently is either lying or selling something. It's a no-brainer for Mac.

The problem is that Smith wants to be a starter. He was very vocal in Dallas about not playing second fiddle and I doubt very much he'll change his mind. Will he accept five carries a game in relief spots? I seriously doubt it.

And therein lies the problem. We do not need a future HOFer to start getting disgruntled and upset, especially if we continue to play well.

I'm anxious to see how this all pans out.

The Dallas situation was different though. First of all, Emmitt was too close to the situation to be objective. It was HIS TEAM after all. Secondly, Troy Hambrick was an unproven punk and Emmitt didn't feel that he had lost his job to a better player.

So let me ask you this. What if Emmitt is cool playing second fiddle to Shipp? Then it's all good right?

 

[Red Air Force]

Re: Re: Re: Can't Emmitt still be on the team?

Originally posted by jon_nyaz
The only chance that it will get ugly is if Emmitt is unwilling to compromise, in which case then we've got ourselves a problem that might require a more drastic action.

The thing is though, that I don't think thats the ONLY case in which it would turn ugly.

The other possibility that I see is Mac flat out renaming Smith the Starter, and only giving Shipp 5 or 6 carries a game. In that case things will get VERY ugly. The fans will turn on him, the press will turn on him, the team will turn on him, and most importantly Shipp will turn on him.

All because of Mac's "loyalty".

Thats what I'm afraid of.

 

[Stout]

Originally posted by jon_nyaz
So let me ask you this. What if Emmitt is cool playing second fiddle to Shipp? Then it's all good right?

The only problem with that is I'd be concerned that Anderson get a few carries.

As long as Shipp gets his 25+ carries, and Smith is happy sharing 5-10 carries with Anderson, then I'd be thrilled. It's good to have him strictly as a backup IF he is willing to accept that role. My instinct says he is not. I hope he is, or at the least, that this all doesn't blow up on us.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Can't Emmitt still be on the team?

Originally posted by CaliforniaCard
The thing is though, that I don't think thats the ONLY case in which it would turn ugly.

The other possibility that I see is Mac flat out renaming Smith the Starter, and only giving Shipp 5 or 6 carries a game. In that case things will get VERY ugly. The fans will turn on him, the press will turn on him, the team will turn on him, and most importantly Shipp will turn on him.

All because of Mac's "loyalty".

Thats what I'm afraid of.

I gotta say that I still am not a Mac guy, but even I don't think he would do something as horrifying as what you describe above - however, if he does name Emmitt the starter, than Graves will undoubtedly IMO be looking for a new head coach come January.

 

[jon_nyaz]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Can't Emmitt still be on the team?

Originally posted by CaliforniaCard
The thing is though, that I don't think thats the ONLY case in which it would turn ugly.

The other possibility that I see is Mac flat out renaming Smith the Starter, and only giving Shipp 5 or 6 carries a game. In that case things will get VERY ugly. The fans will turn on him, the press will turn on him, the team will turn on him, and most importantly Shipp will turn on him.

All because of Mac's "loyalty".

Thats what I'm afraid of.

I just don't see how Mac could/would/should ever do that. I'd be shocked.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Can't Emmitt still be on the team?

Originally posted by cheesebeef
I gotta say that I still am not a Mac guy, but even I don't think he would do something as horrifying as what you describe above - however, if he does name Emmitt the starter, than Graves will undoubtedly IMO be looking for a new head coach come January.

What if though Mac received a directive to start Emmit from Bidwill? Sometimes even the owner has a higher impetus on coaching decisions than some may realize.

 

[jon_nyaz]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Can't Emmitt still be on the team?

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie
What if though Mac received a directive to start Emmit from Bidwill? Sometimes even the owner has a higher impetus on coaching decisions than some may realize.

I don't see this happening either. Bidwill Sr. stays out of the day to day football issues. Something like that would come from Michael Bidwill and I think he would check in with Rod Graves first. Graves cares mostly about putting a winning product on the field. I think he knows you never sideline the hot hand.

 

[deployed fan]

Since we are "what ifing"...... What if Emmitt comes back and is running well...... do you take him out and put in Shipp just because.... I doubt it.
I think the carries will be even to start games, and the back running the best that day will get the most carries. That and they will be plugged in situationally...
I just hope that they are fans of each other, motivate and help each other, and feel it really is about the team and the win!
The latter will be the best outcome for this whole deal!

 

[Jttsaz]

Cardinals | Smith Injury Update - from www.KFFL.com
Thu, 6 Nov 2003 09:00:25 -0800

Kent Somers, of the Arizona Republic, reports Arizona Cardinals RB Emmitt Smith (shoulder) ran sprints at practice Wednesday, Nov. 5, and said he could increase his workload by as early as Friday, Nov. 7. He could be ready to play in a week or two. Smith also said that he isn't concerned with who will be the team's starting running back when he is healthy. "Regardless of who's No. 1 and who's not, it's going to be a two-back situation," Smith said. "At some point, they are going to need me back. I think there is a lot of room in this offense for both of us."



I think it's interesting that Smith is now saying he will basically accept a back-up role....If so...He is a team player that puts the team before himself...

 

[JeffGollin]

Gollin Mantra - 4th Time - You can't have too many quality players (including RB's) on your roster.

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
Gollin Mantra - 4th Time - You can't have too many quality players (including RB's) on your roster.

Jeff you have yet to show any proof that Emmitt is still a quality RB. His last 2 years stats certainly wouldnt back up your argument!