Wilkommen bei den Schatten » n of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, are am

In the final part of a series on why the NFL offseason is broken, lets look at the veteran offseason schedule and the impact it is having on the quality of football we see on Sundays in the fall. From a late start in early April under the new collective bargaining agreement to a brief appearance at training camp, technique and injury concerns are becoming more of an issue.The majority of veteran players get it when it comes to strength and conditioning: Take some time off after the season to let the body recover and then get back into a personalized program of functional training and core development that limits injury risks.Its all part of the offseason plan for these veterans, guys who understand how their bodies work and what they need to do during the winter to prep for another season in the league. And that hasnt changed in todays players. True pros.What has changed, however, is the schedule, the arrival time and the condensed program that impacts strength development for veterans?during the offseason.Late startUnder the previous CBA, vets reported back to the facility in early March compared to the April arrival we see now. One month? Doesnt sound like a lot, really, but thats another 30 days away from the facility without the supervision of the club.From the weight room work in Phase 1 of the offseason program, to the conditioning drills on the grass and the nutrition program, some in the league think that extra month is cutting into regular-season development. And it also lends itself to injury concerns.Players get hurt more because they cant train or eat at the facility supervised until April, an NFL executive said. Not enough time to really get a player better.Now, Im not going to pretend that NFL strength programs are ideal. In fact, I would take a college program any day of the week compared to the maintenance lifting I saw as a pro. And a lot of guys in the NFL?are going to modify their weight room workouts based on how they trained away from the facility over the winter at?first-class workout centers.For example, I used the strength program from coach Chris Doyle at the University of Iowa throughout my career. More core lifts, more Olympic movements. That fit me as a player. And I trusted the program. Thats key.But during that time, we also had that extra month to train with the strength staff and build up our conditioning levels before we started working on the field with coaches. I saw it as a positive compared to what some players are telling me now about a program that seems rushed -- especially when Phase 2 of the offseason program starts. Thats only four hours in the building under the rules. Lifting, film, structured on-the-field work with coaches (no helmets, competition). A lot of stuff squeezed into a short time.Theres not enough time to get your body to where it needs to be. You speed through lifting, conditioning, study, film room, technique and on-the-field stuff, an NFL linebacker told me. They try and cram in as much crap as possible during those four hours. So, its half-assed everything in my opinion. Guys arent fully ready because they are pushed to be a part of the offseason workouts and thats why you are seeing high injury rates.Just as we discussed in Parts 1 and 2, time is?the issue. Talent? The vets have it. Theyve proved it. But by reducing the offseason program, there is some worry in the league that the new CBA is having a negative effect.Technique concernsTechnique is often a major concern for rookies transitioning to?the NFL. But those shortcomings are also expected coming from college. Thats why we use the term development so much throughout the draft process.But is technique we see on Sundays becoming an issue? From press-man, to tackling, to offensive line play, it is easy to identify technique errors when you turn on NFL tape. A few examples: defensive backs opening the gate all day in press, too many missed tackles, and offensive tackles?struggling?against?speed rushers.Now, that doesnt mean we dont see great?technique on the field. Theres a lot of that too. Just turn on the tape of Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and study his footwork, watch Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor wrap up on tackles or check out Joe Thomas and Tyron Smith locking down defensive ends in pass protection. There are some nasty dudes in this league.But overall, the coaches and scouts I talk to?see the technique -- the core fundamentals -- sliding downhill a bit.There is no such thing as technique anymore, an NFL coach told me. Its all height-weight-speed.Measurables. Thats what the coach is talking about. A league more focused on speed, athleticism and scheme fit over development. But coaches dont deserve a pass here, either. With so many coaches narrowed in on game plans over technique, its no real shock that fundamentals have dipped. You cant teach from a spreadsheet and expect to see top-level footwork on the field.But I still wonder, based on the discussions Ive had, if this can be traced back to the late start of the offseason program and then the transition into a training camp setting that lacks the amount of reps and competition under the previous CBA?Lost time in training campNo one liked the old-school training camps. They were?hell. Two-a-days. Padded practices. The heat. The headaches. The soreness that didnt leave all camp.?But it was the most necessary evil in the game. You couldnt?win without it. And its vital to your conditioning as a player.In terms of the limitations of organized team activities and minicamps, the coaches can get after it in August. This is when they can teach more on the field, work double-time with rookies and the film study can carry on. Business as usual. Real football. And pads. Competition. True one-on-ones. The building blocks every player needs. Teach, teach, teach. And then make corrections.But training camp has drastically changed under the new CBA. Gone are the two-a-day sessions, the constant hitting and the grind of a four- or five-week camp. With only one practice a day (along with walk-throughs?and special teams practices), players get much more recovery time. And everyone should see that as a positive when discussing player safety and the longevity of careers.But its also another example of time lost on the field given the actual number of padded practices players have in todays game.I didnt like two-a-days, but they made me a better football player, a veteran NFL player told me recently. You can never have enough reps.Im a strong believer in that statement, despite the NFLs PR stance on player safety. Yes, two-a-days were physical, but I also saw that as a path to better technique with more reps to mold players. And better technique leads to safer tackling, safer football from my perspective when talking about the core fundamentals of this game. But to clean those up, to fine-tune your craft as a player, youve got to be on the field in competitive situations. And those situations, or reps, have been reduced under the current CBA.Where does that leave the NFL? At a standstill. The CBA isnt going to change tomorrow and camp will roll on this season as expected before Week 1 kicks off in September. This is the game we have now.The bad part is that you dont have enough time, the coach told me about player development in todays NFL. The good part? Everyone has the same rules. Craig Kimbrel Jersey . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Rich Gedman Red Sox Jersey . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. https://www.cheapredsox.com/511z-john-smoltz-jersey-red-sox.html . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Jim Rice Red Sox Jersey . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Christian Vazquez Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Friday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- CHICAGO -- There is much joy in Wrigleyville -- the mighty Cubs have struck it rich. Tens of thousands of fans honor the World Series champs at a parade featuring stops at Wrigley Field, Michigan Avenue and Grant Park.- PARIS -- Dozens of Olympic medals drug cheats won in Beijing and in London are finding their way to rightful owners thanks to advances in the science of drug testing.- ARCADIA, Calif. -- Undefeated Songbird and fellow champions Beholder and Stellar Wind highlight the field for the $2 million Distaff, one of four races on opening day of the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita. Distaff post 7:35 p.m.- Separate stories on two key college football games Saturday: No. 1 Alabama at No. 15 LSU and No. 9 Nebraska at No. 6 Ohio State.- In Friday nights only Top 25 game, No. 24 Boise State is at home and looking to rebound from a loss when the Broncos play San Jose State. Game starts 10:15 p.m.- CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah play in Chicago for the first time since the ex-Bulls joined the Knicks in the offseason. New York is off to a 1/3 start; Chicago is 3-1. Game starts 8 p.m.- FORT WORTH, Texas -- Jimmie Johnson is already set for his shot at a record-tying seventh Sprint Cup title this month at Homestead. For now, there is a drive for five at Texas, where he has won the last four fall races.- FRISCO, Texas -- Jason Wittens leadership became clear when he was the catalyst for a moving tribute to Dallas ppolice.ddddddddddddHis voice is stronger than ever in what is turning into a special season for the Cowboys tight end.- RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks offense is broken, with just one touchdown in the past nine quarters. Fixing the problem begins with fixing the run game.- CHICAGO -- Marian Hossa has found his legs again. The physical, 37-year-old winger is off to a solid start for the Chicago Blackhawks, showing the form that made him one of the leagues best two-way players.- Eric Paschall at defending champion Villanova and Floridas Canyon Barry, the son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, are among the notable transfer players in college basketball this season.- PARIS -- John Isner beats Jack Sock in a match between Americans to reach the Paris Masters semifinals. In other quarterfinals, its Novak Djokovic vs. Marin Cilic and Andy Murray vs. Tomas Berdych.- LONDON -- Manchester United expected Jose Mourinho to provide a quick fix for this once powerhouse team. But those prospects are looking out of reach with five losses in the managers opening 16 games.- BEIJING -- China coaxed Marcello Lippi out of retirement last month in hopes of transforming the dismal national team into a World Cup contender. But the size of his contract has left fans cynical and angry.- LAS VEGAS -- Rod Pampling, one shot shy of 59 in the first round, leads by two strokes entering the second round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. ' ' '