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Who Plays? Meritocracy v. Demographic Selection Standards

This follows on a FanPost I put up yesterday part of which talked about giving up some wins to develop younger talent. There is so much back seat coaching going on -- which is clearly a byproduct of frustration -- and has also been a part of other sports discussions, including basketball, that I'm having a hard time figuring out the factual or policy basis behind some of the posts on who should be playing and why. It seems to me there are two ways to go:

First, we can have a meritocracy. Be the best at your position and you play. The value of this system is that there is competition at all positions and "competition" and "survival of the fittest" are part of the great American way. Whenever our coaches have said, "We are going to compete at every position" there have been strong posts of support. We are very Darwinian. However, this system only works if we trust those who oversee the competition to judge it. They are there, every day in practice, know with a degree of certainty we lack, who is screwing up in games, and have the background to make the difficult choices as to who plays and who does not. I suppose one can support a meritocracy and yet not trust those who judge the talent. But, if not our coaching staff, who? People who watch UCLA football for 4 hours, either in person or on TV, or the coaches who are there all the time.

I opt with the coaches. I am not opposed to throwing out merit to use a demographic based selection process -- let's play the freshmen and sophomores to get them ready for next year and the year after. No matter, they are not as good, today, as some of their elders -- the theory is that they will only get better by playing -- not just practicing. The fact that we may lose games that might have been won is a cost of that decision. And, the fact that younger players may be more fragile of body and mind may have a negative impact on the desired long-term strategy.

Yesterday, I threw in a hybrid system. Compete for every position, but in a push, go younger. The upside is that we lose little on the field and gain experience. The downside is that such a system does not respect some intangible values that kept some of the older players here during some desperate times. Why do I bring this up again, this time in more depth? Because, no matter the system, be it meritocracy, demographic (with two young guys at a position), or hybrid -- someone needs to make the ultimate decision as to who plays. And, who better than the coaches?

I know that some use blogs to vent and rant. I just skip those posts. But, I think it incumbent on those who are seriously suggesting that we are playing the wrong people to step up and explain why, with more than "I just think so." Not that I don't trust you. But, until I am convinced otherwise, I will trust CRN and CNN more.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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+1

To all. Great post

There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.

by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 26, 2009 10:33 AM PDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Everybody knows.

The most popular guy on the team is the backup QB. Especially when the team is losing, everybody is a personnel expert. Looking at these guys, I’m sure Norm and Rick are playing the guys who can execute with the fewest mistakes. Not the guy who may make a fantastic play and three bonehead ones, Were all guilty of wondering from time to time why certain players don’t get more time. Personally, I thought Viney was doing a pretty good job filling in for Hester and then he get’s burned at AZ. I don’t see Viney and Price enough to know who is best. I also don’t get paid to do that, the coaches do. Just as they get paid to win games, period. They are going to play the guys who give them the best chance of winning this game this week. At the end of each season they will be evaluated on these decisions.

by BruinAl on Oct 26, 2009 11:35 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey Guys, Thanks for Commenting

This is what happens when you write a post after being sick all night and while running a 102ยบ fever.

Was going to ask Nestor to pull it down but I’m glad you saved it.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Oct 26, 2009 12:44 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I think some of the coaches' schemes and plans

are cuasing them to lose sight of the bigger picture – namely, the personnel they have to work with today.

I’m most annoyed not at our QB situation, but instead at our coaching staff’s continued reliance on spelling the running back position. I believe the point of this, from a scheme perspective, is to keep the running backs fresh in the 4th quarter and capable of breaking off big runs.

JetSki’s our best running back – by far. It’s not even really close if you take an objective look at it. C-Ram, for a bruiser, doesn’t possess the type of strength you would typically see out of someone his size. Why we continue to sub out Franklin in the name of keeping him ‘fresh’ just boggles the mind. He’s our best running back. If we had 4 quality running backs who are gamers, I wouldn’t have a problem with this approach, but I think the coaching staff is trying to stay too true to an ‘approach’ without evaluating the simple fact that with Franklin on the field, we’re a better team. I also think Chow’s offense is suited to a “Thunder/Lightning” running back approach and they’re trying to replicate this approach- fact is, we don’t have a Thunder running back. Not sure why the coaching staff keeps trying to turn one of our bigger RBs into Lendale White when the talent’s not there.

by CAJason80 on Oct 26, 2009 1:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

We do have a Thunder

and it’s Coleman. I don’t know why the coaches aren’t using him at fullback more in place of Moline. I know Moline is a senior and a talented receiver but he is not a fullback and his blocking is atrocious. Why not try Coleman there (everyone agrees that his natural position) and see what he can do.

richramus

by richramus on Oct 26, 2009 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

YPC Stat's

Coleman 5.5
Franklin and Ramirez 4.9
Knox 4.2
Thigpen 3.2

So, where has Coleman been?

Couldn’t find a stat for fumbles. Wonder if that is differentiating who plays.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Oct 26, 2009 1:56 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs


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