Considering Preseason Football

Some people seem to make a big deal about preseason football records.  Some people are concerned about the Patriots’ record in the preseason. The purpose of preseason games is not to win games (sorry Herm Edwards).  So why, besides making money, do they play those games that don’t count.

Exposure to the speed of the game.  Practice is important, but it is not the same as playing the game.  Players need to get used to the rhythm of the game.  You build endurance as well.  Deion Branch doesn’t need to catch passes in preseason.  It is Ochocinco that needs experience in the system.  He needs to be targeted.  Practice only gets you so far- you have to be able to execute the new system in game speed.  This is where Ochocinco is struggling, but hopefully he’ll get it down soon.

Work on situational football.  You tinker with what you do in situational football- red zone plays, 2 minute offense, special teams.  You want to get most of the kinks out before the games matter.  That’s why a guy like Woodhead or Welker would be out there risking injury late in a game.

Both of these mean there often isn’t a game plan to preseason games.  I was listening to a recent interview, I can remember who was talking, that mentioned Frank Reich.  It was amusing because a few days earlier I had used his record playoff comeback as a sermon illustration.  The former player commented that Reich was horrible in preseason because there was no game plan.  But the coaches weren’t evaluating Frank, they were just getting him used to the speed and rhythm of the game.  This brings us up to the another reason for preseason football.

With kick returns a thing of the past, so is Tate

They evaluate players to determine cuts and practice squads.  They are looking for basic skills and techniques as well as how one fits into the overall system the team. Bubble guys like Price and Tate need to be targeted, not Branch.  They need to be observed in the speed and rhythm of the game.  Price showed enough to stick with the Patriots as a receiver.  With the kick return game a thing of the past with the new rules, Tate did not show enough as a receiver to stick with the team.

This was an interesting year for the Patriots since they are changing their defense.  There are some young vets who were on the bubble because of this shift.  A guy like Darius Butler or Meriweather doesn’t fit in the shift of the new responsibilities.  They needed to defend the ball instead of make picks.  The Patriots are going to put more pressure on the ball and they don’t want to give up the big play.  If the are passer ratings are too high, those defenders will be gone.  Actually, they are gone.

They also showcase players at times.  A team may decide a player doesn’t really fit with them.  They can cut him early so he can catch on with another team.  Or they can think he’s valuable enough to warrant a trade.  They may then showcase a player in the hopes of a trade.  This can be a 2-edged sword.  You might get a trade for a pick.  But you may also have set their value too high and end up having to cut the guy late so he doesn’t have time to learn a new system.  It is a tough call, and every team misjudges that one.  The Patriots probably thought they could trade a few guys and didn’t get offers they liked.  It happens.