OT:Dolphins unveiling radical idea for rookie minicamp

[Southpaw]

No on field drills or practice.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2016/05/miami-dolphins-unveiling-a-radical-idea-for-rookie-minicamp.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nfl

The Miami Dolphins will have their eight draft picks and 10 undrafted free agents in town beginning Thursday, and rookie minicamp will go from Friday to Sunday. And the rookies will not touch the field at the team's training facility once during those three days.

No pads. No helmets.

No practice during minicamp.

Brilliant!

No, really. This is happening. And it is really smart. And radical.

Adam Gase has been planning for months as coach of the Dolphins -- and for over a year before he became an NFL head coach -- how he would handle something that seems so mundane to the rest of the world as a rookie minicamp. And he's got ideas. And he's implementing those this week.

Instead Dolphins rookies will spend all their time during this minicamp in classroom sessions learning how to be Miami Dolphins. That means they're going to get schooled on the schemes they're playing, their assignments, and everything football that involves the brain.

But they're also going to get a little polished up as people. They're going to get life labs to help them with nutrition, financial planning, sports science, and dealing with the media -- the last of which is a big part of their job believe it or not...

 

[Russ Smith]

Were they planning on doing this before they drafted Tunsil?

 

[Dback Jon]

Were they planning on doing this before they drafted Tunsil?

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Were they planning on doing this before they drafted Tunsil?

LOL

 

[ARZCardinals]

LOL!!! Sorry, but that's utterly stupid.

Get them on the field and PRACTICING plays they'll need to do at home when it's over. It's one thing to see a drill on the screen...and another to run it.

I'd pay to hear what BA thinks about the Cardinals possibly implementing this....(I can hear him losing his mind)

 

[Jim Otis]

During rookie minicamp , Tunsil will demonstrate how to properly fit an oxygen mask when you are exhausted on the sideline .

 

[conraddobler]

I think BA would completely lose his mind yes.

The collective bargaining agreement severely hamstrings the amount of practice time you get in the first place so BA's take on it which I believe is the correct take would be that you maximize the physical time you do get.

What would be genius is to compact the entire Dolphin rookie camp into a tutorial on an ipad and strongly urge them to watch this in their free time with possible tests later on any way to skirt the collective bargaining agreement and get max practice time would be the ideal.

Tell them no worries we just cut people who don't know how to study on their own and be done with it no need to feel pressure or anything

 

[splitsecond]

sounds like rookie camp for milennials

 

[oaken1]

I dunno...doesn't actually sound like a horrible idea... lots of youngsters have issues with the mental aspect of the game....you already know they are athletes. Teach them the scheme and expect them to learn it and know it by the time the next camp starts.

may cut down on rookies who are still making scheme mistakes in week three....

 

[Southpaw]

There will be plenty of time for them to beat on each other and cut back on trauma.

 

[Russ Smith]

the actual idea doesn't sound all that bad to me.

I do hope for their sake it doesn't become a Michael Beasley situation where he got kicked out of the NBA rookie Symposium because people at the hotel smelled marijuana smoke coming from under the door in his hotel room.

 

[NJCardFan]

In time the NFL is going to start looking like the NBA. Thanks to the CBA and this stupidity fundamentals are going to go the way of the Dodo and we're going to be stuck with crappy football where only the one's with top talent are going to succeed.

 

[AzStevenCal]

If the season was right around the corner it would be a horrible idea. But as it's nowhere close to game time, I think it makes a lot of sense.

 

[ARZCardinals]

Southpaw- There is NO physical touching during the rookie camps allowed. They can run drills and practice plays...there is no blocking, tackling or touching involved that could/would get anyone injured.
They SHOULD be on the field with coaches working on drills so that when they combine with the VETS they know what they are supposed to be doing...rather than a freshman asking everyone, "is this the right room...am I in the right place."

O love the idea mentioned of just doing it on the iPad. They could easily make an app with the info on it and build in a test to see if they've passed the test. The test could be multiple choice OR free write. That way they KNOW the individual did the items at home. Add to it the Rookie symposium is there for exactly what they are doing.

Looks to me as an overreaction based upon video and now the entire incoming rookie team is going to have to 'face the music' sort to speak. It's like in a class where one kid messes up and the teacher punishes everyone.

 

[cardncubfan]

I dunno...doesn't actually sound like a horrible idea... lots of youngsters have issues with the mental aspect of the game....you already know they are athletes. Teach them the scheme and expect them to learn it and know it by the time the next camp starts.

may cut down on rookies who are still making scheme mistakes in week three....

+1

 

[Big D]

I believe I recall BA talking about how because of the prevalance of the spread in college and high school he actually finds himself having to spend time teaching rookies how to huddle.

It's almost like they have to start with the very basics of the game nowadays and even unteach rookies things and habits now before they can really start to teach them the intricacies of the various pro offenses.

 

[JCSunsfan]

sounds like rookie camp for milennials

Don't put everything on social media. Not everyone is going to get a trophy. You won't get to play just because you are on the team. The coaches actually DO know more than you do. Do not buy a pet, (lion, panther, bear, etc). If you like pot more than football please leave now.

 

[ajcardfan]

I don't think it's a terrible idea. It's not like on field reps they would get strolling around in shorts right now would have any impact on their play this season. Most rookies are more prepared for the physical than the mental side of pro sports so I see the logic.

The one drawback is a rookie minicamp could be used to get them used to the routine and structure of how a coach wants to run practice. Before the vets get there, who may be used to the routine already.

 

[splitsecond]

Don't put everything on social media. Not everyone is going to get a trophy. You won't get to play just because you are on the team. The coaches actually DO know more than you do. Do not buy a pet, (lion, panther, bear, etc). If you like pot more than football please leave now.