Most likely just trying to build up the confidence of their DEs. Let them get the taste of beating an OT off the edge play after play after play after play after play after, well you get the idea, and they might find they rather like the concept.
Better they experience the joy beating out a live human filling a uniform than doing it against air.
I am a 47-year-old and I honestly think I could pass protect better than our ex-player discussed here. I really do.
All that said, I truly believe Capps gave everything he had effort wise. He was just not an SEC (or D-1) caliber offensive lineman talent wise. Not his fault. And not his fault none of the other young 4* and 5* studs never did what it takes to take his job away from him until late in his career. As much as we wail-and-moan about him being more matador or traffic cop than offensive tackle, we do realize he was for a long, long time better at the job than anyone else on the roster do we not?
I have said for a few years now that our program was irrelevant on the national scene and really just living off name only. I think the events of this past weekend helped prove my prior arguments. And in all honesty, I don't see much of a change on-the-field this upcoming season. For the most part our better players across the board are either first- (true freshmen) or second- (true sophomores or redshirt freshmen) year players in the system. As good as they may be, they are still old boys playing against young men. 7-5 or 8-4 would be a pretty good job by our players and coaches - especially when you look at our schedule (especially the road part). Anything better would make me giddy.