will start and play minutes. A lot of coaches say that the playing time depends on how kids do in practice. That makes sense in early games where new players haven't proven themselves during games, but it doesn't make sense to me later on or for players who have already proven themselves in games, either that season or season's before.

If Doak Walker, one of the greatest football players in history, had his minutes determined by how he practiced, we'd have never heard of him.
It was always reported, that in practice he was an ordinary player, but when the games started, he was a super player. It only seems logical that if you have players who have proven themselves in games, it really doesn't matter how they're practicing, as long as they're putting out and showing up for practices. I've seen a lot of players who looked great in their uniforms who couldn't do Jack @#%@ in games. Then there are ones who fell off turnip trucks!