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- - 2023 Saints OTA Thread (https://blackandgold.com/saints/102870-2023-saints-ota-thread.html)

Re: 2023 Saints OTA Thread

80 of 89 players are there for OTA’s. Voluntarily practices.

Very encouraging to hear 👍.

IMO w/DCarr under center, the spotlight in 2023
could be our TE group.

Getting JJ & Moreau more involved will be a plus.

Re: 2023 Saints OTA Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974525)

Did you miss where I said “ nobody is advocating for injured players to participate.”?

It sounds like you are arguing just to argue. I agree that we want to avoid injuries. I agree that no players with health questions should participate.

But we have a new QB throwing to (mostly) new receivers for him. Just like pitchers throw to catchers early in spring training, QBs and receivers work on their timing running pass routes. If you think Carr is not gaining experience, throwing to Olave, Thomas, Johnson, Hill etc by participating in these drills then fine. I disagree. I think they are learning basic trends about how they work best together.

I am arguing that nothing is more important than remaining healthy. You simply do not want to recognize that any day that a player is out on the field is another chance for that player to be injured.

Just to be short, I'm going to be damn mad if any of our starters get injured during OTAs or mini-camp as even a single injury blows up any supposed progress made from practice.

SFIAH

Re: 2023 Saints OTA Thread

This is something we've really been missing.

Re: 2023 Saints OTA Thread

I guess :rolleyes: ... today's league is getting to be so soft.

NFL approves putting ball on 25-yard-line following fair catches on kickoffs

Re: 2023 Saints OTA Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaintFanInATLHELL (Post 974536)

So let’s just skip OTAs, training camps, and all preseason and just roll 46 guys out there week one who have never practiced together. What could go wrong? 🙄.

And prepare to be mad cause someone is gonna get hurt. It’s part of the game. So is practicing together and doing reps to form a cohesive team.

Re: 2023 Saints OTA Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmashMouth (Post 974546)

https://youtu.be/0njIHwN2R0g

Look at Rich stirring the pot between Ruiz and Olave! He’s a nut.

Re: 2023 Saints OTA Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boston Saint (Post 974541)

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