Training Camp 101

Training Camp 101


Over the past few years HBO subscribers have had the ability to get an inside look into NFL training camp through a jointly produced show between HBO and NFL Films called “Hard Knocks”. To the average fan, camp looks like a long series of practices, film, meetings and random hijinks between the players. Another factor that comes into place in an NFL camp is the roster and the big board. This is the only difference between a pro and a college training camp.


Even with the great job that HBO does w/ Hard Knocks, it lacks the ability to show the planning that actually goes into a training camp. Yes, we see meetings, but that is roughly 5% of the actual planning that goes into it, plus those meetings are more of an evaluation than anything.

Planning for training camp begins the first day after the last day of Spring Ball. Spring Ball is like a large tryout, that why we have that scrimmage to finalize the spring. We have our players, we have an idea of what we can do, we have an idea of we need to do and we have an idea of what we should be able to do.

A few weeks ago CW released his training camp schedule and let us know what days they would have double days. When CW and staff do this, it’s not as easy as just taking aim with a dart and firing it toward the calendar. This schedule has been in the works for months.

Every minute of every segment of practice is pre-determined months in advance. This includes the plays, or “script” as it is called. We usually hear “script” used during the first 10 plays of offense, but scripting is also used during practice. Everything is taken into account, down, distance, hash, and play. The average play takes 3 minutes from audible to snap, to play, to huddle and back to snap. If you are at practice and want to know what play it is, you can always find out by segment and time. Since the NCAA mandates how much time you practice, each script is choreographed to the minute.



Segments are the skeleton of the practice. Within segments come the individuals, fundamentals, and basics of the game. Each segment has a rhyme and reason. In some cases there is even a psychological reason for the way it sets up. The average practice is set up like this:

Early Outs* (Early individual group work)
Stretch
Individuals (individual group work)
Group (DL + LB’s + Secondary vs. 3rd team O)
Skelly (Everyone but OL/DL)
1-1 (OL vs. DL) RB’s + TE vs LB’s, WR’s vs Secondary) two phases ( one vs run, one vs pass)
7-7 (QB, RB, TE, WR’s vs LB’s, Secondary
9-7 (everybody but DL)
Team (Everybody)


After the 1st team segment, you go back to individual, 1 on 1, make corrections, and then start back at 9-7 and then team again. This allows for the adjustments to be made, b/c during camp it maybe the first time

(Special teams can be done before, during or last in a practice. It depends on which personnel you are using more frequently that day, as you don’t want to take away to much time from their individual group drills.)



The segments listed above will go through that order, and the 7-7, 9-7 and team segments will be duplicated again towards the end of practice. The “Install” segments is just what it sounds like. They install new plays, or new tweaks to base plays. The group used the least is usually the defensive linemen. When they are not able to do more 1-1, they will usually do more individual work. This is also the reason why you will the defensive linemen have the most toys, sleds, to work with.

Another large aspect of training camp is meetings and film. You can’t have one without the other. Most of the coaching staff will watch the entire practice 20 minutes after it is completed. This is done by the group. Then each position coach will go back and watch the individual tape of there respective groups. Grading will take place, and the rest of the day will be used to go over this day’s film, make corrections and evaluations. On two a days, it works the same way. You don’t go to bed until everything is watched several times and critiqued. Two a days usually consist of installing a brand new package. That way you have two shots in one day to maximize the reps available to you.

Over a 15 day period, you will also have some other fun students that take place including guest speakers, talent shows and other team building programs.

On top of practice, you also have treatment, meals, plus other meetings. It’s definitely a marathon for everyone involved.