[CTcard]

That's fair, but it means that it is less likely that he will be a solution next year, which is all I was trying to get at.

Well, it might be less likely from the level of information a fan has point of view, and it's certainly less likely than if Miezan were currently getting snaps and making big plays all over the place. I don't think it is necessarily less likely from a level of information a coach has point of view - though given I don't have that knowledge it becomes guess work.

In his case there is at least a logical train of thought that would lead to his not playing now more or less irrelevant to how likely he is to contribute next year; i.e. he is a physical specimen but needs to get details of technique down as he hasn't played football a lot. Playing doesn't help him do that, but if he does get them down he would be well positioned for a big impact next year. 

... maybe.

Solomon Thomas is a great example of someone who redshirted as a freshman and started as a sophomore.

The decision to play Phillips and not Thomas when an emergency player was needed in 2014 remains an intriguing mystery. I would love to have a few beers with Randy Hart and get him to tell me what he was really thinking about at the time.

As it stands, I tend to think they were primarily interested in preserving an extra full year of play for Thomas - which of course backfired as he ended up only playing two.

[CTcard]

That's fair, but it means that it is less likely that he will be a solution next year, which is all I was trying to get at.

Well, it might be less likely from the level of information a fan has point of view, and it's certainly less likely than if Miezan were currently getting snaps and making big plays all over the place. I don't think it is necessarily less likely from a level of information a coach has point of view - though given I don't have that knowledge it becomes guess work.

In his case there is at least a logical train of thought that would lead to his not playing now more or less irrelevant to how likely he is to contribute next year; i.e. he is a physical specimen but needs to get details of technique down as he hasn't played football a lot. Playing doesn't help him do that, but if he does get them down he would be well positioned for a big impact next year. 

... maybe.

Solomon Thomas is a great example of someone who redshirted as a freshman and started as a sophomore.

The decision to play Phillips and not Thomas when an emergency player was needed in 2014 remains an intriguing mystery. I would love to have a few beers with Randy Hart and get him to tell me what he was really thinking about at the time.

As it stands, I tend to think they were primarily interested in preserving an extra full year of play for Thomas - which of course backfired as he ended up only playing two.