Playing Time a Factor?

[EchoesMyEternity]

Hey guys,
I just had a thought for you folks on something. And, please let me know if you've covered this already...

Could our lack of success on most facets of the football field, but primarily the offensive line, be more attributed to the lack of recruits (mostly by Ty, but also in Charlie's first year) or the lack of playing time that underclassmen got last year when we had the game in hand?

It seems as though last year Weis had the starters in well into the 4th quarter when we had the game under control by three scores or more and he still had the starters in. The only time I can think of him not doing this is when he put Sharpley in for some mop-up duty in the last couple of drives. However, don't you folks think this did some damage in our lack of experience this year on some areas.

What do you all think? Recruiting...playing time...or a combo of both?

-Jon

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Looks like someone was listening a little too closely to the announcers during the Purdue game... I don't think it has a major impact, sure you would love for these kids to get some game experience but how much game experience will they get playhing for 4 minutes at the end of the game. AND... for most of the games last year we did not have them in hand, MSU, MICH, USC, UCLA, etc... So overall these guys might have received an hour or so of game time if lucky, which I really don't see as our major problem right now.

Would it have helped? Sure, but I don't think we would be a dominating offensive line CW had done that.

 

[johnnd05]

I'd love to see some statistics on how much playing time our backup offensive linemen got last year. I know that, e.g., Sharpley hardly got on the field at all, but I'd be surprised if that were the case with the o-line. I don't have any hard numbers to back this up, though.

 

[piyachi]

I also don't have numbers, but I will say this; there were few games that were truly of the done-by-the-third-quarter variety. Most games where we put up a ton of points were simply too close to really throw in the second stringers, due to the terrible d. Even games that were our 'cupcake' games were rarely put away early enough to make it safe to put in younger guys.

To some extent I agree with the assessment - I'd say that it's another area where Weis is adjusting to the college game calling. I know that entire offense ran around Brady, but Sharpley having 3 passes in 2 years? Oh well, the good news is that this shouldn't be the issue it is today after this year (maybe a little bit next year). One thing is for damn sure, this year almost everyone on our roster sees time.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

If we are complaining so much about the lack of playing time in the past, imagine how good our team will be in two years with all the playing time they are getting right now.

 

[kmoose]

I certainly don't think the lack of PT has HELPED ND in any way this year. However, as my grandpa used to say, "The sun shines on a dog's ass, some days.". In other words.......if these kids had top shelf talent, then they would have had a few breakout plays, regardless of lack of experience. In the first four games, there wasn't one. Finally, Golden Tate came up with not one, but two, against Purdue. By the same token, these kids aren't guys who were riding the pine until their senior years in High School. So I would have to say that both are contributing to the troubles, along with other factors.

 

[Handlebars]

I have the info. For everyone's information , playing time is published in BGI every week. They also print a synopsis at the end of the yr. Duncan had a total of 84 min, Turkovich - 23, Olsen - 20, Carufel - 2 Young's PT was the most by an ND frosh since frosh eligibility was allowed (292 Min).

 

[Z-Bo]

I'd love to see some statistics on how much playing time our backup offensive linemen got last year. I know that, e.g., Sharpley hardly got on the field at all, but I'd be surprised if that were the case with the o-line. I don't have any hard numbers to back this up, though.

This information *is* recorded, though, btw. It's required to determine whether someone deserves a 'letter' or not.

 

[GoIrish41]

If we are complaining so much about the lack of playing time in the past, imagine how good our team will be in two years with all the playing time they are getting right now.

Yes WWB. Hopefully, there will be a healthy rotation of frosh next year too, as appropriate of course. That builds a very strong base on which to rest a national championship.

 

[rick2022]

Nat'l Championship?........I'd be happy with a winning season. Weis has demonstrated to me a lack of play calling ability, recruitment, over confidence, and arrogance in is 1st head coaching position. We all know that ND will be 0-8 after 8 games. The question is;......Can we beat Navy?......If Navy beats ND, forget about TV money and any future support from alumini. ....WEIS MUST GO.........

 

[Timugen]

Nat'l Championship?........I'd be happy with a winning season. Weis has demonstrated to me a lack of play calling ability, recruitment, over confidence, and arrogance in is 1st head coaching position. We all know that ND will be 0-8 after 8 games. The question is;......Can we beat Navy?......If Navy beats ND, forget about TV money and any future support from alumini. ....WEIS MUST GO.........

You're upset with his recruiting? Yeah....makes sense; after all, he failed to recruit Peyton Manning, Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, Jerry Rice and many others this year. What an absolute failure there. And to think that he could have recruited Dick Butkus and Roger Staubach last year but missed out. Get a clue, troll.

0-8? Maybe, but contrary to your infinite wisdom we don't all KNOW that we'll be 0-8.

It's also good to know that you speak for all the alumni, Dick.

 

[rick2022]

OK, I have egg on my face.......I have great respect for ND going into UCLA and kicking their butt. I live in Las Vegas now, and cannot quit hearing how great UDSC is.........Stanford is tough!!!!

 

[KamaraPolice]

Not just playing time when the game is over. But I think if these guys could have gotten some work against the starters of teams like Army, Penn State, Standford... actually I can't recall who we beat last year and how badly we beat them. But the point is, we played some clearly weaker opponents and it wouldn't have hurt at all to get a younger guy a spot here and there for a series. The mob-up duty was valueless.