Offseason Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are a crucial component of NFL teams’ preparations for the upcoming season. While some teams may take a more relaxed approach, others prioritize the opportunity to build team chemistry and set the tone for training camp. Regardless of a team’s approach, there is much to be gained from the practice coaching and organizing, intensity development, reality checks, memory refreshers, and two-way learning.
One of the primary benefits of OTAs is the opportunity for new coaching and scouting staffs to get out on the field and communicate directly with players and football operations staff. Organizing drills, blending coaching styles, and working together and communicating in real-time while following a practice schedule are all crucial elements of building team chemistry.
Intensity can vary from team to team, and while common sense must prevail, it is essential to take into account new findings in sports science research. While some teams may opt for a more leisurely approach, others may engage in intense physical competition to reflect their team’s culture and leadership style.
OTAs also provide an opportunity for newly drafted and signed players to get into physical shape and compete and be evaluated. For many incoming rookies, the physical and mental standards, competition, and speed of the NFL are drastically different from what they are used to, and OTAs can remove any doubt as to what will be expected of them.
As part of this process, coaching and scouting staffs can use OTAs to evaluate, value, and tweak the roster based on what they see during this time. The installation of schemes on both sides of the ball is also a given for an offseason of minicamps and OTAs. Many staffs elect to complete a full install of systems so that when players come back for training camp, it’s just about recall.
Attendance at offseason programs has always indicated a team’s willingness to bond, grow, and establish relationships, which can be as important as the football stuff. For older veterans, it’s not about what they are learning but what they can pass on to the younger guys. Incentivizing players financially to attend is a good investment because it ensures time spent together.
In conclusion, offseason OTAs are a crucial component of NFL teams’ preparations for the upcoming season. They provide an opportunity for new coaching and scouting staffs to get out on the field and communicate directly with players and football operations staff. They also allow teams to establish building blocks for the team and a vision for the upcoming season and reinforce the notion that it’s not always the most talented teams that win but those that come together and rise above their talent levels. Attendance at these offseason programs indicates a team’s willingness to bond, grow, and establish relationships, which can be as important as the football stuff.
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News Source : Randy Mueller
Source Link :Why NFL teams have OTAs and how they can get the most out of them/