Attrition is always a big part of college football, but it seems like we have been devastated by it the past two years. What happened? This is beyond bad luck. For all of the calls to fire this and that top-level person, preventing this level of injury is somebody's (or a host of somebodies') job and they are failing at it hard.

I'm not good at this, but took a rough cut at the pre-season starting lineup vs. what we had by the end of the Auburn game for the offense. Layden Robinson and Reuben Fatheree are the only guys that were on the pre-season starting lineup that haven't missed significant snaps throughout the year. Haynes King has been benched for the pre-season third-string QB, and I think Trey Zuhn was still playing for the Auburn game despite missing games for injury earlier this year. Otherwise, we were playing at least four pre-season third-string players by the end of the Auburn game, and a similar number of true freshman:

QB
Preseason starter: Haynes King
What happened: Lost starting role and backup had season ending injury.
Finished the Auburn game: Connor Weigman (Pre-season third-string, true freshman)

LT
Preseason starter: Trey Zuhn
What happened: Missed games due to injury, but still playing for Auburn
Finished the Auburn game: Trey Zuhn

LG
Preseason starter: Jordan Spasojevic-Moko (Aki Ogunbiyi???)
What happened: Season ending injury (for both Moko and Ogunbiyi)
Finished the Auburn game: Kam Dewberry (true freshman)

Center
Preseason starter: Bryce Foster
What happened: Down with mono to start the year, came back and powered through for a while, but then had a season ending injury
Finished the Auburn game: Matthew Wycoff (Pre-season second-string, redshirt freshman)

RG
Preseason starter: Layden Robinson
What happened: Maintained position
Finished the Auburn game: Layden Robinson

RT
Preseason starter: Reuben Fatheree
What happened: Maintained position
Finished the Auburn game: Reuben Fatheree

TE
Preseason starter: Max Wright
What happened: Out due to injury during Auburn game. Backup Donovan Green also out due to injury (season ending?)
Finished the Auburn game: Blake Smith (Pre-season third-string?, redshirt sophomore)

RB
Preseason starter: Devon Achane
What happened: Solid season, but showed up to Auburn game in a boot.
Finished the Auburn game: Leveon Moss (on the depth chart somewhere, true freshman)

WR
Preseason starter: Ainias Smith
What happened: Season ending injury
Finished the Auburn game: Jalen Preston (redshirt senior, not sure about 1:1 positions for WRs)

WR
Preseason starter: Evan Stewart
What happened: Injury midgame for Auburn
Finished the Auburn game: Devin Price (junior)

WR
Preseason starter: Chase Lane
What happened: Out since Florida for injury
Finished the Auburn game: Noah Thomas (true freshman)


I could definitely be wrong about some of the specifics here, but in general that level of attrition is just crazy. I'd be interested in seeing something similar for defense since I think we are seeing the impact of it in our run game.

Bad strength coach, often some focus on muscle strength and do not figure in mobility and agility enough.

I have been told that we go full contact, 1's v 1's at least one day a week in practice, in season. If true, that does not seem smart. The players are already getting full contact in game. Recovery might be good.

***Conspiracy Theory of the day***

Half these kids aren't even injured anymore. Would you risk re-injury on a 3-7 team?

We will find out soon after LSU game.

Design players in a lab with stronger bones and ligaments?

Aggielostdog said:

---

***Conspiracy Theory of the day***

Half these kids aren't even injured anymore. Would you risk re-injury on a 3-7 team?

---

Especially if you want to be healthy when you enter the transfer portal. Don't blame them at all.

P.U.T.U said:

---

Bad strength coach, often some focus on muscle strength and do not figure in mobility and agility enough.

---

More like we have a bunch of freshman playing huge minutes who haven't had time to develop their bodies to the rigours of a collegiate season. You see it often in the NFL too called hitting the rookie wall.

There's a huge difference between strength training vs. getting bigger.

KInda like in a combat zone and tours are getting short, nobody wants to get whacked a week before going home.

No use risking a potential career ending injury for a lost cause and a coach that doesn't appear to give a damn.

The W-L column reflects the above reality. Post mortem needs to be a retrospective on all aspects of the program so we don't repeat this season.

Don't forget about pre-season medical retirements.

I'd guess that the vast majority of our injury problems this season have just been unfortunate accidents, and not the result of a bad S&C coach.

South Platte said:

---

Aggielostdog said:

---

***Conspiracy Theory of the day***

Half these kids aren't even injured anymore. Would you risk re-injury on a 3-7 team?

---

Especially if you want to be healthy when you enter the transfer portal. Don't blame them at all.

---

there is truth here

Layden Robinson did miss time for injury too, although he did start and is back now.

PEDS when used properly are an asset, if the doping program is not closely monitored the athletes are plagued with injuries. Time to hire the team doctor for the 2014 Russian Olympic team.

I agree with jace above. Here's a microcosm of our season for the most part:

https://texags.com/s/48515/week-11s-overnight-sensation-lt-overton-defensive-lineman

"Reminder: LT Overton should still be in high school right now.,,,

...To make these stats even more impressive, Overton was facing a grouping of five senior offensive linemen who have years of collegiate playing experience under their belt. Overton has nine games."

This doesn't account for the practice injuries, however. Touched on earlier in the thread.

Injuries happen and yes its more bad luck than anything else. S&C doesnt prevent knee injuries, ankles getting rolled up on or twisted, etc.

When you run a predictable offense, defenses can tee off on your players.

Honestly surprised no one is dead.