Offseason Workouts are will be starting up around the NFL soon. A couple of the teams with new head coaches have already started. I have a big problem and a lesser problem with those workouts.
The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA did some good things. For one, it put an end to that mind-numbing lockout. For another, it got the runaway rookie contracts under control. Where the CBA failed can be seen every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Saturday, or any other day that the league sees fit to stage a football game. The quality of football played in the NFL has declined in recent years. The reason for that can be found in some concessions made to the players during the 2011 labor negotiations. The players wanted softer workouts in the offseason and easier practices during training camp and the season. They sure got 'em and the games have suffered for it. Today, a high-speed high school football team probably works harder year-round than your typical NFL team. It's really sad.
Blocking and tackling have been the basis of football since the game emerged from an unhinged soccer game. The CBA has damn near made blocking and tackling an afterthought. Teams aren't allowed to do either throughout the offseason workouts, the early days of training camp, and most of the practices during the season. If the players aren't allowed to practice basic fundamentals how are they expected to play at a respectable level during games? The ban on blocking during practices has resulted in offensive line play being a shell of it's old self. This should be particularly worrisome to the suits at 345 Park Avenue and all of the owners as a shaky offensive line greatly jeopardizes the continued availability of their precious quarterbacks. Blocking isn't the only skill that's fading due to a lack of practice time. Tackling has taken a hit. So has secondary play. Young cornerbacks have a tough task adjusting to the NFL in a perfect world. In the present "no contact" world of the NFL they are prevented from practicing the basic press techniques in the offseason that they'll need to cover receivers in the regular season. They are forced to catch up on basic techniques during training camp. Unless the goal is to eventually turn the NFL into a 7-on-7, two-hand touch, passing league it might be best to get the football basics back in the practices. The softness that the CBA has brought to the NFL isn't on the suits. It's actually the players that pushed for it in the negotiations. And that's just sad. The suits just went along with it because it was a bargaining chip for them. Owners probably don't care much about practices. The only group that cares about practices are the coaches. The group that has no say in CBA negotiations. Everyone with an interest in football should care about practices. The games are a reflection of what's done in practice.
The other thing that's bothered me about the offseason workouts concerns the rules for teams with new head coaches. These teams are allowed to start their offseason early and they get an extra voluntary veteran mini-camp. That's great but the league has a sketchy definition of what constitutes a new head coach. If the team's new head coach was hired from within the organization the league doesn't recognize him as being "new." They don't get to start early and they don't get to hold an extra mini-camp. That's ridiculous. The "new" head coach might be more familiar with his players than the other newbies are with their players but he's still new. His system, his schedules, his plans, his coaching staff, everything about the direction of the team is new. They should be handed the same considerations as the other new head coaches.
The NFL and especially it's players need to get back to the basics.
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