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2010-2011 Preseason: Running To Glory
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- August 22,
2010
At 9:30 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
Opportunities come and go. Your approach to those opportunities, how
you utilize your available resources, and the quality of your
results are what will be remembered above all else.
It is well-chronicled how Emmitt Smith regularly ran over the
competition as part of the Escambia High School Gators in Pensacola,
Florida.
He continued that swamp story by signing with another group of
Gators in Gainesville at the University of Florida.
No matter how otherworldly Emmitt’s production was through grade
school and college, naysayers were determined that he was TS2 (Too
Small and Too Slow).
Emmitt entered the NFL and made “short” work of anyone who doubted
his potential and eventual grid iron greatness.
He entered the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest running backs in
the history of the NFL and all of professional football.
He was a top rusher with an elusive running style, uncommonly
powerful legs, and excellent peripheral vision. He was a dependable
pass catcher, almost always one step ahead of defenders out in the
flat or acting as a safety valve over the middle. He was a reliable
blocker, often times stoning and upending much larger defenders.
Emmitt played through injuries “that would make a billy goat puke”
during some of the most important games in the history of the Dallas
Cowboys. And – from all reports – he was a wonderful teammate.
He had a better than average offensive line for most of his career.
He had a moose of a great fullback leading him into the gap for 10
of his 15 years in the NFL.
Emmitt accomplished much of what he did as a core component of “the
Triplets” – one of the greatest offensive trios in NFL history.
The Triplets were the offensive key to so many years of Cowboys
success, and being part of the Triplets meant sharing game day
“touches” with other Cowboys stars and role players.
Sharing with these players meant leaving quite a bit of unrealized
rushing and receiving yardage on the field, as well.
It has been suggested that the mere presence of such a talented
group made Emmitt more productive – drawing defenders away from the
running game – and even exposing him as less capable than some of
his contemporaries.
I would argue that he might have accomplished even more if not for
having to share the load with so many teammates in favor of the
extremely rare and hard to maintain “balanced offense.”
If Emmitt was not encouraged, instructed, and required to share
offensive responsibility with such talented teammates, the effect on
his achievements would have been tremendous – one way or another.
His statistics would have been even better, worse, or somewhere
in-between.
Nothing is guaranteed in life – which is both safe to say and
accurate.
There was no guarantee that Emmitt was going to enjoy a Dallas
dynasty. There was no guarantee he was going to be in the company of
such a capable collection of Cowboys for so many years.
Emmitt’s success was left to chance, his natural skill, his ability
to thrill, and his own free will.
His contemporaries were no different – with each one taking a unique
path towards success.
Some played on a good team year in and year out, some played on poor
teams against poor competition, and some were in a dog fight on any
given Sunday.
Some were selfish, some were selfless, and some had the flexibility
of being both when demanded.
Some burned out, some succumbed to injury early in their careers,
and some had the extreme misfortune of dealing with both.
Some reached predicted limits, some called it quits earlier than
expected to preserve their ability to walk without (much) pain in
life after football, and some excelled well beyond their predicted
shelf-life with surprisingly few bumps and bruises.
Fans and prognosticators can and will continue to debate rushing
royalty until the end of time.
Was Emmitt Smith the best running back in NFL history? It is
impossible to answer that question. He was simply Emmitt Smith – one
of the finest and most accomplished running backs to ever play in
the NFL . . . with yards and yards of footage to prove it.
Emmitt made the most of his opportunities, and that is how his
playing days should be remembered.
Today's NFL relies more and more on
multi-back attacks with fewer and fewer I-formation throwbacks. Will
any current or future NFL running backs challenge and conquer
Emmitt's records - like Jim Brown and Walter Payton before him? Will
LaDainian Tomlinson - however unlikely - find his second wind with
the New York Jets?
We shall see. We always do.
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