ilovethecats said:
comparing what schools like 'bama can do to what we can do, especially in regards to redshirting is silly. of COURSE saban would redshirt every freshman...he has NFL quality depth at nearly every position. i'd try to do the same thing!
if we've learned anything in sports it's that nothing is a guarantee. kids might not be around next season...let alone 5 years from now. sure they 'd likely be bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, and much more experienced in five years. they also could be gone because of injury, suspension, grades, personal life, etc.
I think the main thing to consider is that more times than not these 17-18 year olds aren't ready to play as freshman. it makes the decision real easy. but every now and then you get a kid that is ready to play. if you have great depth at his position than unless he is far away better than sure, redshirt him. but if you have a kid ready to play, no depth at his position, and you think he can help you win games RIGHT NOW....I think you have to play him.
just my 2 cents. I don't think the redshirt topic is as much as a science as some like to make it.
And, this statement by you says it all regarding the Sulser discussion. The WR position at Montana goes 7-deep with high quality......, you wrote:
"if you have great depth at his position than unless he is far away better than sure, redshirt him. but if you have a kid ready to play, no depth at his position, and you think he can help you win games RIGHT NOW....I think you have to play him."
Your other point about comparing Alabama to us is interesting too. Yes, Bama just replaces every player leaving early with another kid who is just as good. If you remember the 20 years of Griz dominance, we too had the ability to do that, so the comparisons at our relative levels of play are valid. Can we do this now??? Hell no, because we have no depth at any position except WR.