No Helmets Required

Once again there’s a familiar theme in Owings Mills.

Injuries.

Of the 7 receivers that I’m projecting to be among the Ravens final 53-man roster, four are hurt, namely Steve Smith, Sr., Breshad Perriman, Chris Moore and Michael Campanaro while another in the mix, Chris Matthews, is also sidelined. Of the 4 tight ends that I believe will be on the team come early September, three were not a practice today, namely Dennis Pitta, Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams.

I’ve seen frustrated fans vent on social media and on our message board about not only the players’ injuries, but also John Harbaugh’s approach to training camp. There is a certain sector of fans that believes Harbaugh is too hard on the Ravens and that is the culprit for the plethora of scrapes, bruises, aches and strains.

Let’s keep in mind that the new rendition of the collective bargaining agreement places limitations on all coaches in terms of physical contact, time on the field and even time dressed in fully padded equipment. Remember back in May when the Ravens were forced to forfeit a week of OTA’s and fined for having rookies in full armor for 5 minutes of a punt drill?

Might the Ravens get more out of their time on the field than other teams?

Perhaps, and maybe that’s where the rap against Harbaugh comes in. Maybe the Ravens have more efficiencies during their transitions in practice that makes it more strenuous overall. But does this really increase injuries for these finely tuned athletes?

Remember Camp Creampuff? I’d argue that Brian Billick’s practices were more physically taxing than Harbaugh’s. I’m sure that Harbaugh would love to have been governed by the CBA rules of the Billick years. But he’s not and the limitations remove any real possibility that Harbaugh is going tough-high-school-coach on his players and orchestrating Oklahoma drills.

Anyone out there in Owings Mills today could tell you just how lethargic practice was. I’ve seen walk-thru practices before. Today’s was a sleepwalk-thru, I suppose, to help them prepare for the real walk-thru tomorrow. Today not only did the team not wear pads, there wasn’t a football helmet within 300 yards.

Here are a few observations from today…

• Joe Flacco did not wear a knee brace and on a few occasions he was seen fixing his hair.
• Arthur Brown wore his spectacles and looked more like a librarian than a linebacker.
• Many players wore bucket hats.
• The person who probably burned the most calories was Governor Hogan who was in attendance today, walking around and shaking hands.
• The most strenuous activity took place when the offensive linemen were asked to practice fumble recoveries. The intensity was on par with a Dad cuddling a newborn baby.
• I doubt that showers were required following practice.
• The fans in attendance had to feel ripped off. It was akin to going to a Pearl Jam concert with the sound in mute.

If you buy that Billick’s training camp practices added up to Camp Creampuff, relatively speaking today was Tutu Tuesday.

The new CBA was intended to protect the players but you really have to wonder if it’s working. It seems as if the moment the intensity actual does rise to a mild day at Ted Marchibroda’s camp, players visits to the trainer’s room skyrocket.

Count me concerned about Thursday night.

When players are fighting for their careers without really being prepared for the violence that will ensue, more injuries will happen. Trainer’s just might force injured players to take a number like you do at the deli in order to be seen.

Someone really should order a study to see if days like Tutu Tuesday help or hurt these players in their preparation for a new NFL season.

What would Vince Lombardi think of the modern game?

Were they really serious about an 18-game regular season?