What are the goals of pre-season games?

It alters slightly from team to team, but it generally goes something like this.

1.) Evaluate players to determine who makes final 53-man roster.

2.) Develop players from semi-NFL game action.

3.) Get starters some reps so they enter regular season prepared (we've done little of that so far on O.)

4.) Keep the starters healthy as much as possible as long as #3 gets accomplished.

5.) Win the game if 1-4 are achieved.

With that in mind, someone please explain to me why is Toussaint getting so many carries? Is it to evaluate him? (How can they NOT know FULLY what he has to offer after all this time?) Is it to develop him? (HINT: He isn't going to improve from this point, is he?) Why are they not giving more touches to players who have not seen enough NFL action to be evaluated or players who can use the playing time to develop? It makes absolutely no sense to waste all these carries on a guy who will never be a legit NFL halfback. And, under current conditions, I'd like Houston to get more playing time; Dobbs is getting far too much playing time.

 

3) Get starters some reps so they enter regular season prepared (we've done little of that so far on O.)

Like it or not, with Bell not currently signed. Fitz IS the starting running back.

 

To provide message board fodder.

 

I don't put much stock into any preseason games except for game 3 when I can finally see some action from most of the starters. Everything is so vanilla anyways that all I can ask for is to have the team escape as a healthy unit on ST's, D and O. I do like to watch players fight for their roster spot for the younger guys though.

My biggest problem with preseason has always been way too many games. Why on gods green earth do two teams play 5 preseason games? It's absolutely pointless. 4 is beyond reasoning, but playing 5 makes no sense whatsoever.

 

Not after last nights game.

 

Tunch and Wolf were talking on SNR last week about the NFLPA using the ability to dress the full 53 man roster on gamedays as a bargaining chip when Goodell pushes for the 18 game schedule. If they could drop two preseason games and dress the full roster I'd call that a win.

 

Gotta get the peanut guy and beer handlers a few reps.

 

Build for the season, get guys ready to compete at HIGH level.
Practice, practice, practice. Eat sleep and dream football. Go over and over very important
items that makes winners in December and January and hopefully February.

 

get players ready for contact and acclimated to each position. Gives coaches an opportunity to plan for the regular season inserted in talent and deciding on 1st , 2nd teams. Also helps in conditioning.

 

so season ticket holders can sell their tickets to people that don't normally get to go.

 

This is basically it. After all, we've got to warm up as well... work up from the light touch "Should we sign Sherman?" debates to the more testing "Why don't we play more man coverage" and finally the full contact mid-season war of "Is it the players or the coaches that are to blame???"

Extra reps of "Why do we always lose to the Patriots" for under-performers.

 

It should be #1 but I swear Tomlin is just playing to win. I did see him laughing and having fun at some points. But the way he was using his timeouts, seems like he's just playing to win. Never see him give this guy a shot with the 1s to see what he can do, etc. It's like the 53 man roster is already decided.

 

Most preseasons we get people jumping on Tomlin because he doesn't play to win, and uses preseason as an extended training session...

There have been a fair few guys moving up and down the 1sts, 2nds and 3rds. Some of it is injury-related (e.g. Moats playing so deep into the game), but I'm not sure what you're expecting. Given the absence of AB, Ben, Bell, Pouncey, Harrison, Mitchell, Foster, etc. - I'd say the Steelers were giving back ups more time with the 1sts than a lot of other teams.

 

It's funny how college teams need no pre-season to get ready for the season but the NFL needs 4 games. True, a lot of div. 1 week one is like a preseason game, but not all of them.

 

Just win baby.....

 

This.


Also gives other users who frequently elect to lock horns do so again... in a more controlled manner.