re: Durham must be in doghouse

The first few games of the season, Gage was the 2nd RB and would come in anytime Jones needed a breather or when the 2nd string came in Gage was the next main guy out there. The past 2 games, we've seen that switch to Berry being the relief guy and main guy when the backups come in.

You can point to a few positions where this has happened since the season started. Kiffin doesn't write his depth charts with a pen, it is fluid and you can earn your way up. Berry seems to have done that over the last couple of weeks based on how they've inserted him the last 2 games compared to the first 3, although Gage's runs tonight definitely seemed like he wanted to prove he still deserved the 2 spot and he may get it back after that, even though Berry didn't do anything wrong either, I'll leave that for coach to figure out. And that's what I love about Kiffin's approach, Gage wanted to get his spot back so bad and he housed two runs like his life depended on it. It creates competition so the backups strive that much harder to do better, and keeps the starters working hard to keep their spots because their spots are not guaranteed because of some BS seniority shite, or you get paid this much NIL or On3 gave you this many stars out of HS.

I said all of that to say, Durham is just being outperformed by the 3 RBs in front of him. He's not in the doghouse, there's no vendetta against him, he may even have the best attitude in practice and wants to be better and is really coachable. They aren't trying to make an example out of him or any other ulterior motive you're trying to concoct of why he's not playing much. He is the 4th best back on the roster, so he's getting 4th team reps. He had 5 carries for 13 yards tonight. Gage had 6 carries for 110 and housed 2 long TDs. Berry also went over 100, and Jones had a quiet night but left early and has been doing his thing all season. Still had 16 for 79 and some good 1st down runs to make 2nd and 3rd downs manageable.

Durham just isn't performing as well as those in front of him in games or practice, and that's really all there is to it. That's sports. That's life.