RugbyMuffin
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Russ Smith said:Point 2, yes being in shape helps prevent injuries, but hitting and practicing in pads DOES lead to more injuries, that's why there's a constant give and take in the NFL among coaches over how much to do it. There's a constant cycle one team wins with little contact in practice and everyone jumps on the bandwagon, then when they lose, they increase the contact hoping that will fix the problem.
Well, from MY EXPERIENCE, which does not mean I am 100% correct, hitting in practice leads to a better physicall game by your players. AND it does help prevent injury. But my sport was rugby and it is 2 different things. I played football but not in college or the NFL, so maybe things are different.
Yet, I have seen the difference. The teams I did play rugby on hit ever Wed. and it was full out contact. Did guys get injured? Yep. 1 or 2 the whole year. But NOBODY got injured during games, and furthermore were able to take a heck of a lot more punnishment on the field.
During my last year, and the years following we stopped hitting at practice. The only result were less injuries in practice, zero, and 5 to 10 injuries per year on the game field. And furthermore our team became weak and prone to shy away from contact.
You hit now and take the pain now, you will embrace the contact later, and stil healthy.
Again this is just from my personal experience.
BTW - both sides makes good points. I just think for a team with a "dominating beast of a OL" we should get a flame in the butt to start smashing people.
Peace