It's finally football season! Not going to lie, I was pretty nervous that this season wouldn't happen, especially since the NFL opted to not have a bubble like the NHL and NBA. Only time will tell if that was a good decision, but hey, we have football!
Week 1 kicked off last Thursday with the defending 2020 Superbowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Houston Texans. This game was entertaining, high-scoring, and overall a great way to kick off the season! However, that same energy did not carry over into the rest of the games on Sunday. I'm not sure why fans and some broadcasters were expecting the teams to be ready to go. The league was missing it's two main events that help the players find their way back to football form.
No Preseason
Did everyone forget that teams normally play four preseason games in August? Sure, the starters don't play all four games nor do they play even half of the time in these games, but preseason still gives players the opportunity to flush out the kinks and get their timing back. Preseason is especially important for rookies, athletes fighting for a starting job, and new additions to the team. Did Bucs fans think Tom Brady was going to have immediate chemistry with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans? If you watched America's Game of the Week, then you know that's not true. Did Steelers fans think Ben Roethlisberger was going to be slinging the ball 30-40 yards to Smith-Schuster in week 1? Of course not! I understand that they "aired" the ball out in practice, but that's with hardly any pressure. Is TJ Watt going to run full speed at his own QB? Of course not! Preseason is crucial to teams before opening weekend.
2. Condensed training camp and OTAs
OTAs are often overlooked by most athletes who have been in the league for three to four years, but they're still important for rookies and new additions. For example, they help whip the athletes in shape or at least get them thinking about eating healthier and hitting the weight room. Training camp helps those who skipped OTAs get into shape and allows players to try out new moves or positioning. The bottom line is OTAs and training camp make the players get in shape.
Without preseason, a normal training camp, and OTAs, we saw several pulled hamstrings and groins along with wide receivers and quarterbacks not on the same page. Don't worry though, the season can only get better from here. I expect the players to be in football shape and back to their old ways by week 4. In the famous words of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, "R-E-L-A-X. Relax".
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