apaladin wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 11:17 am
Ok but isn’t game experience different than practice time? Just hoping you are correct and the talent will outwegh the inexperience.
That's a fair question. Here are my unofficial thoughts on that:
1. Not all positions are the same in terms of experience gap.
While not of it is "easy," many people believe that positions like running back and interior defensive line are more simple to transition from high school to college - they are physical positions, for sure, but demand less in terms of decision-making and recognition.
A defensive tackles job, for instance, is typically to get lined up right and hold the space on the field he's assigned to hold. You do not necessarily need 30+ starts under your belt to do that effectively.
2. We rotate a lot defensively and have individual packages for opponents and game situation.
This dials back the experience gap even more, in my opinion. Guys aren't expected to play 60+ snaps against every offensive front an opponent can throw at them. They play half that. In many instances, they may be primarily used in just certain situations.
For instance, Matt Sochovka, arguably Furman's best defensive lineman, was not primarily on the field on third downs or passing situations. His best use was a run stuffer. The less likely the team was to be running, the more likely Sochovka wasn't out there.
3. A lot of these guys would have been already playing.
I've said this a few times, but COVID-era rosters were an odd mixup. We had guys still playing that, in most years, would have already graduated and moved on.
So, if this was 2003 and not 2023, there's a good chance the freshman DT would have already been playing. He's talented enough. He's ready. In 2023, he's just not necessarily going to supplant a 6th year senior.
4. Game experience is different from practice experience.
That's true, but that does not mean we have guys ill prepared to be in the games. Many of these guys have been in the program 3+ years. They've spent years working against the SoCon's best offensive line. They are mentally ready. Physically ready. It's their time.
