Daunting question: To play or sit
Think of Nick Saban as one of those old fashioned scales that balances one side against the other to come up with the right measure.
The coach has to decide in the next two or three days whether or not to start Daunte Culpepper in the Dolphins first preseason game against Jacksonville Saturday. So he will have to measure the risk versus the reward to come up with the right answer.
How's he going to do that?
"Player safety is going to be the first thing," Saban said. "The goal and objective to this entire preseason, relative to the quarterbacks, is to get ready to play in the first [regular-season] game."
But that is not the only thing. Saban is not a mother hen with his players and realizes, "Hey it's going to happen sometime," regarding when exactly to let Culpepper finally test his surgically repaired knee in game action.
Also figuring into Saban's thinking is that Culpepper wants to play and every medical exam he has undergone suggests he can.
"He's further ahead in his physical rehabilitation and development than what we anticipated," Saban said. "From the day he came here, he's always been ahead, and he's just continued to build on that. We're very pleased with the progress that he's made."
Great. So does that mean Culpepper will play?
It says here it should mean Culpepper doesn't play. I understand the guy has to test the knee sometime and I understand the argument that once he takes that first big hit, his confidence in the reconstruction of the joint will soar.
So what?
Let him wait another week for that gleeful moment. The knee may be stronger by then, if even only by thismuch.
Let him wait another week. The offensive line in front of him may be better solidified by then, even if only by thismuch.
Let him wait another week. Daunte's confidence won't exactly go in the dumper if he's held out of the first preseason game.
Let him wait another week. Because it's the preseason for goodness sakes and player safety trumps macho bravado.
The idea here should be to get Culpepper online for the Sept. 7 REGULAR-SEASON opener. This is not that game. He can get equally prepared playing two or three preseason games. Playing seven plays against the Jags isn't going to change the direction of his season in a positive sense.
But it could derail it with one misplaced hit.
I've had this argument with my co-host on the Dolphins Insider, which airs weeknights on 1360 AM and online at 1360WKAT.com (this is called a plug in the business). Anyway he disagrees and says Culpepper needs to get out there.
What do you say?
The coach has to decide in the next two or three days whether or not to start Daunte Culpepper in the Dolphins first preseason game against Jacksonville Saturday. So he will have to measure the risk versus the reward to come up with the right answer.
How's he going to do that?
"Player safety is going to be the first thing," Saban said. "The goal and objective to this entire preseason, relative to the quarterbacks, is to get ready to play in the first [regular-season] game."
But that is not the only thing. Saban is not a mother hen with his players and realizes, "Hey it's going to happen sometime," regarding when exactly to let Culpepper finally test his surgically repaired knee in game action.
Also figuring into Saban's thinking is that Culpepper wants to play and every medical exam he has undergone suggests he can.
"He's further ahead in his physical rehabilitation and development than what we anticipated," Saban said. "From the day he came here, he's always been ahead, and he's just continued to build on that. We're very pleased with the progress that he's made."
Great. So does that mean Culpepper will play?
It says here it should mean Culpepper doesn't play. I understand the guy has to test the knee sometime and I understand the argument that once he takes that first big hit, his confidence in the reconstruction of the joint will soar.
So what?
Let him wait another week for that gleeful moment. The knee may be stronger by then, if even only by thismuch.
Let him wait another week. The offensive line in front of him may be better solidified by then, even if only by thismuch.
Let him wait another week. Daunte's confidence won't exactly go in the dumper if he's held out of the first preseason game.
Let him wait another week. Because it's the preseason for goodness sakes and player safety trumps macho bravado.
The idea here should be to get Culpepper online for the Sept. 7 REGULAR-SEASON opener. This is not that game. He can get equally prepared playing two or three preseason games. Playing seven plays against the Jags isn't going to change the direction of his season in a positive sense.
But it could derail it with one misplaced hit.
I've had this argument with my co-host on the Dolphins Insider, which airs weeknights on 1360 AM and online at 1360WKAT.com (this is called a plug in the business). Anyway he disagrees and says Culpepper needs to get out there.
What do you say?
posted by Armando Salguero at 10:48 AM
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22 Comments:
If he and many doctors say he can play, and if all the coaches see that he plays well in practice, then he should play one series. One series with no roll outs, draws, or allowing him to run if he wants. Make him stay in the pocket and if he leaves it then pull him.
It is time to begin re-acclimating D.C. to the game speed of the n.f.l. he has been out for nearly a year and to throw him up against the steelers defense with only a few series played in the 3 or fourth pre-season game, thinking that will be enough to get his timing and footwork ready for the blitzkrieg, would be a bad judgement call. he needs to play in these first 3 preseason games, and sit out the last.
This is a tough decision, but if the medical tests suggest that their isn't additional risk whether he plays in the 1st or 2nd preseason game, I think he needs to get out there. He struggled when healthy last year, and he needs all the game-speed reps he can get before we face Pittsburgh.
i agree with Jeff's reasoning. If he is cleared to play than play him. If he's not cleared than don't play him. Now I wouldn't go calling bootlegs and things like that. I think if anything you just want the stigma that comes with coming back off a major injury to be gone. I wouldn't even play him a quarter. two series unless they are 3 and outs.
I only have one concern for Culpepper to play: Can he protect himself? I haven't seen anything in practice that tells me he can. It's one thing to run around when guys can't hit you and you know they can't. It's another to be under live fire when you must make sudden movements.
Not saying Culpepper isn't ready. I just haven't seen proof that he is.
If he can go he should go. I dont think the big guy has a confidence problem, so there is no upside to him personally one way or the other, but the upside for the team would be to silence the media asking team mates will he or wont he be ready. Put him out there, have him only heave long bombs from the shotgun and watch all the other defensive coordinators in the AFC east pucker up and start thinking about what they are going to do after being fired at the end of a very unsucessful season.
Does 1360 AM pay you in pesos ?
In dollars, hater. Chaching!
Thanks from an out-of-town Fins fan for the radio station link :)
Oh ... and I think DC should sit. Later.
I'm excited to see DC play, but I think this could wait another week. I'm excited enough to see the Dolphins play their first game. Save the DC excitement for game 2.
More importantly, and this better not happen, but there are too many circumstances right now that would leave us second-guessing should DC get hurt in the first game. This would be the type of damage that could haunt the Dolphins all season, and maybe longer. Not worth the risk, in my opinion...
I agree with some of the other posters who think we should sit DC. It's too risky, getting on a field where guys can actually hit him means that he might get injured. For that matter, I think we should sit him all season; we don't want our franchise qb risking injury just for the sake of one season. Point is, football is not a sport for risk-averse people. When people are running full speed into each other, there's the chance people will get hurt. As long as Daunte can't get hurt simply running full speed, you have to put him out there. If you wouldn't sit him before his injury, you shouldn't sit him afterwards, either. As long as he's at no more risk to get injured now as he was before, you have to get him on a competitive field. He hasn't played competitive football in over a year.
He shouldn't play, not at home anyway with that infield dirt. It's just too risky IMO
If the man is ready, let him play. Every snap Mr. Culpepper takes this whole season will be a risk, and I don't think holding him back one more week is going to protect him much. We need him to take some major snaps in games two and three, so why not let him get the "back on the field" jitters out of the way now, so that DC can focus on game preparation unencumbered from here on out.
Stupid to play him - It is preseason for God's sake! Most of the players think this time of the year is a complete waste anyway. Why risk your season on what you will see for five minutes? IF preseason is for anything, it is for assessing the talent that might not be witht he team in a few weeks. Use it for that.
There is nothing tough about this descision. A single play in a meaningless preseason game could ruin the entire dolphins team. Yes, that is how much rides on him. We have all seen what the dolphins can do without a franchise quarterback. Another playoffless season.
I can't determine wether or not Daunte Culpepper should start because I haven't seen him in Dolphins-camp at any time, but why not start him in the game against Jacksonville? Here's what I DO know, in the HOF game on Sunday, Donovan McNabb only played one offensive drive in the entire game, only threw 3 passes. Total amount of game time: about 5 minutes. So why can't Daunte throw three, or some number close to that? Why can't he play 5 minutes? It would certainly be a relief for Dol-fans to see how our next QB will fair and as well for Culpepper himself. Why Not...?
Let the other QBs get some playing time in the first game against the Jags. Let Mr. Culpeper wait two one more weeks. Let the Offense and offensive line work out those kinks that will allow the QB to be better protected. This will minimize the posible sack.
i agree with you for once
i hate jason cole
Please write something regarding Manny Wright. People are acting as if he is weak for having to deal with a REAL problem. Curious about your thoughts. Thnx in advance.
I miss Jason Cole
I've talked to Jason Cole and he misses and hates you all also.
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