These young kids need to get their feet wet. It is the same on both sides of the ball. Tell me you would not feel better about our defense this year if some of those that red shirted had played last year.
I again would argue the quarterback position is different than any other, with facets that make rotating and getting "their feet wet" implausible unless necessary. The best quarterback on our team is Martinez by far and away given his knowledge, experience and athleticism. What point does it serve to risk a scoring opportunity and pull Martinez in favor of a less experienced quarterback - a quarterback that has different timing, knowledge and understanding of the game? I see almost no benefit.
And as EZ-E pointed out, burning Armstrong's redshirt last year in favor of a couple of plays a game is unfathomably stupid and risky.
We are handling our QB situation like we almost always have and like almost every other college does. Your backup QB plays when you're winning big, losing big, your starter is playing poorly or gets injured. The only other prerequisite is if the backup has earned playing time (like Berringer did after starting for nearly a full season). Otherwise, your starting QB plays all the snaps because he gives you the best chance to win, and I have no problem treating the QB that way because he's the most important individual player on the team.
There's certainly benefit to playing younger players at other positions if it's worth it. But, again, I insistently believe the QB is a different beast and is not subject to the same type of playing time rules like other positions are.
