The article linked below (which I also linked in the Preview thread above) is about Bears HC Matt Nagy's decision to not play his starters during the preseason. It's something he did last season as well. The idea is to keep them as healthy as possible, to avoid any injuries that might occur in these meaningless games.
Do you agree with Nagy's strategy? If it was up to you, would you sit your starters throughout the preseason?
Play 'em or sit 'em? - (
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I think players like Barkley should just be held out of preseason entirely. He's so good that he really doesn't need the reps. If he needs to knock a little rust off and it happens the first couple weeks of the season, it's not a huge deal - but with a player like that, I doubt there's any rust.
I wouldn't play Patrick Mahomes in the preseason. I wouldn't play Tom Brady. Wentz. Luck. Rodgers... I'd probably just hold guys like that out entirely.
But I think for other players, it does help for them to get some live action in before the real bullets fly in Week 1. I think reps definitely do benefit some players... I think a starting offensive line and defensive line should get some preseason reps together since there's a synergistic aspect of line play that is very important and is hard to replicate in drills or practice scrimmages without tackling.
Giants do not have that luxury ANYWHERE on the team. Youth and new parts across all units - they need time to gel against quality opponents.
Even Barkley - he NEEDS time with that line to get a feel for their rhythm and timing. At LEAST 2 drives per game, IMO.
For the Giants specifically there are only a handful of players that dont need the work. Eli, Barkley, Engram because of his injury history. Maybe both OTs but they should work as a full unit. the rest of the O need the work. On D I would hold out JackRabbit and Bethea but the rest all need the work.
I pretty much agree with this. There is chemistry and timing development that I think is better achieved in game situations that is difficult to come by just in practice. Even if vets/starters know what they're doing, the new players and rookies, I think, could benefit playing with the returning starters for a drive or two in pre-season. But as others have noted, it's important to minimize injury potential so I wouldn't have them play a lot in pre-season but some.
Veteran coaches and long time NFL professionals all say that the new contract with the player's union has reduced practice time to the point where it is nearly impossible to get a team ready for the season.
They all say there are not enough snaps to prepare players, especially when you are also trying to evaluate rookies at the same time.
In my opinion, you are better off having your starters sharp heading into the season but with a couple of injuries, then have everyone healthy but with none of them truly ready to play.
I think players like Barkley should just be held out of preseason entirely. He's so good that he really doesn't need the reps. If he needs to knock a little rust off and it happens the first couple weeks of the season, it's not a huge deal - but with a player like that, I doubt there's any rust.
I wouldn't play Patrick Mahomes in the preseason. I wouldn't play Tom Brady. Wentz. Luck. Rodgers... I'd probably just hold guys like that out entirely.
But I think for other players, it does help for them to get some live action in before the real bullets fly in Week 1. I think reps definitely do benefit some players... I think a starting offensive line and defensive line should get some preseason reps together since there's a synergistic aspect of line play that is very important and is hard to replicate in drills or practice scrimmages without tackling.
I agree with this. Only guy who absolutely, positively, cannot get hurt is Barkley.
To me, as a fan, I like seeing the rookies or the players who are still fighting for a starting spot.
For example, there’s just no reason to see Janoris Jenkins at all this preseason. There may by some players in year two who still need work, but keeping them healthy is paramount.
Browns' DB going for OBJ's knee when he was in the air and causing him to come down wrong on ankle is an example.
Last week, Giants' RB Jonathan Hillman suffered a concussion when a Jets' defender came down on him full force after he had hit the ground at the sideline. His helmet bounced off the turf and his eyes rolled back.
Your own teammates are less likely to take that shot.
I think the most valuable part of the preseason is carving out your depth. This is where you find out what you really have behind each of your starters - and if you're paying enough attention to guys who shake free elsewhere due to roster crunches, you could find yourself claiming a guy who could help your team.
For Saquon Barkley, yes - I think preseason is almost entirely meaningless and I don't think he needs to play in it at all to have a monster season.
But for rookies, for backups... for guys who still have something to prove. It serves a purpose.
This would be like having Broadway play dress rehearsals open to the public with only the stand-ins, but charging the same price for tickets as after opening night.
But not playing starters at all seems being overprotective to the bad...
Ha!
This would be like having Broadway play dress rehearsals open to the public with only the stand-ins, but charging the same price for tickets as after opening night.
F*** what the NFL thinks. Fans will determine the market price. If they don’t want to see bench players, they won’t go. It’s that simple.
The Bears lost their first two games last season.
Quote:
Finished the season 12-4. For me, though, it comes down to "injuries can happen any time, anywhere," in practice just as easily as in a game (preseason or regular season).
The Bears lost their first two games last season.
Maybe I should continue the theme and give another incorrect record but, really, the Bears lost their first game and then won the next 3.
Quote:
Finished the season 12-4. For me, though, it comes down to "injuries can happen any time, anywhere," in practice just as easily as in a game (preseason or regular season).
The Bears lost their first two games last season.
Oops. My bad. I read it incorrectly. Damn you, Wikipedia, and your color-coding!
Shyster is right, though. They lost their first game, then won their next three.
I guess you could look at that either way as far as the significance of preseason game preparation.
One thing I do think is that Rodgers' gamed-turning long TD completion to Geronimo Allison would not have stood up to an OPI challenge.
Preseason is basically a show put on for the fans. There's very little meaningful work done in the games. It still remains as a showcase for players on the bubble and guys from small schools to see how they have adjusted to the speed jump. It rarely is even used as a tie-breaker for final roster spots.
But there is a little more focus this year than previous ones because for some reason, joint scrimmages and practice sessions between teams has been reduced. Not by the league stepping in but because some of the newer coaches haven't wanted to participate as much as teams had in the past.
And it is a fairly critical change. Two years ago, coaches were asked what was the most important aspect of camp. Those scrimmages/practice sessions were considered the most important. Preseason games? The least important.
It will be interesting to see in the next couple of years if they do reduce the number of preseason games, and if they do, will teams go back to more joint workouts. There just isn't enough practice time to go around anymore, but most coaches really don't want to risk in injury in a fairly meaningless contest.
Yeah, those are the players I would put out there.
But all skill players I would sit