Fox Team Report

[Syracusecards]

Emmitt Smith's retirement highlighted the team's lack of depth and talent at running back. That position should be the top priority this offseason. When the team signed Smith two years ago, it hoped that he would boost ticket sales and help teach young players what it took to be successful. The move failed on both counts. Fans are beyond being influenced by gimmicks. They want victories. And while Smith showed that he had a little left in the tank, he couldn't change the organization's culture of losing.


His signing probably hurt the team more than it helped. It relegated Marcel



Shipp to second team and made the club reluctant to address the position in the draft and free agency. . . .



The return of fullback James Hodgins from a shoulder injury could give the running game a much-needed boost next season. Hodgins missed the entire year, and without him the club did not have a prototypical blocking fullback. Obafemi Ayanbadejo is a versatile fullback with good running and receiving skills, but he's not the devastating blocker that Hodgins is. Coach Dennis Green likes to use three receiver sets, but there is still a role for Hodgins in the offense. . . .



Defensive tackle Kenny King, who missed last season with a broken wrist, will play a significant role this season if he's healthy. King was in a close battle with Darnell Dockett for a starting job when he suffered the injury. Although not especially big, King is quick and agile and has a knack for making plays.

Something to Prove:The 2004 season could not have gone worse for running back Marcel Shipp. He lost his starting job at the end of minicamps, and then he suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in training camp. That caused him to miss the entire season. His rehabilitation is progressing normally, and this is a critical year for Shipp. He's the only back on the roster with much experience, and he likely will be involved in a heated position battle in training camp. The club is expected to address the position in the draft or through free agency. Shipp is an effective runner, although he lacks speed. Coaches want to see him produce more big plays. In 2003, he touched the ball 258 times yet didn't score a touchdown.

 

[john h]

Emmitt Smith's retirement highlighted the team's lack of depth and talent at running back. That position should be the top priority this offseason. When the team signed Smith two years ago, it hoped that he would boost ticket sales and help teach young players what it took to be successful. The move failed on both counts. Fans are beyond being influenced by gimmicks. They want victories. And while Smith showed that he had a little left in the tank, he couldn't change the organization's culture of losing.


His signing probably hurt the team more than it helped. It relegated Marcel



Shipp to second team and made the club reluctant to address the position in the draft and free agency. . . .



The return of fullback James Hodgins from a shoulder injury could give the running game a much-needed boost next season. Hodgins missed the entire year, and without him the club did not have a prototypical blocking fullback. Obafemi Ayanbadejo is a versatile fullback with good running and receiving skills, but he's not the devastating blocker that Hodgins is. Coach Dennis Green likes to use three receiver sets, but there is still a role for Hodgins in the offense. . . .



Defensive tackle Kenny King, who missed last season with a broken wrist, will play a significant role this season if he's healthy. King was in a close battle with Darnell Dockett for a starting job when he suffered the injury. Although not especially big, King is quick and agile and has a knack for making plays.

Something to Prove:The 2004 season could not have gone worse for running back Marcel Shipp. He lost his starting job at the end of minicamps, and then he suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in training camp. That caused him to miss the entire season. His rehabilitation is progressing normally, and this is a critical year for Shipp. He's the only back on the roster with much experience, and he likely will be involved in a heated position battle in training camp. The club is expected to address the position in the draft or through free agency. Shipp is an effective runner, although he lacks speed. Coaches want to see him produce more big plays. In 2003, he touched the ball 258 times yet didn't score a touchdown.[/

QUOTE]

I like Emmitt but we need to stop signing players because they can increase ticket sales and sign them because they will get us to the train station. Signing Smith probably did prevent us from signing a younger RB and now it is time to pay the piper. Do not sign local guys because they are local guys but because they are good football players. All NFL teams play under the same salary cap yet the same teams seem to step up year after year and we continue to wallow at the bottom of the league. Why??????

 

[Scott MS]

Ticket sales or not, I think Emmitt was signed because he SHOULD have been a 1,000 yard rusher the first year here (and probably last year also).

Emmitt was an intriguing sign because I felt he still could play and so did Emmitt. Had he played 16 games last season he would have been the first 1,000 yard rusher the Cards had since Adrian Murrell. (Emmitt really only played 14 games because he only ran the ball 3 times against the Jets and didn't play in Detroit due to injury.)

Now, granted, Shipp never started a full season. He had to split time with Pittman and Jones. Had he started a full season, I think he would have had 1,000 yards.

Last season (2003) Shipp had 2 games where he ran for 160 and 140 yards against S.F. and Cincy.

 

[conraddobler]

I like Emmitt but we need to stop signing players because they can increase ticket sales and sign them because they will get us to the train station. Signing Smith probably did prevent us from signing a younger RB and now it is time to pay the piper. Do not sign local guys because they are local guys but because they are good football players. All NFL teams play under the same salary cap yet the same teams seem to step up year after year and we continue to wallow at the bottom of the league. Why??????

I undertand exactly what you are saying, however Emmitt was signed specifically to enhance ticket sales and for leadership, he may have provided some leadership but the ticket sales didn't pan out and that's good because I doubt that stunt will ever be tried again.

With Michael fully in charge now and Green here that stuff will not happen anymore. Emmitt was the old man's xmas present in a way and no one was going to deny him the right to do what made him happy.

Michael is in charge now and it's all business.

 

[Faithful]

Ticket sales or not, I think Emmitt was signed because he SHOULD have been a 1,000 yard rusher the first year here (and probably last year also).

Emmitt was an intriguing sign because I felt he still could play and so did Emmitt. Had he played 16 games last season he would have been the first 1,000 yard rusher the Cards had since Adrian Murrell. (Emmitt really only played 14 games because he only ran the ball 3 times against the Jets and didn't play in Detroit due to injury.)

Now, granted, Shipp never started a full season. He had to split time with Pittman and Jones. Had he started a full season, I think he would have had 1,000 yards.

Last season (2003) Shipp had 2 games where he ran for 160 and 140 yards against S.F. and Cincy.

 

[joeshmo]

1000 yards is not a big deal anymore. More then half of the teams in the NFL had a 1000 yard RB this year.

The new bench mark is 1200+ yards.