Injuries, no preseason

[LTH]

As of this point in the season it seems as though injuries are a major concern in the NFL...How much do you think not having a pre season is contributing to the injury bug?

In his press conference Pete said that he felt the D's were way behind the O's because there was no pre season....

Thoughts?


LTH

 

[chris98251]

I agree, you need to get game ready for football, just regimented conditioning doesn't do it, being able to assemble and play as a unit and then get your body toned up for hitting and cutting, a work up to full go is important. The units themselves getting used to each other and learning each others tendencies and how to compliment each other as well.

A Football unit is a lot like a watch, have a piece not working right throws off everything.

 

[Uncle Si]

As of this point in the season it seems as though injuries are a major concern in the NFL...How much do you think not having a pre season is contributing to the injury bug?

In his press conference Pete said that he felt the D's were way behind the O's because there was no pre season....

Thoughts?


LTH

Not just preseason, but OTAs as well. I am sure there a lot of players out there trying to move at game speed and intensity but lacking the mechanics and coordination, both individual and with teammates, built through lengthy training camps.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Definitely has affected player health, I think the league broke a record for ACL/MCL injuries over the first three weeks.

Also has affected the defense being way behind the offenses with no OTA's and pre-season games to get contact, communication and sharpness of route and assignments. No one's seen more of this than us.

What was the only thing allowed all spring and summer? QB's and WR's throwing.......and that's what we've seen thus far, QB's and WR's going nuts on defenses.

 

[jman316]

Heck, even my knees hurt without having any pre-season!

The amount of abuse the bodies of NFL players take over the course of a game is crazy! I remember a Burleson interview where he compared being tackled to a car accident. The human body just isn't meant to run into brick walls, twist, turn and get bent the way they do in an NFL game.

Can you imagine the likes of us internet fatties running around out there? They'd run out of stretchers by the end of the day!

 

[sdog1981]

A very similar thing happened in 2010 after the player lockout. However, that season they still had a short training camp and full preseason.

As much as players hate to admit it, they need training camp and they need the preseason.

 

[sutz]

I think it has to have an affect. In pre-season they play 1-2 series, then a full quarter plus, then 3 quarters, then rest.

That kind of gradual build up helps to prepare them, I think. They don't do that in college, but it's a whole different ball game in the pros. Lots more top tier players in the pros where that instant-on stuff doesn't work as well.

 

[chris98251]

I think it has to have an affect. In pre-season they play 1-2 series, then a full quarter plus, then 3 quarters, then rest.

That kind of gradual build up helps to prepare them, I think. They don't do that in college, but it's a whole different ball game in the pros. Lots more top tier players in the pros where that instant-on stuff doesn't work as well.

You also have 100 plus kids to work with and to have drills with in college so you can keep fit and hardened, once down to 53 or so you only have limited chances to have contact practices.

 

[Ambrose83]

None, these are elite level athletes that have been playing this game for years, they train year round and have the best science and nutrition available to them. Football is violent, you can't be in shape for a torn acl because a 300 lb dude blows your knee up.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

None, these are elite level athletes that have been playing this game for years, they train year round and have the best science and nutrition available to them. Football is violent, you can't be in shape for a torn acl because a 300 lb dude blows your knee up.

They've done studies with each new CBA to see what's causing things like the sharp increase in ACL injuries over the past 10 years.

https://simplifaster.com/articles/nfl-a ... ends-data/

10 year sample size isn't a lot, but there's a couple things that are clear. The combo of less contact in the off season and allowing players to train on their own instead of under the supervision of their teams has led in an increase of injuries like ACL and MCL tears.

So yes, contact and training matter, and there was none of it during the off season within the scope of players training at their respective facilities.

 

[sdog1981]

None, these are elite level athletes that have been playing this game for years, they train year round and have the best science and nutrition available to them. Football is violent, you can't be in shape for a torn acl because a 300 lb dude blows your knee up.

How many of these ACL injures have you seen because a person fell on them? These guys are getting hurt running and cutting. Staying in athlete shape is no the same as staying in football shape.

 

[jamescasey1124]

Yeah I dont understand how playing more games(preseason) is supposed to limit injuries. Then back it up with it gets the d ready for timing cuts , hits and etc. Doesnt makes sense. Football is football. Injuries are going to happen. If you thought they wouldnt you are crazy. Injuries suck period. Just more at this time then usual. Preseason wouldnt have prevented this...if anything... there would have been more injuries.

I agree with post above about professional athletes train year around.

 

[WmHBonney]

There is being in shape. Then there is being in game shape. With no pre-season, these guys went from 0-100 without warming up the car first.

 

[jamescasey1124]

There is being in shape. Then there is being in game shape. With no pre-season, these guys went from 0-100 without warming up the car first.

Negative. They knew what was coming. That is an excuse. Remember many players wanted to drop preseason anyway.

 

[Reaneypark]

My guess is that the players are faster and bigger but their joints have not evolved to handle the pressure applied on them.

 

[chris98251]

My guess is that the players are faster and bigger but their joints have not evolved to handle the pressure applied on them.

This is true, think about putting a 436 hemi into a Pinto, frame would not hold up and would twist under the torque.

 

[SantaClaraHawk]

I'm amazed that 2s and 3s aren't dropping after prolonged periods on the field.

The preseason and OTAs are probably even more important for them.

I gotta say it, I anticipate that 90 percent of the PS will dress for an active game. Probably 70 percent released from any PS will find themselves on another one.

A clear message on PS and depth has to be to take it every bit as seriously as the 1s.

 

[AgentDib]

I heard an excellent solution for this tricky issue.

In short, cleat length is a form of the prisoner's dilemma problem. A receiver and the opposing cornerback would both be safer if they could agree on the same very short cleats. However, each can gain a performance advantage by choosing a slightly longer cleat, and in the absence of a mutual deal they will inevitably escalate to the point where they get maximum performance benefit. They will bear the risk of increased ligament sprains and ligament tears in exchange.

The solution is for the NFL to step in and mandate a shorter maximum cleat length. Along with funding the appropriate studies on field turf and natural grass, the goal should be to keep injuries low even if there is an accompanying small decrease in the ability for players to make crisp cuts.