I dont think preseason games are useless at all to vets. It helps get into a rhythm on offense. Effective offenses rely on timing and rhythm. More often then not, offenses take time to get rolling.
Originally Posted by: bboystyle
I can see how this would be a valid thought. I'm just not sure teams are really deploying much in the preseason though so that timing might be frivolous. Especially considering the quality of opponent. It might work in preseason against those bottom fringe guys, but when scouted against and vs players of higher caliber? 🤷♂️
By your logic, traing camp should be useless to a vet as well.
Originally Posted by: bboystyle
By my logic? What part of "What veteran players and a lot of coaches have said is practice reps are the most important." did you not understand?
Anyhow, the explanation I've heard/read about preseason being without much purpose is that no game planning nor scheming nor doing anything other than basic vanilla offense and defense. Hence, why practice holds more value because you're actually working on timing, schemes, etc. That being said, nearly everyone says it is nice to hit someone else for a change. A former player (AQ Shipley maybe?) on the Pat McAfee show also said that fringe players like the competitiveness and definitely want to win those games.
Matt LaFleur said one thing he likes about preseason is seeing how the young guys react when the "lights are on" and in front of a big crowd. Again, that is more towards those young guys, not the veterans.