This has been posted a lot and I just wanted to unpack this, as someone who has interned within a real life “NFL Model” with the AZ Cardinals.
I will discuss it on the next podcast but I’m giving you the guys the goods first.
1. First off, it means relatively disregarding the concept of long term development for players. That doesn’t necessarily mean that S&C Programs won’t develop youngsters and their athleticism but we have to get rid of this concept of a guy staying within a program to see long term gains and then be a contributor his 3rd or 4th year. This may mean hurrying a little quicker to put weight on a guy, processing a youngster who doesn’t adapt as quickly, or putting a more narrow focus on some guy’s athletic attributes.
When you develop a guy long-term, you might place your focus on them getting strong that first year and slowly putting on the weight because they aren’t contributing. Now, that guy may need to play to keep him at OU, therefore the training can’t be as rigorous in-season.
2. Recovery is made even more of a priority. This likely means implementing more modalities to help guys have their bodies right out of season and in season. Also may mean a slight tapering back to appease the masses on the team and incoming portal players.
3. Individualized Training with players bringing in their own trainers. This is very common in the NFL, and even in college as I have players I work with exclusively who are still within their respective programs. Players are more likely to have outside help, coaching, assistance to achieve their goals and the program doesn’t look at it as an overall negative. It just is what it is. This means a little less of the “Team Building” type concept and more of a “every man for himself” type situation.
Don’t get me wrong, there will still be crazy sprints, heavy lifts, rigorous nutrition but the freedom to have outside help, have things be a bit more “voluntary” and allow players to take their own trajectory for success versus relying on the program is going to be the way of the future and this CFB Free Agency.
4. Players using outside doctors, more second opinions. Especially with the money changing hands and something I didn’t consider with the Nic Anderson situation as they may have told him to use his own damn money to get his work done since he already was. That they weren’t going to cover something he was already getting outside help to assist with anyway.
I’ll answer more questions as they come but this is my two cents of what you can likely see.
I will discuss it on the next podcast but I’m giving you the guys the goods first.
1. First off, it means relatively disregarding the concept of long term development for players. That doesn’t necessarily mean that S&C Programs won’t develop youngsters and their athleticism but we have to get rid of this concept of a guy staying within a program to see long term gains and then be a contributor his 3rd or 4th year. This may mean hurrying a little quicker to put weight on a guy, processing a youngster who doesn’t adapt as quickly, or putting a more narrow focus on some guy’s athletic attributes.
When you develop a guy long-term, you might place your focus on them getting strong that first year and slowly putting on the weight because they aren’t contributing. Now, that guy may need to play to keep him at OU, therefore the training can’t be as rigorous in-season.
2. Recovery is made even more of a priority. This likely means implementing more modalities to help guys have their bodies right out of season and in season. Also may mean a slight tapering back to appease the masses on the team and incoming portal players.
3. Individualized Training with players bringing in their own trainers. This is very common in the NFL, and even in college as I have players I work with exclusively who are still within their respective programs. Players are more likely to have outside help, coaching, assistance to achieve their goals and the program doesn’t look at it as an overall negative. It just is what it is. This means a little less of the “Team Building” type concept and more of a “every man for himself” type situation.
Don’t get me wrong, there will still be crazy sprints, heavy lifts, rigorous nutrition but the freedom to have outside help, have things be a bit more “voluntary” and allow players to take their own trajectory for success versus relying on the program is going to be the way of the future and this CFB Free Agency.
4. Players using outside doctors, more second opinions. Especially with the money changing hands and something I didn’t consider with the Nic Anderson situation as they may have told him to use his own damn money to get his work done since he already was. That they weren’t going to cover something he was already getting outside help to assist with anyway.
I’ll answer more questions as they come but this is my two cents of what you can likely see.
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