A thought about no Preseason (innovation)

[movaughn88]

So I'll start by assuming that the Cowboys have a very good chance to be a top 10 offense. I don't think that should be too controversial, but feel free to bark at me.

My thought today was, without preseason there will be a lot of rust, uncertainty, and honestly some wacko stuff going on the first few games of the season. There are arguments that both offense and defense have some advantages to not showing their packages and plays before getting to the real games. None of what I'm saying has to do with players, everyone is on the same short stick of internal personnel evaluation.

Main thesis is: if the Cowboys are a top 10 offense, I think in addition to that our group of offensive coaches (MMc, Kellen) are also at the *least* top 10 in innovation and that could lead to an edge in early games with new wrinkles. I'm not saying they will have people standing around with their jaws on the ground, but I believe we are, lets say top 5 teams to take advantage of no preseason on offense.

Thoughts?

 

[Silly]

with 16 games in a season, you probably don't need a preseason anyway. They don't need a preseason in college. Make the coaches do their jobs in training camp & starting rookies will make the games more exciting and unpredictable. The games will be more fun.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Not knowing what to expect from us, on both sides of the ball, will give us an advantage for the first five games. So at the very least we're looking at being 3-2 after five.

 

[glimmerman]

We only show vanilla stuff in preseason anyways. We use it to get timing down. So we will likely see more flags and sloppy play for a while. I hate it for the new players that don’t get a chance to show case there skills for us and even other teams.

 

[Buzzbait]

with 16 games in a season, you probably don't need a preseason anyway.
They don't need a preseason in college. Make the coaches do their jobs in training camp & starting rookies will make the games more exciting and unpredictable. The games will be more fun.

People keep parroting that line without mentioning how many college teams regularly schedule their 1st 1 or 2 games each year with a pansy team just for practice. The games count, but they're such easy games they can't possibly lose. For all practical purposes, it's like the pro's preseason.

 

[Silly]

People keep parroting that line without mentioning how many college teams regularly schedule their 1st 1 or 2 games each year with a pansy team just for practice. The games count, but they're such easy games they can't possibly lose. For all practical purposes, it's like the pro's preseason.

The difference is that in the NFL you don't need to go undefeated to play for a championship.

& I watched Garrett drop games all the time.. They don't care if they lose a couple games every year.

 

[Vanilla2]

$$$$$

 

[jazzcat22]

It could be almost like a structured sand lot football game with some rookie mistakes the 1st 3 to 5 games.

This is why I see more vet players being kept over UDFA's and 1st year players with teams.
As a FA signed but to a minimal impact to the cap. They may be let go, to keep a player that they were to replace but knows the scheme better. However with a new staff and defense it may not matter but on offense it will.

Like Shultz will be kept over on the the other FA TE's. A player will have to stand out to beat out a vet player.
But a player like Canady or Worely can and should beat out Goodwin. But Olawale should beat out Olonilua since he is familiar with the offense. Unless they real want to save that cap money.

 

[Buzzbait]

The difference is that in the NFL you don't need to go undefeated to play for a championship.
& I watched Garrett drop games all the time.. They don't care if they lose a couple games every year.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Without preseason games, the teams should be allowed to conduct two-a-days. I believe this is disallowed in the current contract with the NFLPA.

Creating an environment of competition at the highest level must be required by a league who has shot themselves in the foot time and again. To maintain any credibility, coming to the regular season game with anything but tip top performances by teams is unfathomable.

I would see that as a final slap in the face of the fan by a league currently being run by mental midgets.

Two-a-days would offer the coach both the option to get the team in top conditioning. But also prepare the team mentally as far as the jobs of players, their squads, and their side of the ball. It also prepares the coaches for the rigors of the regular season and offers an opportunity to see enough of a player to make a determination.

Anything short and this is a crappy product being sold by snake oil salesmen.

 

[Flamma]

We only show vanilla stuff in preseason anyways. We use it to get timing down. So we will likely see more flags and sloppy play for a while. I hate it for the new players that don’t get a chance to show case there skills for us and even other teams.

Does that even matter anymore? I've noticed recently that it hardly matters when they do showcase their skills in preseason. Everybody just says they were playing against bums. Then they get cut anyway.

 

[Bobhaze]

So I'll start by assuming that the Cowboys have a very good chance to be a top 10 offense. I don't think that should be too controversial, but feel free to bark at me.

My thought today was, without preseason there will be a lot of rust, uncertainty, and honestly some wacko stuff going on the first few games of the season. There are arguments that both offense and defense have some advantages to not showing their packages and plays before getting to the real games. None of what I'm saying has to do with players, everyone is on the same short stick of internal personnel evaluation.

Main thesis is: if the Cowboys are a top 10 offense, I think in addition to that our group of offensive coaches (MMc, Kellen) are also at the *least* top 10 in innovation and that could lead to an edge in early games with new wrinkles. I'm not saying they will have people standing around with their jaws on the ground, but I believe we are, lets say top 5 teams to take advantage of no preseason on offense.

Thoughts?

Preseason games in my opinion, are completely overrated and unnecessary. The main reason we continue to have them in the modern era of pro football is because they are moneymakers for the owners. NFL owners charge full price for essentially an exhibition game, and in many cases are making as much money for those games as a regular season game.

Sure, all coaches will always like having some “extra preparation”, but how much time do starting players actually get in preseason? Very little. Ask NFL players how they feel about preseason and vast majority will say they hate them.

College and HS football do not have preseason games and yet their coaches aren’t screaming for extra games to “judge talent” and their teams are prepared when the season starts. The practice time in training camp gives our coaches plenty of time and opportunity to understand the talent and prepare for the regular season.

 

[conner01]

with 16 games in a season, you probably don't need a preseason anyway. They don't need a preseason in college. Make the coaches do their jobs in training camp & starting rookies will make the games more exciting and unpredictable. The games will be more fun.

Pre season is extremely important
You are adding lots of players who’ve never played an NFL game. You have free agents additions to blend into your team. And you have many players you have to evaluate for the roster.
On top of that, football is how you get in football shape
A loss of pre season really hurts the young guys and a guy like Ben basically loses a year of development
To me pre season has always been important and always will

 

[Flamma]

Preseason games in my opinion, are completely overrated and unnecessary. The main reason we continue to have them in the modern era of pro football is because they are moneymakers for the owners. NFL owners charge full price for essentially an exhibition game, and in many cases are making as much money for those games as a regular season game.

Sure, all coaches will always like having some “extra preparation”, but how much time do starting players actually get in preseason? Very little. Ask NFL players how they feel about preseason and vast majority will say they hate them.

College and HS football do not have preseason games and yet their coaches aren’t screaming for extra games to “judge talent” and their teams are prepared when the season starts. The practice time in training camp gives our coaches plenty of time and opportunity to understand the talent and prepare for the regular season.

This pretty much nails it. How much do the starters play? Even with preseason, how often do we see teams come out of the game with sloppy play? Then are a different team 4 games in. Because they don't actually play. It's for money now like you said. Just like the extra playoff team.

The best we can hope for is that the athletes are in top physical condition going in.

 

[conner01]

Preseason games in my opinion, are completely overrated and unnecessary. The main reason we continue to have them in the modern era of pro football is because they are moneymakers for the owners. NFL owners charge full price for essentially an exhibition game, and in many cases are making as much money for those games as a regular season game.

Sure, all coaches will always like having some “extra preparation”, but how much time do starting players actually get in preseason? Very little. Ask NFL players how they feel about preseason and vast majority will say they hate them.

College and HS football do not have preseason games and yet their coaches aren’t screaming for extra games to “judge talent” and their teams are prepared when the season starts. The practice time in training camp gives our coaches plenty of time and opportunity to understand the talent and prepare for the regular season.

College teams general schedule fluff games early so that basically is there pre season
And college doesn’t have the restrictions on practice that the nfl does

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

People keep parroting that line without mentioning how many college teams regularly schedule their 1st 1 or 2 games each year with a pansy team just for practice. The games count, but they're such easy games they can't possibly lose. For all practical purposes, it's like the pro's preseason.

This is true...but I also want to add it's really a partnership. Those smaller colleges really count on the money and exposure those games provide.

 

[Doomsday101]

Pre season in not about vets, it is about rookies and young players being put in game situations to see how they will respond. Practice is too controlled to get a great feeling. DiNucci he is not going to be touched or face major pressure at practice as he would in a game situation like pre season. I get it for us fans pre season tends to be sloppy, filled with penalties but it means a lot to those players who need to prove them. I do not see this going past this season due to the virus and while you could cut down pre season I think it would be a big mistake doing away with it.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Preseason games in my opinion, are completely overrated and unnecessary. The main reason we continue to have them in the modern era of pro football is because they are moneymakers for the owners. NFL owners charge full price for essentially an exhibition game, and in many cases are making as much money for those games as a regular season game.

Sure, all coaches will always like having some “extra preparation”, but how much time do starting players actually get in preseason? Very little. Ask NFL players how they feel about preseason and vast majority will say they hate them.

College and HS football do not have preseason games and yet their coaches aren’t screaming for extra games to “judge talent” and their teams are prepared when the season starts. The practice time in training camp gives our coaches plenty of time and opportunity to understand the talent and prepare for the regular season.

Those kids have been screened pretty hard already. They follow most of them for several years. Then all spring and summer workouts.

And comparing the college game to the pros....only some of the top teams run complex offense and defense. It's typically a more traditional and stable environment.

 

[Bobhaze]

College teams general schedule fluff games early so that basically is there pre season
And college doesn’t have the restrictions on practice that the nfl does

I hear you....but two points I woukd like to make:

• Not all college early games are “fluff” games. Often, early non-conference Matchups can involve the big games to start the season between Top ten teams. Last year, Auburn opened the season against Oregon, both teams with national championship aspirations. TCU played Ala to start the season in 2018. Yes, many early games are fluff, but certainly not 100%.
  
  
• If preseason games are so critical, why don’t the important players get more PT? The answer is, because these games are meaningless, those players rarely play at all. Instead we are treated to watching mostly players who will never play a meaningful moment in the NFL.

 

[conner01]

I hear you....but two points I woukd like to make:

• Not all college early games are “fluff” games. Often, early non-conference Matchups can involve the big games to start the season between Top ten teams. Last year, Auburn opened the season against Oregon, both teams with national championship aspirations. TCU played Ala to start the season in 2018. Yes, many early games are fluff, but certainly not 100%.
  
  
• If preseason games are so critical, why don’t the important players get more PT? The answer is, because these games are meaningless, those players rarely play at all. Instead we are treated to watching mostly players who will never play a meaningful moment in the NFL.

Pre season for vets are mostly about conditioning
But for rookies and PS players they are critical
A guy like romo was able to get game reps at full speed and that’s very important in a players development
A kid like Ben needs those reps
Nfl practice and off season is nothing like college
The cba so limits the nfl that some feel it’s changed the tackling in the league