As the COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges worldwide, the NFL is still figuring out how to organize a season. And while players and owners continue to negotiate a plan that will allow teams to adequately prepare for the regular season, it looks like we could see the reduction or total elimination of preseason games. Without a full list of exhibits to prepare for the season, teams would have to adjust to a new way of life when it comes to the 2020 campaign. Don’t forget: the teams were unable to run their normal offseason programs, so everyone already far behind the eight ball.
I discussed all of this with some people in and around the league. Here are five ways a shortened / aborted preseason could affect players, coaches, and explorers:
1) Veterans will have significant advantages in listed battles.
Lack of a standard preseason will make some coaches trust familiar faces when the regular season begins. Veterans will jump to the front of the line because of their knowledge and experience. Day laborers, in particular, should be able to share their experience in contributing roles. At critical moments, coaches prefer reliable players with the ability to perform their tasks under pressure. Veterans not only have the experience to make plays in those situations, but coaches are very knowledgeable about their players’ résumés, and this is important when making roster, depth chart and rotation decisions.
“You want to trust the guys who have been on fire,” an AFC running coach told me. “With limited practice time and reps, you’re more likely to lean on the guy who’s done it for you before. He may have missed a step and not be as explosive or dynamic as the youngster, but you know he can do it.” when it counts. That’s important when you need to get started quickly in these conditions. “
The coaches understand the high expectations for the property, the numbers from the main office, and observers when the regular season begins. Regardless of how much time has been (and will be) lost due to COVID-19, the pressure to produce wins will return to the start. Veterans offer reliability. And coaches will plan around their shortcomings to put them in the ideal positions to be successful.
2) Teams must be patient with their recruits.
For most teams, recruits are essentially guaranteed roster spots, with the majority expected to contribute in Year 1. Whether they stand out as featured special teams, rotating players, or immediate starters, recruits are in the top spot. alignment due to the team’s investment (capital project and financial commitment) in its potential. Therefore, these guys are favorites to win roster spots under normal circumstances. And the pandemic will make it difficult for decision makers to move from recruits without a full offseason to assess their development and long-term potential.
“Draft recruits have every opportunity to be on the team,” said a former NFL general manager. “If you’ve invested a draft selection and money into them, you want to give them a chance to become the player you envisioned. Sometimes, it takes them a little longer to find their way, but you have to trust what you’ve seen in the tape and how you evaluated them throughout the process.
“You can’t give up on them too soon.”
That is why general managers and personnel managers should encourage their coaches to wait patiently for their recruits to find their way as professionals. Each of the prospects was selected to eventually play a role, and all should have a reasonable time to realize their potential. Without offseason reps and mini fields to hone their individual skills and master the nuances of the playbook, it’s harder to project when a young player will be ready to make a contribution on the field.
To make up for the lack of game reps for recruits, teams should consider creating and implementing development plans for their young players. The Atlanta Falcons have used their “Plan D” program to accelerate the development of their young players in the past. The program requires young players to spend at least 10 minutes with their coaches after practice. These additional periods not only allow coaches to refine their players’ techniques, but also provide an opportunity to teach rookies the nuances of the scheme. Considering how mental clutter can slow players’ natural reactions, the additional tutoring sessions help young Atlantans assimilate into the lineup as valuable endorsements and rotating game creators mid-season.
Damontae Kazee is a perfect example of the show’s success. As a fifth-round pick in 2017, the former San Diego State star transitioned from a ball-selling nook to high security with relative ease. The 5-foot, 10-pound, 184-pound player was a consecutive Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, with 17 career interceptions and 30 PBUs in 41 college games, but he lacked the speed and speed required of an elite corner. . In Atlanta, Kazee worked diligently on his physique and toughness for safety during those additional practice periods, while refining his natural instincts like a ball hawk. As a result, the fourth-year pro has become a front-line player with 10 interceptions in the past two seasons, including seven leading league teams in 2018.
If other teams can design similar development plans for their recruits, they can still reap the benefits of the 2020 class with a patient approach that produces great results in the future.
