Poor Redshirt Rules Planning

[riflearm2]

Marshall's backup QB last year was in his last year of eligibility. He didn't have a redshirt to burn. Marshall's only QB who had a [scholarship] redshirt to burn was Grant Wells, who by many accounts, could be the QB of the future at Marshall at some point in his career.

Knowing that it was Wells' redshirt season, how did Doc not get him some game reps knowing that he could play in four games and not have the 'shirt burned? VMI, Cinci, LA Tech, and UCF are all games Wells could have taken a handful of snaps in to get some game experience. Sure, getting Thomson some reps to showcase his ability and get some snaps as a senior is a nice gesture, but there is no way in hell you don't let Wells get some snaps throughout the season. Even in the LA Tech game, up by 21 points during the last drive of the game, you could have at least have had Wells handoff for five or six plays. You aren't throwing the ball in that situation, so Thomson going in is worthless for his resume/film. Green doesn't need an extra half-dozen reps handing the ball off at the end of the game. Get Wells in for some game experience in those games. Having 25 snaps accumulated in different games goes a long way for a QB's comfort and experience.

It's baffling that Doc didn't take advantage of the new redshirt rules for his guys, especially at QB.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Frankly I think Doc lost his fire after 2014. He had his title and that was the goal.

Now he is 1-3 years from retiring and likely doesn’t care much. He knows he won’t get fired at this juncture. Just keep the ship from totally going off track and he’s golden. Ugh!

 

[i am herdman]

 

[bbneutralfan]

rifle why are you surprised? No one else is. Why Doc ever hired an offensive coordinator is totally baffling as Doc will not let the guy open the offense. Of course we do have our stellar QB back!

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

Frankly I think Doc lost his fire after 2014. He had his title and that was the goal.

Now he is 1-3 years from retiring and likely doesn’t care much. He knows he won’t get fired at this juncture. Just keep the ship from totally going off track and he’s golden. Ugh!

Ugh! OMG!

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Ugh! OMG!

Care to elaborate? It’s not we are running a well oiled machine. More like a 73 Gremlin with a bad oil leak.

 

[Treadmill MUsic]

Soo, do we put Wells our there against Pitt? Talk about your balls dropping!

 

[2.0]

Marshall's backup QB last year was in his last year of eligibility. He didn't have a redshirt to burn. Marshall's only QB who had a [scholarship] redshirt to burn was Grant Wells, who by many accounts, could be the QB of the future at Marshall at some point in his career.

Knowing that it was Wells' redshirt season, how did Doc not get him some game reps knowing that he could play in four games and not have the 'shirt burned? VMI, Cinci, LA Tech, and UCF are all games Wells could have taken a handful of snaps in to get some game experience. Sure, getting Thomson some reps to showcase his ability and get some snaps as a senior is a nice gesture, but there is no way in hell you don't let Wells get some snaps throughout the season. Even in the LA Tech game, up by 21 points during the last drive of the game, you could have at least have had Wells handoff for five or six plays. You aren't throwing the ball in that situation, so Thomson going in is worthless for his resume/film. Green doesn't need an extra half-dozen reps handing the ball off at the end of the game. Get Wells in for some game experience in those games. Having 25 snaps accumulated in different games goes a long way for a QB's comfort and experience.

It's baffling that Doc didn't take advantage of the new redshirt rules for his guys, especially at QB.

You think Wells would have gotten the opportunity to anything other than hand off left and hand off right? He barely let Alex Thomson throw the ball. Doc never lets the backup get meaningful snaps other than hand off left and hand off right.

 

[2.0]

Marshall's backup QB last year was in his last year of eligibility. He didn't have a redshirt to burn. Marshall's only QB who had a [scholarship] redshirt to burn was Grant Wells, who by many accounts, could be the QB of the future at Marshall at some point in his career.

Knowing that it was Wells' redshirt season, how did Doc not get him some game reps knowing that he could play in four games and not have the 'shirt burned? VMI, Cinci, LA Tech, and UCF are all games Wells could have taken a handful of snaps in to get some game experience. Sure, getting Thomson some reps to showcase his ability and get some snaps as a senior is a nice gesture, but there is no way in hell you don't let Wells get some snaps throughout the season. Even in the LA Tech game, up by 21 points during the last drive of the game, you could have at least have had Wells handoff for five or six plays. You aren't throwing the ball in that situation, so Thomson going in is worthless for his resume/film. Green doesn't need an extra half-dozen reps handing the ball off at the end of the game. Get Wells in for some game experience in those games. Having 25 snaps accumulated in different games goes a long way for a QB's comfort and experience.

It's baffling that Doc didn't take advantage of the new redshirt rules for his guys, especially at QB.

And as far as taking advantage of the redshirt rule. Wells isnt the only one. I want to say every freshman that redshirted didnt play a snap other than the pooch punt snaps Grant Wells got. Im sure Chris or Perkins can back that up

 

[rammer101]

Snide and John has put this program in a hole that may not have a light and Hammy has helped

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Soo, do we put Wells our there against Pitt? Talk about your balls dropping!

I don’t see any downside. It’s not like we have a competent starter anyway. A lot of RS Freshmen perform well. Pitts D will be the best we will see, won’t matter who plays QB. Jmo

 

[Herdmeister]

Marshall's backup QB last year was in his last year of eligibility. He didn't have a redshirt to burn. Marshall's only QB who had a [scholarship] redshirt to burn was Grant Wells, who by many accounts, could be the QB of the future at Marshall at some point in his career.

Knowing that it was Wells' redshirt season, how did Doc not get him some game reps knowing that he could play in four games and not have the 'shirt burned? VMI, Cinci, LA Tech, and UCF are all games Wells could have taken a handful of snaps in to get some game experience. Sure, getting Thomson some reps to showcase his ability and get some snaps as a senior is a nice gesture, but there is no way in hell you don't let Wells get some snaps throughout the season. Even in the LA Tech game, up by 21 points during the last drive of the game, you could have at least have had Wells handoff for five or six plays. You aren't throwing the ball in that situation, so Thomson going in is worthless for his resume/film. Green doesn't need an extra half-dozen reps handing the ball off at the end of the game. Get Wells in for some game experience in those games. Having 25 snaps accumulated in different games goes a long way for a QB's comfort and experience.

It's baffling that Doc didn't take advantage of the new redshirt rules for his guys, especially at QB.

I have been saying this since last September

 

[Tonycried2]

I don’t see any downside. It’s not like we have a competent starter anyway. A lot of RS Freshmen perform well. Pitts D will be the best we will see, won’t matter who plays QB. Jmo

Agree...MU yardage will be precious and hard to come by. Hoping we can find a way to win a low scoring game but not holding my breath!

 

[rammer101]

We don't need to hire family...we need someone looking to advance their career and move up. We don't need someone looking for retirement. Play the best we have and don't be afraid of change.

 

[JudgeDD]

You think Wells would have gotten the opportunity to anything other than hand off left and hand off right? He barely let Alex Thomson throw the ball. Doc never lets the backup get meaningful snaps other than hand off left and hand off right.

I agree that any backup QB field-time would be greatly limited. Not that it would necessarily have to be, but given the slow squeeze on the brakes our first-team operates under, it's hard to believe we wouldn't always be even more conservative with the #2s.

However, to rifle's point, just taking a few snaps can have an impact on a young, inexperienced QB. Running the offense, calling the cadence, having a team looking to you for guidance...leadership. Being in front of 8 thousand less-than-enthusiastic fans (clean-up time remember). Seeing an opposing defense - even if you aren't actually reading it. Getting the signals. Working the clock (you can bet this is happening). Knowing that you might have to carry the ball and there's no early whistle or pink jersey. It's about next year or the year after, when he does get that opportunity to run the show, not being the first time he's been on the big stage.

 

[herdalicious]

It goes way beyond this - [INSERT HERDALICIOUS SCREED ABOUT NOT LETTING MORE HBs TOUCH THE BALL #8,268 HERE]. There is a high bar of trust with this coaching staff, and if you don't reach that bar, you're not touching the ball in any meaningful way during a live game until they absolutely have to put you out there.

I always think of the Butt Pucker Factor - the degree to which being out there with the 1's, against the other team's 1's, in a live game, played at game speed, scares the ever-loving sh-t out of you. I don't care who you are, unless you're f'ing Randy Moss, you're gonna feel this, and not just for one down. Maybe not even for just one game. Its a while before most players acclimate, to where you aren't thinking yourself to death out there. Hell, some guys don't truly bloom until their sophomore or junior years. Some guys never get there at all.

So how do you account for that? How do you reduce its effects? How do you find out who is golden when the lights come on, and who is just a talented physical specimen with the soft squishy insides of an 8-year-old girl?

There are varying degrees of comfort with letting untested quantities take action on the field, and I don't think any one philosophy is necessarily perfect, but I would say this staff's philosophy hurts more than it helps.

And because I can't end this post without saying it......

....Tron Martinez.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

And as far as taking advantage of the redshirt rule. Wells isnt the only one. I want to say every freshman that redshirted didnt play a snap other than the pooch punt snaps Grant Wells got. Im sure Chris or Perkins can back that up

Doc burned Knowledge McDaniel's RS on chasing down kicks and punts. Talk about a freaking waste.

You have a RB that at one point was pretty highly recruited and your best game breaking back is booted in the first quarter of the season and you don't give this guy a shot? Hey I love Knox. I think he is a very good back, but he isn't a game breaker. Not sure if this guy is either, but I still am not sold on Evans. There were plenty of opportunities late in games when he could have trotted McDaniel out there for some garbage reps to see what he had. Not only to test him, but to protect Knox from getting hurt.

 

[muthed]

Doc burned Knowledge McDaniel's RS on chasing down kicks and punts. Talk about a freaking waste.

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You have a RB that at one point was pretty highly recruited and your best game breaking back is booted in the first quarter of the season and you don't give this guy a shot? Hey I love Knox. I think he is a very good back, but he isn't a game breaker. Not sure if this guy is either, but I still am not sold on Evans. There were plenty of opportunities late in games when he could have trotted McDaniel out there for some garbage reps to see what he had. Not only to test him, but to protect Knox from getting hurt.

If Knox carries the ball as much this year as he did last year, he won't last through a senior season next year. Needs relief, or a qb that can complete passes and move the ball down the field.

 

[2.0]

Evans is a very serviceable back IMO. I think he will have a bigger role this year.