UHND.com - Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting

There have been multiple opportunities this season and throughout the Brian Kelly era in which Notre Dame had the opposing team completely put away. Two things seem to happen in this case. 1.) The offensive starters including the QB remain in the game. 2.) The offensive backups will come in at some point and, all too often in my opinion, will hand off the ball three times before we punt it back to the other team.

Each player has a redshirt season where they can play up to four games. Would it not make sense to use these times to give younger players experience? Would it not make sense to prepare those you may need should injuries happen? Would it not have been better to have gotten Drew Pyne actually experience running our offense during this time? In the case that Book got injured and we needed him to play and finish the season would it not have been of benefit? Would we not be in better position heading into this season if we had a QB with some experience...especially if Coan had not transferred? Would allowing the backups to play when the game is put away not also protect the starters from the risk of injury and keep them fresh? How many players currently on our roster could have had the experience of playing in an actual game last year?

I'd be very curious to hear some thoughts on the possible rationale for why we wait so long to put in reserves when we are blowing a team out, why we stop running our offense when we finally do put our backups in and do you think it is smart policy.

Personally, I've always viewed the end of the games that you are winning easily to be a great time to keep your starting team healthy and rested and the best possible practice and development for the backups you will need in the future and may need in the current season.