Tony Dungy: What would you do?

[bhlloy]

I would love to hear some intelligent debate on what you would do if you were in Tony Dungy's shoes? Personally I would play it on the cautious side, rest any players who are nicked up, but I think he may find the unbeaten season a bit too alluring.

[Glengoyne]

Go for it.

[vex]

You have to go for it.

[Galaxy]

Still got three weeks left, want to keep the players morale up and sharp. Already have a bye week. However, treat those who need the rest due to injuries with caution.

[QuikSand]

I'd be getting the team focused and ready for this game (http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43390) before I got all worked up about the long haul.

[WrongWay]

I think field conditions in Seattle will determine who plays. After that game they will be inside for all their remaining games.

If Seattle has your freezing rain and an icy field where you can break an ancle just walking on the sidelines I would be thinking forfeit before playing Manning and the boys.

[kcchief19]

I'd be getting the team focused and ready for this game (http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43390) before I got all worked up about the long haul. The Onion's new sports section is simply one of the five best things on the Internet.

I chose the middle option because I'd hold back somebody who is dinged up, but Manning, James and Harrison are playing deep into every game for me unless it's 42-0. You've got to keep these guys sharp.

[WrongWay]

but Manning, James and Harrison are playing deep into every game for me unless it's 42-0. You've got to keep these guys sharp.
No matter what the field conditions?

[Silver Owl]

Play the starters for one half in each of the last two games. This should keep the starters sharp and get the backups some valuable playing time. The ultimate goal is to win the championship.

[Grammaticus]

True champions don't hold back, Play 'em!

[SackAttack]

I was talking to daedalus about this the other day, and what I said then is that you play to win. No matter what.

You don't rest players because you don't need the win, because that breeds a dangerous complacency.

You perform the way you train. If your goal is to win in the playoffs, you keep your best players on the field and keep playing to win in the regular season.

[Karlifornia]

This will be their only chance (I assume) to do something like this. If you lose with your horses in, then so be it, but if they go 18-1 with the one loss coming with the starters riding the pine, then the whole team will always be wondering "what if?"

[path12]

No matter what the field conditions?

Seattle has field turf which holds up really well in wet conditions.......actually, it's only rained once during a home game (few weeks back) since Qwest Field opened.......weird, I know.

[Galaxy]

Seattle has field turf which holds up really well in wet conditions.......actually, it's only rained once during a home game (few weeks back) since Qwest Field opened.......weird, I know.

Isn't Seattle a rectractable dome?

[path12]

Nope, most of the seats on the sidelines are covered, but not the field. You're thinking Safeco for the Mariners -- that has the retractable roof.

[path12]

Dola. Damn, finally not a n00b. 'Bout time.

[Fidatelo]

I say you rest anyone who is hurting, but otherwise play to win. That said, if you are up by a couple touchdowns in the second half, you pull the big guys as you see fit.

[Daimyo]

You've got to play everyone against San Diego... its a home game and you really shouldn't start resting guys 4 weeks out.

Assuming they win that one I'd say start pulling back starter time against Seattle, but only where needed. James in particular should probably get ~10 or so carries and let Mungro and Rhodes do the heavy lifting. Guys who are at full health like Manning should play as normal 9assuming the o-line is there)

If you win against Seattle you pretty much have to play to win against Arizona... I think Dungy would have a mutiny on his hands if he rested guys at 15-0.

[sterlingice]

I want to see this poll in a couple of weeks after Peyton breaks his ankle when they're up 14-0 in the 2nd quarter in Arizona. Or when it's 21-10 at Seattle with 3 minutes to go and Edge tears his achiles, trying to run out the clock. Those gray areas when no matter what he does, Tony Dungy can't win :(

SI

[Buccaneer]

Simple, I would have them rest every single starter against SD, rest only the defense against Seattle and then demolish Arizona as a playoffs tuneup. :)

[Raiders Army]

Go for the perfect season.

[Easy Mac]

I want to see this poll in a couple of weeks after Peyton breaks his ankle when they're up 14-0 in the 2nd quarter in Arizona. Or when it's 21-10 at Seattle with 3 minutes to go and Edge tears his achiles, trying to run out the clock. Those gray areas when no matter what he does, Tony Dungy can't win :(

SII'd vote the exact same way no matter what. They've had the past 3 years to win a Super Bowl, but this is probably going to be their only shot to go undefeated. I'd rather my team play to win than to play not to lose.

[graygoosetwelve]

This will be their only chance (I assume) to do something like this. If you lose with your horses in, then so be it, but if they go 18-1 with the one loss coming with the starters riding the pine, then the whole team will always be wondering "what if?"

It is impossible for us on the outside to know exactly what the players mindset is about going undefeated, but we do know for certain that the most important thing for the players, fans, and everybody involved is the championship. That being said, there would be a lot more "what if's" if a star player goes out, and they then lose in the playoffs. I don't think that Dungy should necessarily rest all players, but he should definitely be careful. You would think players in this situation would be smart enough to know when or when not to play. But there probably is no right answer.

[JeeberD]

You gotta go for the perfect season, you cant just pass up history like that.

[Lorena]

Balls out, just go for it. I'm sick of hearing of the 72 Dolphins.

[Hurst2112]

kick SDs ass as they are a 'possible' playoff opponent. rest for the other 2 weeks.

the main goal is to kick the shit out of everybody and win the SB. perfect season doesn't mean shit.

[SackAttack]

the main goal is to kick the shit out of everybody and win the SB. perfect season doesn't mean shit.

These are conflicting statements.

[Hurst2112]

These are conflicting statements.

yeah, you are right.

what i meant was kicking the shit out of everybody that may be facing you in the playoffs. and after that, the goal is to win 3 games. beating arizona isn't an issue. not part of the big picture.

[rkmsuf]

I guess I don't see why you would change your thinking now to begin with. Nobody was all scared of injuries in week 10. Or week 3. Whatever they are doing is working and I would continue to ride the wave and treat every week normal.

Injuries can happen and if they do, they do.

[Senator]

Super Bowl champions get jumbled over time. Perfection is remembered forever.

[rkmsuf]

Super Bowl champions get jumbled over time. Perfection is remembered forever.


But it would be 100 times worse to go 16-0 and not win the superbowl I think. They you are chokers, which many believe they kind of are already...at least in a certain section of the Northeast.

[Senator]

But it would be 100 times worse to go 16-0 and not win the superbowl I think. They you are chokers, which many believe they kind of are already...at least in a certain section of the Northeast.

Then this is the challenge they face. All moments of greatness demand it.

16-0, 15-1, 14-2 whatever it ends up, if they do not win the superbowl people will still call them chokers, no matter what at this stage, wouldn't you agree? Go for Greatness, I say, and let everyone else just sit back in wonder.

[rkmsuf]

Then this is the challenge they face. All moments of greatness demand it.

16-0, 15-1, 14-2 whatever it ends up, if they do not win the superbowl people will still call them chokers, no matter what at this stage, wouldn't you agree? Go for Greatness, I say, and let everyone else just sit back in wonder.

Sure but if they go 16-0 and don't win it then the undefeated regular season is overshadowed.

I say proceed as normal though try to win in week 15,16 and 17 like you did in week 5.

I have no idea what my point is at this stage.

[Senator]

I say proceed as normal though try to win in week 15,16 and 17 like you did in week 5.


Ok, so we agree. It is settled, then. I will make the call.

[Vince]

Then this is the challenge they face. All moments of greatness demand it.

16-0, 15-1, 14-2 whatever it ends up, if they do not win the superbowl people will still call them chokers, no matter what at this stage, wouldn't you agree? Go for Greatness, I say, and let everyone else just sit back in wonder.
Exactly. Hell, if they were to have gone 11-5 this year, and not won the Superbowl, they would STILL have been labelled as chokers, because they never won.

RIGHT NOW, they are considered chokers, because they can't beat Brady, or because Manning can't win in the postseason...it's already there. Why wouldn't you try to 'ice the cake' for this season by going for the perfect season as well as the championship?

[sabotai]

If we were talking just the Arizona game, I'd say rest the nicked up guys, but there's 3 weeks left (plus they have the bye). You can not sit your starters for a full MONTH and then win in the playoffs. You have to keep your players in full game condition. The only way they stay that way is by playing full games. That's why there is a preseason (aside from making money). Everyone sees how sloppy the players are in the first few preseason games. That's how the Colts would play is they sat for a month.

I say as of right now, you go for it. If you find yourself at 15-0, then we talk.

[rkmsuf]

It will almost take care of itself if they are 15-0. You really think Dungy would start Sorgi, Rhodes and whoever else, maybe lose and then be called a p*ssy.

No way the players even let him do it even if he wanted to.

[sabotai]

It will almost take care of itself if they are 15-0. You really think Dungy would start Sorgi, Rhodes and whoever else, maybe lose and then be called a p*ssy.

No way the players even let him do it even if he wanted to. Of course not, but at the same time he'd be an idiot if he started someone who was banged up at that point. (Expecially since it's Arizona of all teams that they are playing)

[rkmsuf]

Of course not, but at the same time he'd be an idiot if he started someone who was banged up at that point. (Expecially since it's Arizona of all teams that they are playing)


Not he wouldn't. 14-1 yes, not at 15-0.