This is embarassing, but I think I understand the logic behind it.
I guess the coaching staff knew going into it that the 2nd stringers were going to be ragdolled, but felt that it was important to give some of the marginal backups (guys with very few NFL snaps and no real game tape) a chance to step up and make some plays, show a little potential. We already know what the first team can do, but we have such a huge logjam of unknown players that we're going to need to make decisions on soon - but no real information on which to base those decisions.
I suppose LaFleur and Gute decided to write this game off, throw the kids to the wolves and see if any of them can rise to the opccasion. Who knows - maybe even draw a trade offer.
And Malik Heath is looking pretty good, so he's making the most of it, and Ben Sims had some good snaps and a nice reception. Grant Dubose and Bo Melton? Not so much. We'll see how they do in the second half, but so far neither has met the epectations some of us may have had from their previous opportunities.
Emmanuel Wilson cooled down a bit tonight, but we'll see how he does in the second. He's not getting much blocking help, though, so maybe it's a wash.
