Quote
JamesJM
I don't see last year as really telling in the overall consideration of preparedness after preseason. Nope... not sure of the historical stats but I'd be surprised if starters get as many reps in preseason today, last year, 5 years ago... as the 'historical' average. - JamesJM
Last year matters because it clarifies what the real issue is.
The issue is NOT "do you give starters snaps in the preseason." I know some people are acting as if that were the issue, but it isn't.
Of course you give starters snaps in the preseason and no one, up to and including McVay, is arguing the contrary.
He gave the starters snaps LAST preason and my bet is that once this preseason is done, the snap count for starters will not be that different from last year.
So why is this issue even coming up?
Because this one unique situation made it LOOK like there was an issue when really there isn't: that unique situation is that in pre-season game 2, the Rams played a team they will open against in week 1 of the regular season.
What did both coaches do in that situation? Both coaches withheld starters.
DOES THAT MEAN STARTERS WILL NOT GET THE SAME NUMBER OF SNAPS AS THEY DID LAST SUMMER? (Remember last summer no one faced the "playing against a team in preseason they open against in the regular season" issue).
My bet is that by the end of this preseason the starters will have played around the same number of snaps they did last summer.
MEANING. The whole "should teams play starters in the preseason" thing is not really the issue. It only looks like it is, but it isn't.
...
