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People need to back off a little on this front . . .
As a long-time reporter, one thing I know is that it’s never a good idea to give up access. That can become a slippery slope.
But I’m going to be blunt about this – I’m starting to think the media shouldn’t be allowed to watch OTA’s and mini-camps.
I now that coaches and GM’s would be on board with that.
Why do I say this?
Because I’m sick of tired of reporters ripping players for their performances in spring practices.
It’s SO unfair.
I saw a tweet today from Cleveland today, “Well that’s a new one. Johnny Manziel just fumbled two snaps. In a series of three.”
I’m not a special-pleader for Manziel, but think about it – he missed most of the off-season while in rehab for alcoholism, and the team is putting in a brand new offense, with a new coordinator – Manziel’s second offense in two years. Does it surprise you he struggled in a minicamp?
I saw this tweet today – “For #Jets fans worried about their QBs, check out Bills camp. As expected, Rex has some issues there.”
I’m not saying Buffalo has great quarterbacks, but the Bills have a new coaching staff and a new offense, and we are knocking their QB’s in mini-camp?
I’ve made this analogy before. Spring practices are like early dress rehearsals for Broadway shows. Is the New York Times going to review a show while they are in early dress rehearsals? No way. Early dress rehearsals are to get the kinks out, learn lines, develop chemistry with your co-stars and so forth.
I hate it. Hate it. That player are critiqued for what they are doing during this time which is about teaching, learning, conditioning and so forth. It’s not about style points.
I thought Darrelle Revis put it well recently.
“I think at this point, this is OTAs where everybody is trying to get the playbook down and trying to make sure we know everything and communicate and those types of things,” Revis said. “There’s team chemistry and camaraderie. This time is where we can gel even more and get ready for the season.”
Well put Darrelle.
Geno Smith struggled in the red zone at a recent practice and that got attention.
New offense, new coordinator, new #1 receiver who he’s never played with in Brandon Marshall. Give the guy a break.
It’s just so unfair to be critiquing guys now.
Training camp, that is a different story. First of all, they are in full pads more. Secondly, in August, they will be coming down the home stretch on roster decisions, so practice performances do matter.
But during a time that is so much about learning, forget the style points. Give them breathing room to get the kinks out.
Now if a quarterback is throwing every pass into the ground in the spring, and can’t hit the broadside of a barn practice after practice, you can probably glean something from that.
But in general, it’s pretty unfair to be ripping guys for stuff they do in the spring.
June 16, 2015
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