05-08-2016, 10:25 AM
(05-07-2016, 05:24 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I heard the the Dolphins were not even going t have their rookies on the field during this first training period. Nothing but classroom work. They feel that the biggest adjustments for rookies is mental instead of physical. They also said that even though the drills were supposed to be no-contact or limited contact the undrafted free agents were so eager to make an impression that they would get carried away.
Read that article as well. I really liked the piece and am interested to track how that works for them.
It really does make sense. Some of the things from the article (from memory, as I read it a few weeks ago when it came out):
1) Most of these rookies come off anywhere from 13-15 games during the regular/post season in college. Go immediately into workouts for Senior Bowl/Shrine Game. Then immediately into workouts for the Combine/Pto Days/Team Workouts. So we are talking from September through April non stop. The extra rest may benefit vs the "rookie wall".
2) Players that spend more time in the classroom may be more up to speed by the time vets get into camp. Less of a learning curve and can judge them vs established players better.
3) Spending more time with off the field specialists such as nutritionists, life coaches and money managers, which would benefit ALL NFL rookies, let alone those with millions to burn in a city like Miami.
It all sounds great, but of course like anything, the jury is out until we see the execution of it. If it succeeds, it may start a changing of the guard in the way teams approach handling incoming rookies as well as the way players adapt to the NFL lifestyle.
It's very exciting as an experiment.
