Georgia Tech Headed to the TaxSlayer Bowl

CHE90

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
436
Skeptic said:
Assuming the best, a big lead, and based on the Orange Bowl only, Thomas won't even be playing the bench. Poor Tim Byerly spent three years as a reliable backup and didn't get in his last game of football ever even after it became a blowout. I never saw Johnson explain that and apparently nobody ever asked him but Byerly was healthy. I feel badly for him every time I think about it.
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I have never coached college level sports but have coached big playoff games at high school level. The last thing on your mind is "I need to make sure so and so gets in the game if we get a big lead." It's just not on your radar. I've never coached football, but I would imagine it's even less on your mind with an 85 man roster.
 

Skeptic

Helluva Engineer
Messages
6,372
CHE90 said:
I have never coached college level sports but have coached big playoff games at high school level. The last thing on your mind is "I need to make sure so and so gets in the game if we get a big lead." It's just not on your radar. I've never coached football, but I would imagine it's even less on your mind with an 85 man roster.
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As an HR guy I knew was fond of saying, to demonstrate his grasp of active listening, I hear what you are saying. Except backup guys get playing time all the time. If you haven't done it you are most unusual. And when a very capable and dedicated backup QB who accepted his backup role to a phenom doesn't even get on the field at a major bowl game despite as big closing margin it makes me wonder why. One series, up two TDs? There was no danger of losing there. Johnson doesn't strike me as the type but more than one coach is just too skittish to ever trust a sub, even a really good one.
 

bke1984

Helluva Engineer
Messages
3,609
Two possession games are scary guys. Let's say there's a fumble returned for a TD, now the other team gets to onside kick down one possession.

3+ possession leads late is the only time I'd feel that comfortable putting backups in just for the sake of putting them in.
 
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