[blue1424]

In my opinion, the best way to approach the platoon/depth situation is to do what Collins did this year. They started 22 different players and for the most part, defensive starters stayed on defense, and offensive starters stayed on offense. However, if the opposing team went on a long drive, they would sub in offensive players on defense. If their opponent got into the red zone, they would put in their best offensive playmakers (Forrest, Sames, Farris, etc.) on defense and a lot of times it worked out for them because they got a stop. At the end of the first half in the state championship game, Highlands marched straight down the field into the red zone. Coach Lucas took out a few of his younger players on defense and put in a few wide receivers in the secondary. One of them blitzed and made one of the biggest plays of the game, sacking the QB and forcing a fumble. A wide receiver made one of the biggest plays of the game on defense because Collins had their best players in at the most crucial times. Collins would do the same thing on the offensive side of the ball. In short yardage situations, they would bring in their 350 lb DT on the OL and LB Masai Whyte in as a running back/full back. In a 4th and 1 against Anderson County, Masai got the ball, ran over a kid at the line of scrimmage and ran it in for a 19 yard TD. He didn't get to carry the ball very much this season but he was used when he was needed. Toward the end of the state championship game when Highlands was driving to take the lead, DeAndre Farris and Lawson Page, two of their best offensive play makers, came in on defense because Highlands was killing them through the air and they were two of the best athletes on the team. I believe that you should try to have 22 different starters if possible and play as many kids as you can, but you should also not be afraid to put your best 11 out there when needed.

Collins ended up playing around 30 or more kids per game so they were able to get younger kids experience and build depth, but they also put their best players out there when they were needed.