Chip Kelly apparently believes in load administration.
Two days after the UCLA coach didn't play star operating again Zach Charbonnet and pulled quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the midst of a sequence, there have been sturdy indications that each gamers’ workload had been deliberately restricted towards Alabama State.
Thompson-Robinson revealed that he was eliminated early within the second quarter as a result of Kelly needed his backups to play the steadiness of the sport towards an overmatched Soccer Championship Subdivision opponent.
“Garbs received his name, it was his time,” Thompson-Robinson mentioned Monday, referring to backup Ethan Garbers, “so I simply needed to get out of the sport and be the most effective teammate I may be.”
On the second-to-last play earlier than he departed, Thompson-Robinson took a success and grimaced whereas gingerly strolling again to the road of scrimmage, resulting in hypothesis he might need been injured. Thompson-Robinson remained within the sport for yet one more play, finishing a 12-yard move to Jake Bobo, earlier than departing throughout an harm delay involving Alabama State’s Naytron Culpepper.
Thompson-Robinson mentioned he was not damage and acknowledged feeling torn about being taken out of the sport.
“The competitor in me is a bit of pissed off,” Thompson-Robinson mentioned, “[but] we've got an excellent backup, in addition to the remainder of the fellows within the quarterback room, so I couldn’t be extra pleased with how these guys performed and the way they executed the offense.”
Thompson-Robinson and Charbonnet each practiced Monday with out limitations.
Kelly wouldn't deal with the specifics of both participant’s state of affairs after UCLA’s 45-7 victory over the Hornets, saying solely that they had been “unavailable.” His sidestepping questions led to theories about load administration, given the Bruins’ probability of prevailing with out their prime two offensive gamers.
Charbonnet didn't seem hobbled earlier than the sport and spoke with reporters final Wednesday, indicating he was accessible to play at that time.
Thompson-Robinson mentioned there was no forewarning about his workload being restricted.
“My complete mind-set and aim was to play the entire sport,” mentioned Thompson-Robinson, who accomplished 9 of 11 passes for 101 yards and a landing. “It didn’t work out that manner, however I’m considering I’m taking part in the entire sport so far as in pregame.”
Kelly mentioned Monday that 88 gamers participated within the sport, together with walk-ons and third- and fourth-stringers. UCLA (2-0) gained so handily that three backup quarterbacks performed after Thompson-Robinson’s departure.
The Bruins used 5 operating backs with Charbonnet held out, producing 220 yards and 5 touchdowns on the bottom, together with Garbers’ seven yards and two touchdowns in two carries.
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