I think it was 100% the right thing to do, and here's why: The staff made a conscious decision & investment to play younger less experienced players because they realize they have higher ceilings than the older players. This decision is not only starting to play dividends now, but will also prove to be extremely critical for next season. For example starting Scaife @ LT instead of Zion earlier in the yr was not the right decision because it only accounts for the short term. Zion has a much higher ceiling than Scaife @ LT, and actually has the potential to one day become a high rd draft pick by the time his career is over @ MIA. Were there growing pains and struggles early on? Yes. But if you don't play him, you're right back @ Sq 1 again next yr, because LTs don't grow on trees, and you actually have to develop them organically. The fans may not want to hear this, but the bottom line is it makes much more sense to go through early struggles/growing pains and lose games we should be winning in order to make progress towards becoming the best team possible, than to adopt a myopic mentality/vision by only focusing on short term wins. Because we have to remember..the ultimate goal is to not just defeat lowly coastal teams like GT, it's to be able to compete with & defeat Clemson next yr.
A good coach doesn't just assess where his players are NOW, he also projects & envisions where his players could be. Because Enos & Barry made significant investments in these younger players, their development is actually being accelerated not slowed. And because of this..for the 1st time in many many yrs MIA will finally have an O-line that will be more than serviceable. Bravo Enos..Bravo