Had the afternoon and evening off from practice and meetings. Well deserved break for the troops. They have been going strong for a week or so and really have been working hard.
But yesterday’s practice….well it wasn’t great. After watching the practice video – as coaches we saw that the effort was lacking from several players. That is unacceptable when you use a pro football filter.
Some of the guys didn’t practice as hard as they could have. But, often with younger guys you have to get on them at times. Consistency is one of the most important things that players have to learn. It is especially important for young players aspiring to be professional athletes.
Many players can flash in practice at times. But it really is the guy who works hard consistently – practice after practice – day in and day out. Those are the guys who are really professionals.
One of our challenges as coaches with these young guys in particular is to teach them how to become professionals. Anyone can be a football player. But a professional football player is a whole different animal.
Certainly talent is the most important component in finding an NFL caliber player. But, that is not the only thing necessary. The majority of the players in the NFL are truly “professionals.” They understand how to practice, how to approach meeting time, off season conditioning. Also they know how to behave in public, carry themselves thru interviews etc. In other words they are always on top of their game no matter what phase they are in.
Many of the players we have with us have the ability to get into the NFL as a “camp” player. But the difference between a “camp” player and someone who actually makes a team is big. Often it is not just talent.
Players like we have right now understand that the NFL (like all professional sports) is about talent. But, what is the thing that separates the guys who make the last roster spots….and those who are released?
Often it comes down to assessing the attitude of those last players. How they will be as a teammate? Can they master the playbook – which may seem easy to most – but trust me with all of the adjustments it is hard.
Other things like how they interact in the locker room and with the coaches. These things seem minor, but when you are filling the final spots on the team – you cannot have a problem child.
Our job as coaches – with these guys – is to help raise their awareness of the little things that can propel them to finding that little extra….that polish they need. Like we have told our “troops” there is a reason that they are in the YCF camp and not on a roster.
On the field we need to drill the fundamentals over and over. Little things like how to drop into coverage properly, learning how to get off the ball in pass rush. Quarterbacks learn the nuances of reading coverages….receivers escaping the line of scrimmage.
Many things need to be “shined” up and dusted off. But, many times teaching a player just how to “behave” around his teammates will allow an NFL talent scout to put one of our players on his list.
So it is important that we clean up the little things and perhaps teach them to grow up as young men when they are off the field. It is an interesting task we have, but one that is well worthwhile.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that we are in Vero Beach, Florida instead of places like Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan where we are having some spring snows!