Elite teams don’t just rely on their starting 22 players. Today, we examine which of Washington’s second-stringers is the team’s most valuable.
Though starters get the lion’s share of love and attention from adoring fans, the players comprising a team’s two-deep on both offense and defense play pivotal roles in the program’s success. This is especially true in the era of hurry-up, no-huddle offenses: In 2015, an average game included 143.1 offensive plays; compare this to as recent as 2008, when games averaged 135.3 plays. Today, we examine which of Washington’s depth players is most valuable.
After earning a redshirt in 2014, Vea proved to be a valuable member of Washington’s defensive line depth last year by providing valuable breathing room for starting nose tackle (now defensive end) Elijah Qualls.