Dolphan23
Pro Bowler
From reading this weekly column that Coach Saban puts out before each Sunday, my understanding is that he knows how to handle Daunte and still have him play well. However, I don't believe everything is going to happen overnight but this article should give fin fans high hopes down the road. Daunte's playing ways must adapt to what he can do now not what he could do in the past. I think he'll reach that stature eventually...when I don't know. Here's what Coach Saban said in reference to Daunte's playing ability....
"When a guy comes back from an injury, his mindset is to still play the way he played before the injury. Sometimes you have to change your style a little bit. See, Daunte Culpepper has all the talent in the world and his ability to escape was one of his greatest assets before the injury.
But right now his mobility is not quite what it used to be. I believe it will come back someday. But until then he has to change his style of play, maybe making quicker decisions and getting the ball out of his hand, maybe taking what the defense gives you. That doesn't mean we don't expect big plays from Daunte because we do. But it means he can't approach each play with the mindset that he's going to be elusive and wait until things open up. He needs to adjust and make things happen in a different way.
It's a little bit like Randy Johnson in baseball. He used to throw it 99 miles per hour, but now he throws it 94 and they started hitting some home runs on him. What's he do? He's got to change his style a little bit. Now he still throws it 94, but he's won a bunch of games this season because he's adjusted. That's what Daunte has to do.
It comes down to being smarter, saying to yourself here are the assets that I have to work with right now. Here's the strength that I have. How can I maximize those strengths in order to gain the best results? It's not easy, but it happens when everyone realizes that it has to happen. Daunte understands this. Does this mean he should never scramble? No. It just means he can't think about holding it and using his running ability all the time."
http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/saban/saban_column.asp
"When a guy comes back from an injury, his mindset is to still play the way he played before the injury. Sometimes you have to change your style a little bit. See, Daunte Culpepper has all the talent in the world and his ability to escape was one of his greatest assets before the injury.
But right now his mobility is not quite what it used to be. I believe it will come back someday. But until then he has to change his style of play, maybe making quicker decisions and getting the ball out of his hand, maybe taking what the defense gives you. That doesn't mean we don't expect big plays from Daunte because we do. But it means he can't approach each play with the mindset that he's going to be elusive and wait until things open up. He needs to adjust and make things happen in a different way.
It's a little bit like Randy Johnson in baseball. He used to throw it 99 miles per hour, but now he throws it 94 and they started hitting some home runs on him. What's he do? He's got to change his style a little bit. Now he still throws it 94, but he's won a bunch of games this season because he's adjusted. That's what Daunte has to do.
It comes down to being smarter, saying to yourself here are the assets that I have to work with right now. Here's the strength that I have. How can I maximize those strengths in order to gain the best results? It's not easy, but it happens when everyone realizes that it has to happen. Daunte understands this. Does this mean he should never scramble? No. It just means he can't think about holding it and using his running ability all the time."
http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/saban/saban_column.asp
