Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL (Post 974553)

If you haven't noticed, that's pretty much what a lot of the league is doing. Many teams around the league are only having structured practices during training camp, sitting starters for preseason games, of which there is now even one less than before and only rolling folks out Week 1. Did you notice that teams will carry 90 until the final cut this year. There's a reason for that.

You and I have a fundamental disagreement. You believe that teams get better by practicing. I believe that teams do better when they remain healthy during the season. 17 games + playoffs is a long haul in a season for players. They don't get any favors extending that 3 months more just to practice. That's just 3 months more wear and tear before the season actually starts.

I'm not sure why you cannot see that all the practice in the world isn't going to matter if key players are sitting on the sideline injured during the season. Now if a player gets injured during the season, well thems the breaks. But risking injury going full go in minicamp, or training camp, or preseason games, when absolutely nothing counts is borderline insane, especially for veteran starters that the team is absolutely going to need when the games start to matter.

I worry most about the skill players. While QBs are pretty much playing pitch and catch, backs, receivers, and DBs, even in shorts, have a significant risk of a setback.

I'm not sure why you think these professional grown men who have been playing this game full time since they were kids somehow forget how to run a route, catch a ball, or defend a receiver? There's going to be plenty of time in training camp to get acclimated to the speed of the game and get the timing down.

I now understand why the players union fought so hard to make the OTAs voluntary. Without those protections, there are some who would expect everyone to come out in May and grind like it's playoff time in January.

You can keep your practices in May. I'd rather have healthy players ready to play during the season.

SFIAH

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido (Post 974557)

It takes two to tango.

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974564)

Yet another thing you are wrong about…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qywqjm...FuY2luZyBzb2xv

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974564)

Yet another thing you are wrong about…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qywqjm...FuY2luZyBzb2xv

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido (Post 974567)

Nice dancing. But without a partner it is not a tango. It is half a tango.

"an energetic dance from South America for two people"

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974573)

Haters gonna hate.

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido (Post 974574)

You tango well.

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974576)

It’s a product of my openminded, humble nature.

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974555)

Oh look! Here is an article about Mahomes participating in OTA’s

https://theathletic.com/4550260/2023...mahomes/?amp=1

I guess the current SB champs are making a big mistake! I’m pretty sure every other NFL tteam is having them now too, so no… teams aren’t skipping them out of health concerns.

Obviously staying healthy is needed. But guys get hurt lifting weights. They get hurt at home doing daily activities too. Should they bubble wrap themselves until the first game of the season? The idea that teams DON’t get better by practicing is nonsense and you know it even if you won’t admit it. I guess all the extra work Brees put in had nothing to do with his success, huh? Again, you are arguing just to argue now.

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL (Post 974583)

TW: THIS IS NOT THE SAINTS MT13!

Yet another example of exactly what I've been talking about:

Ravens WR Mike Thomas separates shoulder



https://www.gjsentinel.com/sports/na...64d2c8526.html

But I'm sure that his being out there for practice was really, really important.

SFIAH

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL (Post 974583)

TW: THIS IS NOT THE SAINTS MT13!

Yet another example of exactly what I've been talking about:

Ravens WR Mike Thomas separates shoulder



https://www.gjsentinel.com/sports/na...64d2c8526.html

But I'm sure that his being out there for practice was really, really important.

SFIAH

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974584)

If it wasn’t worthwhile they wouldn’t be doing it. Now, rather than they lose him in game 1 of the season, they have time to work around his injury.

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974584)

If it wasn’t worthwhile they wouldn’t be doing it. Now, rather than they lose him in game 1 of the season, they have time to work around his injury.

Originally Posted by SmashMouth (Post 974619)

Originally Posted by K Major (Post 974634)

That's a good listen.

Initial takeaways here :

- DCarr likes to practice "sleeveless". Must be a Cali thing :p
- Moreau's quality of LIFE is GOOD & he's feeling good
- LBs appear smallish (excluding DD) & depth is thin & inexperienced
- Rashid appears to have added a little "bulk" & also changed numbers
- Cam J still loves the game (put up the banner when he's done)
- AT Perry has a lot of work to do if he wants to make the team
- Adebo isn't a "lock" at CB2 (Taylor is hungry & has swag)
- WR spot #4-6 must make a lasting impression on special teams/gunner to get a roster spot

Can't wait for camp :bng:

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 (Post 974647)

LB worries me.
WR still feels incomplete. Maybe MT is the answer.
D Line - so many new faces expected to fill significant minutes
O Line - health is key (again)
Love our secondary this year
Biggest concern is the sheer volume of changes from players to coaches...it's been a lot for one offseason and shouldn't be discounted as a major factor.

Originally Posted by leilung (Post 974648)

Agree with all of this 100%.
Why do I feel a little antsy about LB more than anything else on D?

Originally Posted by rezburna (Post 974683)

Wide Receiver seems like a deep position for us. Much deeper than prior years.

Michael Thomas
Chris Olave
Rashid Shaheed
Bryan Edwards
James Washington
A.T. Perry
Tre’Quan Smith

That’s good depth. Not to mention Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau. I don’t have many concerns there.

Originally Posted by SmashMouth (Post 974685)

Sprinkle in the new kid, Malik Flowers ... the SC St UDFA WR who will make the practice squad.

Not ao sure 3Q makes the cut... we'll see.

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974690)

I mentioned any more FA money the team spends might be better used at other positions. However, the more I think about it I’ll say that:

IF everyone stays healthy (I Doubt)

and

IF the deal is short and affordable (anti-Bako prediction and also Unlikely)

Then having a skill position team of:

Thomas, Hopkins, Olave, Shaheed and Edwards at WR along with

Johnson, Hill, Foster, Krull at TE and

Willams, Miller , and Kamara at RB

IS pretty good and places us among top 5 in league IMO. That’s a lot of pieces to defend.