If those reps are so valuable then why do we pull our starters? Just think of how much better they would be if they went a full 4 quarters for all 4 preseason games.

Obviously you err on the side of caution, but are we getting to the point where we advocate for even shorter preseasons/TCs, or non contact preseason games?

Raji, Bulaga, Jordy, and Cobb were all hurt over the past few years on relatively routine and even non-contact plays.

If you want to see a true reduction in injuries, then wave the white flag and don't play the game at all.

Nor can you acclimate your body to collisions. It's to the point now where we've got ligaments snapping without even being contacted in collisions. Just from semi-stressful use.

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Exactly, I've heard it described as "hitting shape" before.

I'm not saying that 20 reps in a pre season game are what propel Cobb and Davante to greatness. However, the aversion to 20 reps are the slippery slope that we're already on with limitations in TC from the new CBA, this "meaningless game" wave (thanks 🇦🇷 ) , player safety emphasis, etc.

Some is good. Chip Kelly in particular has caught on to the benefits of hydration. Concussion protocols are clearly necessary. MM made a big change in his strength, conditioning, and nutrition (including snack breaks) approach last year and it appeared to pay off last year. However, riding on those coattails seems to be this aversion to exposing players to anything that may hurt them, and I don't see that as a positive.

It's not just about being safe though it's about not risking losing another vital playmaker before week 1. If everyone was healthy I bet everyone plays but with Jordy out there is really no wiggle room in our WR corps or on offense in general to have someone else vital go down and with 3 starting OL out the risk to Rodgers doesn't outweigh the reward of playing him a few plays with back ups against a starting defense.

As always, Steve, the absolute voice of reason! A great point is made: if we're 1-2 [or worse], not playing in preseason 3 might not be our biggest problem. And agree that live reps help a team get ready; but a team can get 95% of the way ready through only practice. But Nerd and Musccy hit the nail on head: PS is about getting into “hitting shape.”

I don’t believe injury is all about Luck. Walter Payton running like he did sans injury was not luck, it was instinct and practice. Though players are born with various amounts of innate instinct [peripheral visions, sensing when and where a hit is coming from, etc] this instinct can be honed through practice. A CB covers a certain way by learning where the help is; a player can also learn where the injury danger is likely to come from and what to do to reduce the odds of it; like when being tackled without PLANTING or BRACING; being aware around ‘the pile;” not doing unnatural things, etc.

Nelson’s injury had nothing to do with Pitts. He leaped to grab a high throw and upon landing tried to cut in a way that knees are not designed to bend. He could have just as easily done that in practice or dodging a wayward low flying Amazon delivery drone while visiting his mailbox.

Cobb’s injury was caused by him bracing. He stuck his right arm out to break his fall and all the kinetic energy of the hit went into his shoulder instead of dissipating in a slide-bounce off the ground. This is what happens when you don’t practice or prepare for being hit! Was Cobb sticking his arm out a reaction to trying not to hit the ground as hard so as not to get hurt? I think normally Cobb is focused on one thing: catching the 1st down! He goes to ground cradling the ball w/ both hands in a fetal position, if he does this HE IS NOT INJURED.

3 guys go down like flies in five minutes is no coincidence! The play I describe w/ CM3 just standing there, probably thinking, “I might get injured if I crash the B gap” is the perfect recipe to get injured, because it is unnatural. On the next series CM3 played with more abandon, probably because he was pissed the D looked like a bunch of guys from the debate team.

We all know the new CBA rules limit hitting and that practice hitting is much less fierce than game hitting; but if we go from playing patty-cake in practice to savage beatings by Bears, Seattle and KC, 3 physical teams, we will probably be decimated by injury anyways.

And I 100% agree exposing AR to live fire behind an OL w/ 3 backups and little cohesion is begging for him to get killed. But, I think the happy median is to let him play 12-15 snaps, using max protect schemes, roll outs and/or quick rhythm/timing passing.

And also I believe and GB staff decided [knowing their players best], after great contemplation and in a quiet moment, that the key to a faster start and reducing injury by gradually acclimating players to real hitting was to play the starters 5 to 6 quarters over 4 games. The decision to abandon this plan constitutes a decision by the staff to increase the odds of injury and losing a game or two early. All because Jordy got hurt on a fluke play. Surrender is not how a football team should deal with adversity.

I really can't add much to what you wrote, Barfarn, other than that I chuckled with the Amazon drone comment.