Official Packers 2024 OTA/Minicamp Thread

[Patler]

2024 the end of OTA's?

Tom Pelissero
@TomPelissero

End of OTAs? The NFL Players Association is working to finalize a proposal to overhaul the offseason starting as soon as 2025, eliminating voluntary on-field work in the spring in favor of a longer training camp ramp-up, with players reporting in mid-June to early July, per sources.

Like the "good old days" when players reported two+ months before the season started, for 2-3 weeks of camp before 6 exhibition games.

[Joemailman]

Like the "good old days" when players reported two+ months before the season started, for 2-3 weeks of camp before 6 exhibition games.

Except it will probably soon be 2 preseason games and 18 regular season games.

[MadScientist]

2024 the end of OTA's?

My guess is that this is in response to the season getting longer and longer, so the desire for a larger block of time off. It also has the advantage to have players continue working and developing without a break. And finally, it eliminates the situation where a marginal player follows a necessary workout regime during the OTA - camp break and gets injured, with the team calling it a non-football injury and cutting him without any settlement.

[sharpe1027]

Years from now, kids will hear us talking about the good old days and the need to ask their parents to explain what an exhibition game is. I think it's only a matter of time before they go away completely.

[Patler]

I do expect they will drop to 2 exhibition games, but doubt they will be eliminated completely. Too many rookies, first year players and inexperienced fringe players hanging around the league. They can play the games even without their starters and top reserves if they want.

[sharpe1027]

I do expect they will drop to 2 exhibition games, but doubt they will be eliminated completely. Too many rookies, first year players and inexperienced fringe players hanging around the league. They can play the games even without their starters and top reserves if they want.

The coaches an GMs won't like it, but they're not the ones making the decision. We'll see, I'm just seeing the trend and predicting one possible outcome. My crystal ball is far less than 50% accurate.

[bobblehead]

If I made the call I would have an offseason ramp up 3 weeks early for all rookies/undrafted/first contract guys. It would be very light on field work, mostly classroom/walkthrough. Then I would have a couple aggressive scrimmages with other teams. After that the rest of the team shows up as we do now.

Admittedly vets need less camp time. The smart ones are working with experts anyway (Kittles TE camp). The young guys have so much to learn I think a bootcamp type atmosphere would probably help the learning curve. You can work on a lot of things like hand tech for OL without any real risk of injury. Or a combo pass rush move for an edge just to build muscle memory. You can teach a lot of football to young guys without taxing their bodies.

[Deputy Nutz]

I do expect they will drop to 2 exhibition games, but doubt they will be eliminated completely. Too many rookies, first year players and inexperienced fringe players hanging around the league. They can play the games even without their starters and top reserves if they want.

Preseason games are bullshit, especially for season ticket holders that have to pay full price for them. The league is going to expand it's regular season to 18 games very shortly. I could see the end to exhibition games and heading into the regular season with an expanded roster. Whether there would be a league mandated roster cut I couldn't speculate. I could also see them basically keeping 2 games on the preseason docket and have them for guys trying to keep or make the roster.

[SudsMcBucky]

Preseason games are bullshit, especially for season ticket holders that have to pay full price for them. The league is going to expand it's regular season to 18 games very shortly. I could see the end to exhibition games and heading into the regular season with an expanded roster. Whether there would be a league mandated roster cut I couldn't speculate. I could also see them basically keeping 2 games on the preseason docket and have them for guys trying to keep or make the roster.

Just to be clear, pre-season tix are 1/2 price of regular season games, not full price.

[texaspackerbacker]

You almost have to have preseason games. It's not like college where you can warm up against some division 2 team or whatever, so having all the games count is feasible. In the NFL, however, there's close enough to parity that a team that ain't prepared from the first game could have their season ruined.

And from a fan perspective, there's a lot to be said for getting to see the back up QB and other scrubs play.

[Patler]

Preseason games are bullshit, especially for season ticket holders that have to pay full price for them.

Well of course they are. In what pro sport are exhibition games anything close to the real thing? Nobody is really trying to win, just learn things about their team. Fans need to accept the games for what they are, and not expect them to be something they are not.

Are seasons ticket holders obligated to buy preseason tickets? I think they were at one time, weren't they? If they are; that should end, or the price should reflect what they event really is.

The league is going to expand it's regular season to 18 games very shortly. I could see the end to exhibition games and heading into the regular season with an expanded roster. Whether there would be a league mandated roster cut I couldn't speculate. I could also see them basically keeping 2 games on the preseason docket and have them for guys trying to keep or make the roster.

The league has been floating the 18 game season for a while, so I think it is inevitable. I will be surprised if the exhibition season is eliminated entirely, but I do expect it will drop to two. I will be mildly surprised if it goes to just one game.

There is value in exhibition games beyond the "competition" between teams:

Much like the Senior Bowl, new and inexperienced players get to perform against a more select group in a game-like situation.

Coaching staffs get to shake of the rust and/or try new things for in game operations. Who is where, and doing what? Same for medical and training staffs, equipment staffs, etc.

Officiating crews on the field and sidelines also can get back into the swing of things with new members, old members doing different things; etc.

Even the stadium staffs get a chance to wake up from a long offseason.

A couple "practice games" are good for everyone.

[Joemailman]

Ryan Wood
@ByRyanWood

Eric Stokes said trip to Badger Athletic Performance revealed foot wasn't strong enough to support hamstring, leading to rash of injuries. He attacked leg strength all offseason.

"I feel like I’m faster than I was before."

Hell of a thought. Stokes ran a 4.25 before.

[Joemailman]

Jaire dialed in. Defensive backfield should look very different this year with a motivated Jaire and much more talent at safety.

“I think the biggest thing,” Alexander said, “is understanding that, although I am on an island all the time and all day, it’s the culmination of everybody being around, and the culmination of the chemistry we’re building now that’s going to matter later on in the season. You’ll see it.”

“Going into Year 7,” Alexander said, “at this point, I’m trying not to make it as much about myself and just do what’s best for the team.”

“I think it’s just trial and tribulations, you know,” Alexander said. “We all grow at different stages of our lifetime, whether that be sooner or later. So it’s just trial and error, and also wanted to be here for the guys. They need a leader around here.”

[Bretsky]

some of the beat writers noted that Xavier McKinney brough immediate leadership into our locker room and embraced Jaire immediately and had a very positive impact on him mentally. Jaire is a character for sure; but he's one of the best when his head is in the right spot.

[bobblehead]

Ryan Wood
@ByRyanWood

Eric Stokes said trip to Badger Athletic Performance revealed foot wasn't strong enough to support hamstring, leading to rash of injuries. He attacked leg strength all offseason.

"I feel like I’m faster than I was before."

Hell of a thought. Stokes ran a 4.25 before.

His foot was too weak to support the hammy so he worked on leg strength??