3 Things I Love about Training Camp

Now that the labor nonsense is finally behind us (barring any union bombshells prior to August 4th), we can finally get on with the 2011 NFL Season, starting with training camp.  I know for some this is still just another part of the offseason.  No games are being played.  However, I for one love training camp and the preseason, not because the games don't count, but because it's football.  It's overgrown men in pads and helmets beating on each other (although starting this year, they won't be doing it twice a day).  On a more serious note, I actually like watching practices because I for the most part understand what's going on.  I can follow along with a practice (7-on-7 drills, position work, etc.).  Here are 3 things I love most about training camp (and the preseason), in no particular order. 

1) You can't say that on TV! 

I'm sure coaches and players are aware that open practices usually have lots of kids seeking autographs.  I'm also sure that they don't really care.  They are trying to teach professional grown men to run a post pattern and down-block.  If they don't see what they like, they let the troops know...in no uncertain terms.  One of my favorites was Gregg Williams.  He had the foulest mouth of any coach I've ever watched.  On that particular day, practice started at 8:30, but you were late at 7:30.  He was working with defensive linemen on what looked like the 3-technique (it was on the far field so I wasn't totally sure).  Somebody did something he didn't like, and the profanities flowed out of his mouth like whitewater rapids.  You could see parents trying to distract their kids from the on-field festivities. 

2) Playing for pride

Do you know who Shaun Draughn is?  Neither do I.  He is just a random name I picked off of the Redskins' training camp roster with an "R" under the experience column.  He's a running back, by the way.  You know what though?  Shaun Draughn (as well as every other player in his position) has just as much of a shot to make the team as anybody else.  Yes, starters are pretty much set (it ought to be Ryan Torain at that position), but do you know who Timmy Smith was?  He was in the same position as Shaun Draughn, and all he did was rush for 237 yards in Super Bowl XXII.  He would've been MVP if it weren't for this guy. 

3) Hope springs eternal!


Photo courtesy of the Redskins Blog

Everybody is 0-0.  Everybody has the same exact shot of winning it all.  Nobody loses the Super Bowl in August.  Adam Schefter, Peter King, Dr. Z, Phil Florio, John Clayton, Chris Mortensen and whoever else you can think of can pick, posture, and predict all they want, but at the end of the day, nobody really knows what is going to happen.  A team picked to go 3-13 can end up going 13-3.  That's the nice thing about parity.  Everybody feels good at training camp, unless of course you're that poor sap at the bottom of the pile after a fumble...only to have to run laps around the field because you fumbled.  Then of course there's the Turk...AK knows who I'm talking about.  OK, I'm done...don't want to ruin this feel-good story.