Good question on the Preseason...
IMO, early in the preseason, I think the younger players need to be focused upon even more with the cut of a live practice.. in building the roster you have to be able to anticipate which bottom of the roster guys are going to help the most and which should be developmental keepers.
With one less practice a day, you have less of an opportunity to see them in action. With the starters and proven depth, I think you can be a little more lax early.
BTW.. if I am a young player.. it is balls out every whistle to whistle if you dreams of making it from the later rounds of the draft and the UDFA route.
Towards the 3rd game.. I think you start running the starters and depth a little more.
Personally.. I don't know how the NFL eliminates Preseason games with the current model of camps.
IMO, the NFL would be better served creating a development league of sorts domestically that teams can commit a number of players from a development roster.. giving teams and marginal talent more of a look and time to grab ahold of a roster spot.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"