re: Alabama At Full Health

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You keep saying expected production when expectations of any production end when a player is no longer available.

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I also clarified what I meant by saying that the production expected before the absence. The reason why that is important is because time and resources are spent developing that player and preparing them for the next game(s) that are not spent on developing other players in addition to the chemistry and bond formed between that player and his teammates that gets washed away with his absence. In addition, and depending on the missing player, the play calling may be effected by absence. That's not a small matter.

I recognize that no one is expecting production after an injury, suspension, etc., because they know that he won't be available to play. That isn't the point.

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I agree that production is the most important thing. The game planning/chemistry thing is negligible. You're the first to mention it, but it would add greatly to my argument since Bama lost more players and lost most of them with less time to prepare, some in the games themselves.

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This is true, which is why player attrition isn't the only thing to be concerned about in terms of the outcomes of games. That's also why teams are supposed to develop their players so that they are ready when called upon. That's easier said than done, and it seems Bama's backups weren't as prepared to step up in the big game this time around (compared to Tua, who changed the outcome of the previous NCG coming off the bench).

I'm not saying that Bama didn't have a reason to complain when it came to losing players. What I'm arguing is that UGA can make the same claims to varying degrees, and yet there is more to a loss in a game than injuries, even to key players, so Bama fans should recognize that the game of football was played and the better overall team won that day.

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Players who sit out are blamed for losses. Players who are injured aren't blamed. One is a choice and the other isn't. In one case they blame the player and in the other they blame the misfortune of the injury. So, saying the reason for their absence doesn't matter is obviously incorrect.

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I don't care who is to blame in this discussion, as that is entirely irrelevant. The point is that when a player who is expected to contribute is not able to do so, that loss often times is felt by the team, and it often times contributes to the outcome of the game in various ways. The reason for why that player isn't there doesn't matter if there was a reasonable expectation for the player to perform, and then they weren't able to. The reason might matter to the player who isn't playing, but it usually doesn't matter to the team or the coaches, because what they are managing to is the outcome of games. A player missing due to an injury (not his fault) or a legitimate targeting call (his fault) will have the same impact to the rest of the team (other than the penalty yards).

I've spent many words explaining this very thing to you.