shakadave

There's an important phenomenon at work that I don't recall hearing anyone put their finger on: the value of an injury sponge.

Exhibit A: Junior Seau 2006. Sure he got IRed and missed the second half of the season, but he took a lot of hits, absorbed a lot of blows, threw himself into a lot of tackles THAT OUR OTHER LBs DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE, THUS PRESERVING THE HEALTH OF OUR OTHER LBs FOR THE PLAYOFFS. If there never was a Seau 2006, there was a greater chance Bruschi, Vrabel, etc. would've gotten injured in September.

Exhibit B: Corey Dillon 2006. Even though he appeared to play most of the season, he was banged up at best. He had many unspectacular runs. But every time he got tackled, jammed his neck, felt a leg whip from a lineman, etc., that was one piece of contact Maroney didn't have to absorb. Vice versa for every contact Maroney took taking wear off Dillon. With Dillon gone, we REALLY need more RBs, and probably more than the one more we got already.

Summary: Platooning has an extra value beyond the one usually stated. We know about keeping the starters fresh. Let's also pay attention to the phenomenon of taking injury bullets in place of the starter! In a way, it's best if none of our starters play until Week 6.

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arrellbee

Very good and pertinent observations I think. You have, in essence, also given some of the reasons Belichick/Pioli strive for more solid depth on the roster than other teams seem to do - and then Belichick does use these players in games.

solman

This is a great argument for having depth, but I don't think it will ever be a good idea to carry a guy just so he can absorb potential injuries. You put your best players on the field, and then you make sure that the backups are good enough to take their place in a pinch.

Box_O_Rocks

Amen. Players play.

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He Ban Me

AzPatsFan

There are many ways to use good depth. Some coaches get it and never use it, always keeping it in reserve.

There are other successful Coaches and Generals, who know that they have a preponderance of the quality players, and use them all, emphasizing or creating situations that highlight the particular strengths and minimize the deficiencies.

BB, like General Ulysses Grant, knows he has the best 45, 53, 61 and best 65 of any Team, and more and is quite wiling "...To fight it out on this line, even if it takes all season..."

solman

What does 65 correspond to?

RayClay

Those "sponges" were the best players at their positions.

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AzPatsFan

The inevitable 3,4, or 5 good players on Injured Reserve and their replacements... I could have added 68 to include the "shadow roster" of three or four players lined up and awaiting a emergency phone call to join the Team to help out after an injury.

Guys like Hank Poteat..

dhamz

Not only that, the guys they were allegedly there to absorb injuries for both were hurt last year - Bruschi all year with his wrist and Maroney down the strecth with his ribs.