Couldn't disagree with you more. The "whoossification" of the NFL continues. Practicing IN PADS at full speed is a NECESSARY aspect to quality performance on the field. To literally cut in HALF the opportunities and quality reps players have is going to drive coaches crazy and reduce the quality of the play on the field, especially in the early season. If this goes through HS coaches will now have a benefit that NFL coaches no longer have. Ridiculous.t
The first thing that came to mind is the Dallas situation last season. Reportedly one of the major reasons for Dallas' 2nd half turnaround was their new HC made them put on Pads and practice live. Now under stand even the so called "live" hitting is controlled in practice.
One of the reasons tackling in the NFL has reached new all time LOWS is that team RARELY if ever practice tackling full speed. Now I can understand the reasoning there, but to eliminate the controlled hitting you can do when you have pads on, will only seriously compromise the quality of play on the field and contribute to more injuries on Sundays.
You make it sound like they're giving up full contact practices. They're simply cutting down spending an entire 90+ degree day wearing on their bodies.
Cutting in half the amount of practice a player gets is extremely hyperbolic. As recently as 2007, teams were only doing 5-12 "two a days" a season (
Two-a-days becoming fewer in NFL training camps - USATODAY.com). These players have been playing football since they had their first pubes, and you think their quality of play is going to decrease because they can't have a (less than 100%) full contact practice 5-12x per year? That's silly.
As far as your Dallas example, there are so many variables to the statement. Garrett likely also brought in a new attitude, aggressiveness and motivation to the players, and the hitting during practice was a side effect of that. It's not like he took everything Phillips did and just added hitting to practices and they started winning.
Secondly, even if that were the case... It's not like the league had a rule against the Cowboys hitting in practice. What I mean is, they had every opportunity to stay on par with the league, but chose not to. By eliminating two a day contact practices, nobody will have an advantage (or disadvantage) regarding that aspect, so if the quality decreases or increases by a fraction, it will be done league wide and not even noticeable.
Finally, looking at the list at some of the teams that had the most two a days, it didn't seem to make a huge difference. (SF, TB, Hou, Det, etc) If Indy, NE, Pitt, etc lead the league yearly in two-a-days, any point you're trying to make may be more valid.