Reilly
01-29-2005, 07:18 PM
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Offseason plans devised in Mobile
By Randy Mueller
ESPN Insider
Although most of the attention and fanfare at the Senior Bowl is directed toward the practice field, personnel people and coaches view this time as an opportunity to put together their complete plan for the offseason.
Teams with settled coaching staffs can really get a leg up on organizing their free-agent timetable as well. Just about every prominent player agent is in town, and while no current NFL player is actually free until March, we're not all naive enough to think these discussions don't start here.
I can speak from experience that many a free-agent deal is hatched in Mobile. On some days, a GM or personnel boss struggles to get a clear view of practice because player representatives all want to talk business.
There are probably no less than 100 player agents in attendance this week, and most are here to deal with issues that have nothing to do with the Senior Bowl. Most teams set up a base of operations in whatever hotel they are residing. The have video capabilities, computers, etc.
Assistant coaches, pro and college scouts, cap specialists and other front office personnel meet each and every day for various reasons. Maybe there is a specific player at the Senior Bowl who has caught their attention. Maybe it's to discuss a potential NFL free agent who will become available in March. Maybe it's just to compare notes from what they have learned about other teams. Some teams talk way too much at these gatherings, and it can be a competitive advantage to just listen.
Other meetings take place – interviewing players over breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is very beneficial for a participating player to spend as much time with teams as he can. The entire week is the equivalent of a job interview. I liked to spend as much time with kids as I could off the field, to really learn what makes them tick.
Twice during my 17 years in Seattle, our coaching staff was chosen to coach the North squad in the game. It's obviously a great advantage because you have a ton of meeting time and can really judge players on how fast they learn in the classroom. It's quality time you can't duplicate in an interview session. The Buccaneers and Raiders have that advantage this year.
The disadvantage is that if you are spending all your time coaching one team, you have no feel at all for the other team. We would organize a meeting with the staff of the opposing team, on Thursday or Friday evening, to compare notes on each squad's players.
Normally, I'm not much for sharing information. However, it is extremely beneficial to find out how another organization views its players. Sometimes that discussion is based on how kids learn and interact in the classroom. It is information you can't get anywhere else.
Offseason plans devised in Mobile
By Randy Mueller
ESPN Insider
Although most of the attention and fanfare at the Senior Bowl is directed toward the practice field, personnel people and coaches view this time as an opportunity to put together their complete plan for the offseason.
Teams with settled coaching staffs can really get a leg up on organizing their free-agent timetable as well. Just about every prominent player agent is in town, and while no current NFL player is actually free until March, we're not all naive enough to think these discussions don't start here.
I can speak from experience that many a free-agent deal is hatched in Mobile. On some days, a GM or personnel boss struggles to get a clear view of practice because player representatives all want to talk business.
There are probably no less than 100 player agents in attendance this week, and most are here to deal with issues that have nothing to do with the Senior Bowl. Most teams set up a base of operations in whatever hotel they are residing. The have video capabilities, computers, etc.
Assistant coaches, pro and college scouts, cap specialists and other front office personnel meet each and every day for various reasons. Maybe there is a specific player at the Senior Bowl who has caught their attention. Maybe it's to discuss a potential NFL free agent who will become available in March. Maybe it's just to compare notes from what they have learned about other teams. Some teams talk way too much at these gatherings, and it can be a competitive advantage to just listen.
Other meetings take place – interviewing players over breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is very beneficial for a participating player to spend as much time with teams as he can. The entire week is the equivalent of a job interview. I liked to spend as much time with kids as I could off the field, to really learn what makes them tick.
Twice during my 17 years in Seattle, our coaching staff was chosen to coach the North squad in the game. It's obviously a great advantage because you have a ton of meeting time and can really judge players on how fast they learn in the classroom. It's quality time you can't duplicate in an interview session. The Buccaneers and Raiders have that advantage this year.
The disadvantage is that if you are spending all your time coaching one team, you have no feel at all for the other team. We would organize a meeting with the staff of the opposing team, on Thursday or Friday evening, to compare notes on each squad's players.
Normally, I'm not much for sharing information. However, it is extremely beneficial to find out how another organization views its players. Sometimes that discussion is based on how kids learn and interact in the classroom. It is information you can't get anywhere else.