LikeUntoGod
The Oracle
For years now we have been debating the need or/and importance of Preseason games.
Some see them as a waste of time and money and a meaningless game where a important player can be hurt.
I see them as the best way to make sure that the first "real" games are not sloppy. They are the best way to mesh rookies and new free agents and even new coaches into the team. This goes double when you have all new coaches and a new offense and defense. And lastly something that since the death of NFL Europe has gotten more important. And that is having a idea of what those fringe players can do. The undrafted free agents and 6th-7th round draft picks.
I looked into this last year and I found that the owners and coaches want to go from 53 to at least 55 and to enlarge the practice squad. Oddly enough the people in the way are the Players Union. They feel like the fewer players on a team the more money each one will make. And when a GM is trying to decide on releasing a older player for a untested young player who has promise he will tend to go with the older player. And the older player will make more money. Even to get to the practice squad a player has to clear waviers which means a young player can be picked up by someone else.
I think most Dolphin fans would agree that we really need every preseason game we can get this year. With rookies and new free agents everywhere learning a new offense and defense not having these four games could cost us 2-3 games during the start of the season.
Now granted last year's preseason was wasted by Cam Cameron. He only played two rookies, he did not play a number of veterans and we looked and played like crap. Look how he did not use Beck at all until mid season.
This year's use of preseason is just one of the 352 reasons that our new GM/Coaches are better. Henne is getting ready to start if called open playing most of the minutes. Look at our OL where we are starting 2 rookies, a 2nd year player and a free agent and how they have improved from the first game. Look at our defensive players who have to adjust to a 3-4 with a couple of important new rookies and a number of free agents moving into starting roles.
I hope that most Dolphin fans can agree that this preseason is needed and is important.
Some see them as a waste of time and money and a meaningless game where a important player can be hurt.
I see them as the best way to make sure that the first "real" games are not sloppy. They are the best way to mesh rookies and new free agents and even new coaches into the team. This goes double when you have all new coaches and a new offense and defense. And lastly something that since the death of NFL Europe has gotten more important. And that is having a idea of what those fringe players can do. The undrafted free agents and 6th-7th round draft picks.
I looked into this last year and I found that the owners and coaches want to go from 53 to at least 55 and to enlarge the practice squad. Oddly enough the people in the way are the Players Union. They feel like the fewer players on a team the more money each one will make. And when a GM is trying to decide on releasing a older player for a untested young player who has promise he will tend to go with the older player. And the older player will make more money. Even to get to the practice squad a player has to clear waviers which means a young player can be picked up by someone else.
I think most Dolphin fans would agree that we really need every preseason game we can get this year. With rookies and new free agents everywhere learning a new offense and defense not having these four games could cost us 2-3 games during the start of the season.
Now granted last year's preseason was wasted by Cam Cameron. He only played two rookies, he did not play a number of veterans and we looked and played like crap. Look how he did not use Beck at all until mid season.
This year's use of preseason is just one of the 352 reasons that our new GM/Coaches are better. Henne is getting ready to start if called open playing most of the minutes. Look at our OL where we are starting 2 rookies, a 2nd year player and a free agent and how they have improved from the first game. Look at our defensive players who have to adjust to a 3-4 with a couple of important new rookies and a number of free agents moving into starting roles.
I hope that most Dolphin fans can agree that this preseason is needed and is important.
