How Weekly Practice Affects Game Outcomes

[ALP]

this has been on my mind for a long while

i don't have any proof of this, because its been amassed throughout the last couple of years (actually much longer, but highlighted the last few years)

I have often heard BB say after a loss, that the team had a bad practice week, this is not a one or two time thing, the instances that pop to my mind are the Giants loss in 07 and the ravens loss last year

other times, when we destroy a team, i have heard BB say that the team had an excellent practice each day of the week

im starting to think this is NOT coincidence, but why would a practice dictate game outcomes THAT much? I do not understand how the practice supercedes playcalling, and even execution.....or is execution simply better when the practice is well?

either way, i believe we can determine if the Patriots win or lose by how well BB thinks their practices went before the game, and I think that correlation would be very large

 

[Sicilian]

or is execution simply better when the practice is well?

Bingo.

10char

 

[Kontradiction]

Execution is simply better when teams practice well. This is true in every sport, and not just football. Also, Wilfork commented on just how awful the Pats practiced last week in Cleveland.

 

[BradyManny]

Back in 2007, I flippantly dismissed practice reports leading up to the SB that the passing offense was struggling or that Brady didn't look 100%. That's the last time I'll ever make that mistake. Is there a smiley face where the little smiley man whips out a gun and blows his brains out, b/c that's what I'd be putting right here, FWIW.

 

[SuperPatsFan]

Light is on EEI now tiptoeing around questions about the quality of the Pats offensive practices this week.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

 

[Kontradiction]

Light is on EEI now tiptoeing around questions about the quality of the Pats offensive practices this week.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Well, if they didn't learn their lesson from last week and are simply going through the motions this week then they're going to get absolutely rolled.

 

[BradyManny]

Light is on EEI now tiptoeing around questions about the quality of the Pats offensive practices this week.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Two things are potentially at work here.

Either the young fellas haven't learned the importance of practice yet.

Or Brady's injury is limiting him in practice, which is keeping the passing offense from getting in sync.

Either way, it's not a good side.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Light is on EEI now tiptoeing around questions about the quality of the Pats offensive practices this week.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Well ****. This combined with the possibility of Brady's leg being hurt plus a trip to Pittsburgh is a recipe for disaster.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I think the way practices go does say a lot about how the game will go, but I'm not sure if I think it's the quality of the practice that impacts how well the team does. I'm sure BB runs the same type of practices week in and out, so it's not the type of practice that changes. They may focus on certain fundamentals or different game plans depending on the opponent, but the goals and flow of it should be the same.

I think it isn't the cause of the problem so much as an indicator of another problem, mainly where the team's focus is at. If a team is focused, the practices are probably a lot crisper and better. If the team isn't focused, there are more mental errors and mistakes. That focus (or lack of) carries itself into the game.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Light is on EEI now tiptoeing around questions about the quality of the Pats offensive practices this week.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Note how you rarely hear Brady or one of the coaches complement practices before a game, I expect Light is non-committal to avoid criticism after the game and to limit potentially useful information for the Steelers.

 

[37Harrison]

IMO, I think the way a team practices the week of any game directly affects the product on the field during game day. I do not believe there is any coincidence here as it not only affects execution but a players psyche as well.

Games are just as much a mental game as they are physical. A great week of practice can lead to increased confidence and vice-versa. Hopefully if the younger guys don't understand the importance of practice yet, the veterans will be able to drill that concept home to them very quickly.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I think the way practices go does say a lot about how the game will go, but I'm not sure if I think it's the quality of the practice that impacts how well the team does. I'm sure BB runs the same type of practices week in and out, so it's not the type of practice that changes. They may focus on certain fundamentals or different game plans depending on the opponent, but the goals and flow of it should be the same.

I think it isn't the cause of the problem so much as an indicator of another problem, mainly where the team's focus is at. If a team is focused, the practices are probably a lot crisper and better. If the team isn't focused, there are more mental errors and mistakes. That focus (or lack of) carries itself into the game.

Exactly. Practice is a reflection of where this team is at focus wise. There are still just a handful of players remaining here who know what it takes to win a championship...and a lot of guys and youngsters who probably think on some level they just happen because of press clippings and perception of talent. Win's don't signify you've arrive or are good enough. It could always be better and to get to where this team strives to go you'd better be getting better each and every week.

Brady expressed frustration early on this season with a new generation of players here who even when they show up aren't aware that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you spend your evenings chillin' with a video game or social networking you're wasting valuable time that could be better spent breaking down coverages and getting trends and keys and wrinkles down to the point you're reaction to them is instinctive. This is particularly important for those with little cumulative experience to draw on. Because even those who have that have to find ways to remain focused and driven week to week lest their talent get steamrolled by someone as or less talented who is singlemindedly focused on beating them.

You watch teams like Buffalo and Cleveland who are clearly out gunned get written off week to week only to rise to the challenge...even if they can't seemingly routinely carry the day. That's want...and acceptance of what it takes to even have a shot at getting where you desperately want to go. It's even the reason some teams seemingly move away from veterans a year early or following fairly consistent success. Sometimes success leads to complacency whether game to game or season to season. Superbowl hangover is an example, which makes what we did over the last several seasons so remarkable.

Most guys love to play this game...on Sundays. The teams who are still playing late in January tend to be those whose players also understand it takes more than love of the game or individual talent or affinity for it to succeed, it takes committment to the processs (or as Junior used to call it the journey). Individually and collectively. That's why Tommy always dissolved into an emotional puddle on receiving his ring - it wasn't because he was overwhelmed with the carat weight of the object but the weight of the collective and individual effort that went into earning it.

 

[TheComeback]

Light is on EEI now tiptoeing around questions about the quality of the Pats offensive practices this week.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

I didn't hear him talk, but I wouldn't read into it. They're not going to come out and say they had a great week of practice before the biggest game of the year, and then end up losing anyway, or at least getting the Steelers more pumped up for the game. Typical Patriots media policy.

 

[Patjew]

Note how you rarely hear Brady or one of the coaches complement practices before a game, I expect Light is non-committal to avoid criticism after the game and to limit potentially useful information for the Steelers.

But on the other hand, there were reports about how bad the practices were before the Ravens playoff game last year.

 

[Patjew]

Execution is simply better when teams practice well. This is true in every sport, and not just football. Also, Wilfork commented on just how awful the Pats practiced last week in Cleveland.

Or, teams practice well when they have better execution, i.e., better players, schemes, timing, teamwork, coaching, etc. It's a chicken-or-the-egg to me.

 

[sbpatfan]

I believe the old saying is, "you play like you practice."

 

[RayClay]

If they were honest, they'd have to say "we sucked at practice, but still kicked ass" at least once.

It'll never happen.

 

[RayClay]

Football is about repitition and execution though, so practice is much more important than it is in other sports. Plus they only play once a week and a bad five minutes can put you way behind.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

So, what is the final word: did we or didn't we have a good practice, especially with Brady out on Wed?

I predict a strong W for us tomorrow and after reading this thread, pray that they had an excellent practice. Someone please confirm...

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Exactly. Practice is a reflection of where this team is at focus wise. There are still just a handful of players remaining here who know what it takes to win a championship...and a lot of guys and youngsters who probably think on some level they just happen because of press clippings and perception of talent. Win's don't signify you've arrive or are good enough. It could always be better and to get to where this team strives to go you'd better be getting better each and every week.

Brady expressed frustration early on this season with a new generation of players here who even when they show up aren't aware that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you spend your evenings chillin' with a video game or social networking you're wasting valuable time that could be better spent breaking down coverages and getting trends and keys and wrinkles down to the point you're reaction to them is instinctive. This is particularly important for those with little cumulative experience to draw on. Because even those who have that have to find ways to remain focused and driven week to week lest their talent get steamrolled by someone as or less talented who is singlemindedly focused on beating them.

You watch teams like Buffalo and Cleveland who are clearly out gunned get written off week to week only to rise to the challenge...even if they can't seemingly routinely carry the day. That's want...and acceptance of what it takes to even have a shot at getting where you desperately want to go. It's even the reason some teams seemingly move away from veterans a year early or following fairly consistent success. Sometimes success leads to complacency whether game to game or season to season. Superbowl hangover is an example, which makes what we did over the last several seasons so remarkable.

Most guys love to play this game...on Sundays. The teams who are still playing late in January tend to be those whose players also understand it takes more than love of the game or individual talent or affinity for it to succeed, it takes committment to the processs (or as Junior used to call it the journey). Individually and collectively. That's why Tommy always dissolved into an emotional puddle on receiving his ring - it wasn't because he was overwhelmed with the carat weight of the object but the weight of the collective and individual effort that went into earning it.

Nicely said.