How would you handle the new redshirt rule?

[CuseJacket]

To recap, the new rule allows a freshman to play in up to 4 games and preserve their redshirt for the year.

There are a number of ways coaches could handle the new redshirt rule. So, how do you expect coaches use this to their advantage? What would you do?

Theories floating through my mind include:

• Play freshmen only in mop-up duty and within the normal parameters of your system.
  
• Save freshmen through the first few games. Sub them in when injuries occur.
• Rotate freshmen on special teams, either in coverage units or as return specialists (e.g., D. Smith, Graham)
• Train freshmen to be specialists on a specific play or series of plays, up to and including saving them for specific games and trick plays.

Complicating factors include:

• You need a scout team every week. Typically, the scout team is comprised of mostly freshmen and walk-ons. If those freshmen are in line to play, then who backfills on scout team? Does that disrupt/weaken game prep?
• In light of scout team turnover/inconsistency, our OL or QB for example might not practice GT's system and footwork much throughout the year. Does that limit them to special teams?
• Do you play freshmen early in the season if games are in hand? Preserve them as emergency plans? In theory you'd love to use all in 4 games, right? What if the games are only in hand with 2-3 min to go? It's something of a chess match.

Thoughts?

 

[CuseJacket]

If you want to make this real and speak to GT specifics, here's our incoming class. Feel free to take a stab at the plan for each.

1. James Graham QB
2. Christian Malloy AB/BB
3. Jaylon King DB
4. Jaylen Jackson ATH
5. Tija'i Whatley AB
6. Zamari Walton DB
7. Dontae Smith AB
8. Juanyeh Thomas DB
9. Jordan Domineck LB
10. Quez Jackson LB
11. Charlie Thomas DB/LB
12. Luke Johns DL
13. Justice Dingle LB
14. Michael Maye OL
15. Austin Smith DL
16. Zakk Mckeehan OL
17. Harrison Jump OL
18. Malachi Carter WR
19. Peje' Harris WR
20. Quon Griffin DL
21. T.K. Chimedza DL

 

[MacJacket]

Good thread! Looking at film and our needs, I think 3, 8, 10, and 11 most likely will not redshirt. If Dingle, Domineck, or Johns show they can get after the passer, they might play. Dontae Smith is intriguing in the return game, but Stewart is steady as a PR and I think we'll see something out of Nate on kick-off returns this year. Unless our OL gets hit with the injury bug, it will be tough for a new guy to get reps.

 

[gtg936g]

I would take the same strategy we currently have and play them through the season as a last resort due to injuries. Perhaps some special packages for UGA/ACCCG.

Playing them early would probably cause more harm than good. The last 3/4 games of the season use them as needed depending on the possibility of the ACCCG or a bowl. That will be when it will be needed due to injuries.

 

[RyanS12]

Not sure how I’d do it but I’d like to see guys like James Graham and the skill guys on offense get some PT as well as some of the D line kids. Give the PT to the areas we are losing the most from after this season. We lose quite a bit on both sides. I believe 6 on O and D.

 

[stech81]

If you want to make this real and speak to GT specifics, here's our incoming class. Feel free to take a stab at the plan for each.

1. James Graham QB
2. Christian Malloy AB/BB
3. Jaylon King DB
4. Jaylen Jackson ATH
5. Tija'i Whatley AB
6. Zamari Walton DB
7. Dontae Smith AB
8. Juanyeh Thomas DB
9. Jordan Domineck LB
10. Quez Jackson LB
11. Charlie Thomas DB/LB
12. Luke Johns DL
13. Justice Dingle LB
14. Michael Maye OL
15. Austin Smith DL
16. Zakk Mckeehan OL
17. Harrison Jump OL
18. Malachi Carter WR
19. Peje' Harris WR
20. Quon Griffin DL
21. T.K. Chimedza DL

Here is a problem we have which ones graduate in only 4 years . Hate to red shirt someone who could play and he graduates in 4 years only to leave.

 

[Animal02]

Depends where they are on the depth chart. Kids way down that may never get a sniff at actual play time could be used in mop up, even if for a few minutes. Ones that are second string you use for emergencies / injuries.

 

[UgaBlows]

If possible and game situations allow, i’d try to play them all at least 4 games each for the experience

 

[Lavoisier]

Defense would be easy to have the kids play in a base during mop up duty. You could also use it as a motivational tool during practice. I think it would be too hard on offense unless it was later in the season or they were really catching on quick.

 

[tech_wreck47]

Imo unless the guy is a stud you only put him in situations that are safe and you know they will succeed. This means mop up duties or in games where another team is weak in a position that our freshman can go after. Early on in a career you want confidence, letting them face lesser talent will do this, the game won’t seem quite as fast but at the same time it will get their feet wet to what it will be like when playing top notch competition to some extent . I also like the fact that if we are thin at a position because of a minor injury we can put a freshman in and not over do the injury although minor. Overall I think this helps teams like GT more than the factories.

 

[nod]

For player that you would red-shirt under old rule:
I would just give mop-up duty if available late in season:
Take Graham QB: would hate to see him play early in blowout game, then injuries happen later and he's needed to start last 4 games, then you wasted red-shirt.

 

[tech_wreck47]

I would take the same strategy we currently have and play them through the season as a last resort due to injuries. Perhaps some special packages for UGA/ACCCG.

Playing them early would probably cause more harm than good. The last 3/4 games of the season use them as needed depending on the possibility of the ACCCG or a bowl. That will be when it will be needed due to injuries.

The issue I have with this is throwing in freshman that have not played all year into the fire against better competition. That could be a recipe for disaster imo.

 

[AE 87]

I would take the same strategy we currently have and play them through the season as a last resort due to injuries. Perhaps some special packages for UGA/ACCCG.

Playing them early would probably cause more harm than good. The last 3/4 games of the season use them as needed depending on the possibility of the ACCCG or a bowl. That will be when it will be needed due to injuries.

I incline this way. For the most part, no changes.

Last year, during our last few games, our OL was banged up. I suspect the next best alternative to guys playing hurt was a TrFr. If they could've played without burning their shirt, they might have and it might have made a difference.

Cuse, if I were you, I'd ask CPJ if he would've considered that if he had the rule last year.

 

[wreckrod]

I think you have to filter everything through a "win THIS game" lens. When you're on the battlefield and have to win right now, I think saving a redshirt already weighs next to nothing on the decision scales, with the new rule even more so. If you think a young player is better than a dinged up 1st string guy, you put him in. Period.

There's really not but one or two games a year where things are safely wrapped up with a decent amount of time left on the clock. I have too many players and not nearly enough playing time for everybody, and now it's even worse cause there are guys who can play and keep their redshirt. Maybe if you're on the fence about a freshman you stick him in and see if he's what you're thinking he is, and if he helps you win now you keep him in.

I really don't expect this to change much of anything except for 1-2 guys occasionally filling in for a 1st string guy who is dinged and sits out the rest of a game but is back the next week.

 

[Dustman]

I don't expect to see drastic changes except in mop up time. The guys that are on the fence and physically ready will see some action.

 

[Gtbowhunter90]

I would play the guys who can make a difference

 

[Fatmike91]

If this rule was in place historically, we would have gotten another year of JfN and Tarquon too (I need to go look at how many games he played as an A back that year). Big impact to our program!

But, does it get freshman quarterbacks playing time? No. Not really. We seem to struggle to get our best quarterback (the first backup...LOL) on the field sometimes. How do we find meaningful time for a freshman?

Maybe it helps get a freshman defensive back in the game. Maybe. But if they are good enough to play they would play anyway with or without the redshirt rule.

I also think some very athletic guys find the field on special teams. Same thing - if the kid is good enough to play then they would play anyway.

/

 

[Deleted member 2897]

I would take the same strategy we currently have and play them through the season as a last resort due to injuries. Perhaps some special packages for UGA/ACCCG.

Playing them early would probably cause more harm than good. The last 3/4 games of the season use them as needed depending on the possibility of the ACCCG or a bowl. That will be when it will be needed due to injuries.

I agree violently. If they are good enough to play anyway, they'll be playing. If they're not good enough to be on the field, then there are no trophies for playing as close to 4 games without burning a redshirt as possible.

 

[gtwcf]

Here are my thoughts. A fair amount of our home games are early, where you can dress more players, which seems a likely place to play people vs a limited size road squad. I'm probably pretty light on the number who will play ST.

1. James Graham QB - Likely full RS, too many QBs in front of him, although could be a mop up player.
2. Christian Malloy AB/BB - could be a trial player at the end of the year if we blow someone out at home, but likely rs
3. Jaylon King DB - We'll see. Has been mostly an offense player in HS, but may have too much talent to keep off the field.
4. Jaylen Jackson ATH - I think slated for AB, likely RS
5. Tija'i Whatley AB - same with Malloy
6. Zamari Walton DB - I think someone we stole, I'm seeing him as a ST player for us, to be ready for the 2 deep next year
7. Dontae Smith AB - I'm thinking he plays.
8. Juanyeh Thomas DB - I think he ends up at OLB, and makes the 2 deep/ST.
9. Jordan Domineck LB - STs, plays. Reminds me of Attachou
10. Quez Jackson LB - Plays, 2 deep at MLB
11. Charlie Thomas DB/LB -Plays, 2 deep at OLB
12. Luke Johns DL - RS to learn technique, could be a ST player for home games?
13. Justice Dingle LB - RS to grow towards DE.
14. Michael Maye OL - I feel like he could be a trial balloon player at the end of the year.
15. Austin Smith DL - Sounds like he's moving to OL, I'll be interested to see his positioning on whether he plays. I think if he's a C, could be the backup there.
16. Zakk Mckeehan OL - RS to gain mass.
17. Harrison Jump OL - RS to gain mass
18. Malachi Carter WR - Has a lot of natural talent, but we don't play many WR. Could be a ST player.
19. Peje' Harris WR - I think he's a RS
20. Quon Griffin DL - Got a feeling he's going to be hard to keep off the field. Havoc guy at DE. One of those where I've got a feeling.
21. T.K. Chimedza DL - Kind of depends on his rehab, and where the coaches want to slot him. Better chance of playing at DE vs NT, unless things are horribly wrong.

 

[CuseJacket]

I lean closest to @gtg936g's thoughts and others who have stated something similar. In other words, play the frosh only when the game is in hand, and then if we have games to burn at the end of the year, then identify specialized roles. Put all your chips in vs. Georgia and ACCCG. Or worst case, they can play in a meaningless bowl game.

A couple other random thoughts that come to mind:

1) @gtwcf made a good point that should be noted. You can dress more players at home games than away games. This could hamper strategy @ Sanford Stadium this year, whereas next year's Saturday after Thanksgiving offers a greater number of possibilities.

2) Not a ton of talk here about clever gamesmanship. Seems I probably overvalue/overthink it. But I've latched onto the possibility of, for example, us not playing Graham all year. In the background he's playing scout team but also repping 1-2 package plays/trick plays in our base offense that we're saving until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. What does Georgia do when he runs in a play for his first snap? Can't scout it, unless there are moles at practice. There are risks with throwing someone into that type of situation as @tech_wreck47 mentioned. Could a team somehow execute that safely? Maybe the opponent is forced to burn timeouts?

@AE 87: we'll have @Yomanser at media day, which is tomorrow for anyone wondering. Similar format to past years where there's a presser with CPJ followed by players in groups of 3 at different tables. Yesterday I mentioned in an internal discussion that we could ask about the redshirt rule. I think your way of phrasing it about last year, rather than the plan for this year, has some merit. I'm inclined to believe it'd be a wasted question if we try to extract strategy from CPJ. So, I offered that we ask how he thinks other coaches received the rule and his ideas about how they plan to incorporate it.