Uncommon Opinions
I just think to the years of playing sandlot football every weekend from 8th grade through post-HS. We'd throw our bodies and shoulders around, but you couldn't go head to head. That wasn't even a thought. It was plenty physical. But we never had any head injuries and probably played 100 games or more.
Of course, it was 5v5 up to 9v9 and it's only one man's experience. You make it 11v11, grown men in tiptop physical shape and a year round job and things will change. Plus, we know the helmet to helmet stuff isn't the only way to get concussions... the constantly sticking your nose up in there and getting rocked around adds up.
Still, the difference between full pads and sandlot was literally jarring. I remember thinking, "I'm supposed to feel this way after a routine play?" I played corner in a extremely basic cover 2 scheme (and I wasn't a starter lol) so I wasn't feeling it play after play either. There's no doubt in my mind practically every single player who plays experiences some kind of brain trauma. The severity and amount vary, of course.
Not sure we want to go helmet-less or 1940s style leather, but I do think there's room for improvement or change to what the players wear now.
Regarding the teaching of football, I just don't see that sticking. Every player knows the proper form by the time they're playing seriously competitive football, but that doesn't mean those tactics will be deployed when you're in a game. The lure of blowing a dude up across the middle is hard to stop, especially with circumstances of a game or season or player's standing on the team so dynamic.
I just think to the years of playing sandlot football every weekend from 8th grade through post-HS. We'd throw our bodies and shoulders around, but you couldn't go head to head. That wasn't even a thought. It was plenty physical. But we never had any head injuries and probably played 100 games or more.
Of course, it was 5v5 up to 9v9 and it's only one man's experience. You make it 11v11, grown men in tiptop physical shape and a year round job and things will change. Plus, we know the helmet to helmet stuff isn't the only way to get concussions... the constantly sticking your nose up in there and getting rocked around adds up.
Still, the difference between full pads and sandlot was literally jarring. I remember thinking, "I'm supposed to feel this way after a routine play?" I played corner in a extremely basic cover 2 scheme (and I wasn't a starter lol) so I wasn't feeling it play after play either. There's no doubt in my mind practically every single player who plays experiences some kind of brain trauma. The severity and amount vary, of course.
Not sure we want to go helmet-less or 1940s style leather, but I do think there's room for improvement or change to what the players wear now.
Regarding the teaching of football, I just don't see that sticking. Every player knows the proper form by the time they're playing seriously competitive football, but that doesn't mean those tactics will be deployed when you're in a game. The lure of blowing a dude up across the middle is hard to stop, especially with circumstances of a game or season or player's standing on the team so dynamic.
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