[Husker] Offensive linemen playing time

[RMiller]

I found this OWH article on competition amongst offensive linemen insteresting:
    http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=528&u_xid=13&u_sid=2288075
   
  It at least attempts to tackle a topic I've been wondering about this year. That is, how can someone (Mann) be a 3 yr starter, get sick and miss a few games, be replaced by someone who played 1 set of downs the previous 2 years, and then practically never play again despite all reports that he's fine.
   
  Here's a quote from Slauson, who has been receiving praise for the last 1.5 yrs as one of the most promising young linemen at NU. He's apparently now clearly the 2nd team right tackle.
   
  "I've got to compete with Carl (Nicks), who's coming off a (1) great game. If I have a great practice week and he doesn't do so well, then I might step in. But if he keeps on performing like he performed, I'm going to be second string, and I'm fine with that."

  Here's the specific thoughts I'm having. I'm wondering if anyone else might have further insight:
   
  How can a 2nd teamer (like Byford & Nicks) who saw extremely limited action then move into the starting lineup (due to injury) and now be clearly the better player? If this player was so much better all along, why did it take an injury for them to supplant the starter? If it's a close call, why would the 2nd teamer be getting more playing time, like a 50/50 split?
   
  Perhaps I'm flawed in my observation that the new 1st teamers were getting practically no playing time before the injury triggered promotion? I'm not aware of any stats that might contradict my limited TV game observations.
   
  Roy