With the four game redshirt rule, four MAC East games left, and the importance of tie breakers for division championships, I can't help but wonder if there is more potential for us to see some further support from a guy or two who might be deemed ready. Using our new guys who could help in this way would seem to be a good strategy to this non-expert. They have more practices behind them now and, if they have gotten reps, would be more ready than earlier. They might be able to provide help for positions where we are "banged up" some.

#2. And you evaluate the linebacker has pass rushing abilities based on what?

So you believe the coaching staff is keeping the next Reggie White or Joey Bosa in a glass box labeled "do not break until Bowl Game". If he was ready and able to give that push, you do not think he wouldn't be playing?

No, our pass rush is not very good....But thinking the coaches are just sitting on better talent is the stuff of flat earthers, the logic just does not make sense.

I think it's clear that if one of the Freshmen has moved up the depth chart far enough to be on the field, we'd see them on the field. In prior years that has always happened. A few True Freshmen have appeared on the 2-deep:
1. Kurtis Rourke is split with Mischler as the #2 QB.
2. Tristian Vandenberg is the backup placekicker
3. Parker Titsworth was the backup Center in weeks that Hayes was injured.

Are there any of these that people think should be starting?

Agree with Billy on this, as the coaches are trying to win. They play what they think are the best players that give the Bobcats a chance to win. The coaches aren't trying to sabotage the season like the Miami Dolphins are this year.

Yep Doc. Was not suggesting there was any true freshman who could step in and would be guaranteed to completely change the season. They probably wouldn't give a redshirt season a second thought in that situation.

However, Frank himself mentioned when the class was signed that he thought there were (and I'm paraphrasing) some players who he thought could physically compete and perhaps play. Apparently that meant to him that he thought they could make us better, or at least as good. Maybe he was largely referring to guys unable to play this year for whatever reasons.

He also mentioned the goal of trying to win a MAC championship. Of course that's one attainable goal that has alluded him and for which he has received criticism. Perhaps winning the championship and is more important to him (and the coaches) than an extra non-conference win and thus he would manage his roster accordingly.

Lastly, I don't think we should "hang our hat" on the depth chart either when determining where true freshmen (or anyone else) stand. In the second half Saturday at one point we had three redshirt freshmen linebackers (McCrory, Houston and Thompson) all on the defensive side of the ball at the same time. None of them were on the two-deep depth chart.

Thompson and Houston are incredibly athletic physical dudes. Wood is also a guy who should,be getting more PT. Yes they are young but the backup LB’s are very intriguing. Heck throw McCrory in as well. He is doing nice work on special teams.

To date no true Freshmen have played. The two that I thought might, after the recruiting class was signed were Wilbon and Dixon. Wilbon has been hurt, or he might have played. Dixon turned out not to be a Freshman, and not to be eligible for this year, or he also might have played.

Seventeen Redshirt Freshmen have played, however:
O'Shaan Allison, RB - 6 starts, missed one game
Jerome Buckner, WR - 3 starts, 6 games played
Tyler Walton, WR - 1 start, 7 games played
Keye Thompson, WLB - 1 start, 7 games played
Justin Birchette, CB - 7 games
Bryce Houston, MLB - 7 games
Jeremiah Wood, SLB - 7 games
John Gregory, CB - 7 games
Jake McCrory, LB - 7 games
Isaac Gill, S - 7 games
Bryce Stai, DE - 6 games played
Kurt Danneker, LG - 3 games
Darfnell Gouin, WR - 3 games
Kylan McCracken, DT - 2 games played
Alec Burton, TE - 2 games
Joe Mischler, QB - 1 game
Jamison Collier, FS, 1 game

I did make a mistake in that prior post - It should be only 17, as Cox is a Redshirt Sophomore.

Seventeen is actually a pretty typical number. One difference is that, due to the rule allowing people to play up to four games without losing their redshirt, they are all redshirt Freshmen. In prior years some would have been Sophomores.

What is a positive sign for the future is that four have been starters. How does that compare to prior years? The players with starts as True Freshmen/Pure Sophomores in the last few years:
2018, 4 players: Kittrell (all), Cox (1), Hudson (all), Ogun-Semore (all but 1),
2017, 2 players: Odom (4 of first 6), Conner (1)
2016, 2 players: M. Williams (5 of first 6), Hagen (2 of first 6)
2015, 3 players: McCray (1 of first 6 as a Soph), Oullette (4 of first 6 as Soph), White (2 of first 6)

Going back to the 2008 class, Ohio's best, you also have 4 that started games, Carlotta, Herman, Jordan Thompson, and Gerald Moore.