Audible: Your Thoughts on Rookie Minicamp
With some serious help from the beatwriters, I’ve thrown a good deal of information out there about the weekend’s minicamp, so now it’s your turn.
What are your thoughts when it comes to the players who were in Hempstead this weekend? Revis & Harris are likely locks to play early & often, but what does that mean to others at their position? How about the undrafted guys? Who do you think will stick with the team? Can you foresee any of them adding real value to the team in the next few years?
3 Responses to Audible: Your Thoughts on Rookie Minicamp
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niko1677 says:
The thing I hate most about NFL coaches and I guess this feeling really came to fruition with the way Herm ran things, is when coaches play certain veteran players because they feel that they have earned the right not because of their performance on the field. Meanwhile there is young talent sitting on the sideline at that same position and they don’t see the light of day. There are plenty of examples on this during Herm’s tenure but the Curtis Martin, Lamont Jordan example is the one that sticks out in my mind. Not that I don’t have the utmost respect for Curtis and what he did, but you knew that Lamont offered something that Curtis just couldn’t anymore.
The culture of competition that Mangini has created is how you avoid making poor coaching decision and how you avert having veterans get comfortable to the point where they don’t push themselves as hard. The success in having 2 starters from last year’s draft and several other contributors is how you get players to buy into the competition without bickering. I believe that if we are able to get 2 more starters from this year’s draft in Harris and Revis, then we are well on our way to building something beautiful. Not only are you developing a young talent base, but you are pushing the veterans to perform at higher levels as well.
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wayne says:
It is interesting to read about these undrafted players but bottom line is maybe one or two make the practice roster. While they are interesting stories they were not drafted for a reason.
The safety and the fullback and possibly one of the running backs have a shot to make the practice squad, the rest will be sent walking. None will contribute meaningfully this year.
I think Mangini summed it well when mentioned Leon Washington in last year’s minicamp, how he didn’t exactly light it up at first, but then progressed to the point where he was a significant contributor to the team by the end of the season. I guarantee that someone else at minicamp who we didn’t hear about because they either didn’t do so well or “flash,” will be a contributor, be it on offense, defense or special teams.
Three days of no-pads, no-contact practice does not a season make.