Why do teams insist on getting running backs 100 yards when a game is a blowout? Fantasy football fanatics love it in the pros, but in college football there are no fantasy fans to please and an injury to your best back could kill your season.
The Buckeyes have worked their way up to 8th in the rankings, are now considered the front runner in the Big Ten and today were dominating an overwhelmed Northwestern team going into the second half. But because Chris Wells only had 96 or so yards, the Buckeyes coaching staff decide they have to get him his 100 yard game. As fate would have it, Beanie gets his 100 yards, but he also limps off the field in extreme pain.
Things look like they will be alright, but what do the Buckeyes do if Wells wakes up in the morning with an ankle the size of his thighs? Brandon Saine is already on the shelf for a couple weeks after his surgery this week.
It's great that coaches try to pad a player's stats every now and again, but would Beanie rather have 96 yards and be in full health heading into next week or have his 101 yards and be hurting? Which would Ohio State and the fans rather have?
Stats are great, but the only one that counts in the end is wins and losses. If a game is in the bag, there really is no decision that should be made. You have to keep your starters on the bench. It only takes one play and hopefully that one play doesn't cost Beanie Wells and Ohio State heading into next week and the rest of the season.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Why Risk an Injury?
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2 comments:
Your blogs are too intense for me, Swope ... you need to lighten up a bit! Actually, your sportswriting skills are pretty impressive ... you're like a young Terry Pluto ... I'm going to keep reading these intense blogs ... But your next one should be like a Rick Reilly article - pick something really dumb about sports and write about that.
Let's not go with Big Ten frontrunner....let's say one of THE frontrunners. Don't get ahead of yourself especically knowing your record against Wisco the last few years.
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