Sean Lee, OTAs and ACLs

Myt1

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So I don't know the full story behind how Lee was injured. I do know that there's not supposed to be any live contact or individual offense vs. defense drills during OTAs.

Putting that factual stuff aside for a moment, Lee is a talented veteran who was not in any danger of not making the roster and he's had injuries in the past. OTAs are optional.

I have a number of questions:

1. How useful do OTAs have to be to make it a rational decision for a guy like Lee to risk injury taking part in them?

2. What about less established players?

3. Whatever your answers to 1 and 2, are they that useful?

Anything else you want to talk about is fine, too. For example, I can see greater utility for veteran QBs and WRs who are new teammates getting as many reps as possible. I'm looking to get as much input as possible.
 

LondonSox

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I think given the new rules on practice etc in the season, OTAs are more important than ever.
 
For rookies and roster maybes the advantages are obviously large. For Vets it's important to show your effort to the younger players. It's important to make sure everyone knows how hard you have to work to make it, and can never get lazy.
Further there are a lot of relationships and understanding needed on the field. For the O-line this is very important, and the RB style for their blocking and for the QB, for QB/ WR/ TE as well. The RB blocking for the QB in passing plays. For DB communication, etc etc.
It's a team game, the better you know your teammates can make a difference. 
 
Under the old rules where coaching happened constantly and the work load was extremely high I might agree. Now I think OTAs are pretty useful. 
If it's ACTUALLY no contact and you're (normally) playing in top conditions etc it's pretty unlucky/ freak for players to get badly hurt if they're not already prone to the injury.
 
What I mean by this is if Lee had a damaged, or vulnerable ACL it's pretty likely it was going to be an issue. If it's just a total freak event then, I mean you can't plan for that any more than you can for the likes of Peters re injuring his Achilles when his walking cane snapped. Shit just happens.
 
They are already limited numbers of these OTAs and contact is banned. At some point you say it is what it is. It's the nature of the beast.
 

Greg29fan

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Myt1 said:
I do know that there's not supposed to be any live contact or individual offense vs. defense drills during OTAs.
 
Well in this case there was and Jason Garrett should be fined or whatever the punishments are
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsKl16R7p84
 

mascho

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They're in helmets only.  Not in full pads.  "Live contact" under the NFL rules means full pads and "bring the ball carrier to the ground."  
 
It looks like that's just a freak injury.  Lee is bracing for the block, the blocker engages and Lee's leg(s) give out.  
 

dcmissle

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When someone reacts like porcelain glass, treat him as such until he has demonstrated that he is made of sturdier stuff. Maybe he goes down anyway, but hopefully it's later than sooner and during a play that means something.

Before this, Lee had missed a lot of time.
 

Myt1

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mascho said:
They're in helmets only.  Not in full pads.  "Live contact" under the NFL rules means full pads and "bring the ball carrier to the ground."  
 
It looks like that's just a freak injury.  Lee is bracing for the block, the blocker engages and Lee's leg(s) give out.  
"Live contact" doesn't appear to be defined in the CBA, but there are separate prohibitions on what players can wear as far as padding and references to "live contact" drills only involving linemen, which makes me question your assertion. Do you have a source?
 

Myt1

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"Contact work" includes but is not limited to "live" blocking, tackling, pass-rushing, and bump-and-run.
 

mascho

Kane is Able
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I'm working off the CBA as well as my own experience.  "Live" always meant full speed, game style action.  Bring the ball carrier to the ground.  Guys can cut defenders in 11 on 11 or in individual drills.  There's also "thud," which can be done in either full pads or just shells, in which you go full speed but just "pop" the ball carrier with your shoulders.  Then there's walkthroughs, which are done in just helmets.  Can be done at full or half speed.  No Ball carriers are tagged, blocks are simulated using just the arms.  That's what was happening here.