Every now and then, I read or watch something that triggers a flashbulb-type thought that I have to write something about. Watching the epitome of selfishness on this video got me thinking. How important is practice? Can practice be too business-like?
After watching Notre Dame play uninspired ball for yet another year, and having seen the changes made in practice philosophy–i.e. the Irish Eyes drill; I wonder to myself if tempo and over-thinking a complicated scheme would lead to slower looking/performing team play.
If you ever want a treat, go check out a practice at a lower level college, say Toledo, and look at the simplistic ways which players are taught. See Spot run, tackle Spot or run stadium stairs. Now obviously not all colleges are this basic by nature and some require hours upon hours of film study, but does all this over-thinking hurt an athlete’s natural instinct to attack on pulse without the cognitive getting in the way?
I think it does. Now don’t call me a buffoon yet, please hear me out. I’m not suggesting that Notre Dame’s problems are all related to complicated practice routines, but I do think it adds to the confusion we often see on our LB’s faces as they blitz and a TE runs a seam route right past them for a 20 yard gain.
Practicing the right way will be an important foundation for Brian Kelly and his new staff. How we scrimmage Tuesday through Thursday will directly effect how we play on Saturdays. “Getting back to basics” is a popular halftime phrase used by coaches to explain how their team will have to adjust to the other teams’ first half success, but in our case rings particularly true.
Building a foundation of good practice will perhaps allow the chains of indecision to fall off and for once, afford us fans the luxury of watching a controlled, passionate team playing with fire and intensity. Practice makes perfect.
