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In Reiss' recent interview with Ras-I-Dowling, the rookie CB claims that he has not yet seen the team's playbook. "I haven't had a chance. That's the real reason I'm waiting for the lockout to end, to get in the playbook and learn the system, and learn from the other guys also."
Now, before anyone cries 'conspiracy theory' to the effect that he's lying etc, let's consider the fact that most of the teams were able to get their playbooks out to the rookies via the window during the lifting of the lockout itself. The problem is, that was only one day IIRC. So we can assume that the day one rookies (Solder is our case) received the playbook. I can't remember if as of Friday (day two) the lifting was overruled or not? Maybe someone can chime in.
The problem is, if the lockout was still lifted as of Friday (day two), why would Dowling feel the need to then lie about it? I think most of us have assumed that copies have been made, and that whatever players were in possession of a playbook would then share them with the incoming rookies.
Is there a possibility that Dowling, and of course pretty much every rookie after him, truly has not seen the playbook yet? If so, that is a huge detriment to their development, as we have all been assuming that all they 'really missed were some OTA's,' and that their development would not be affected too greatly.
Is it unreasonable to assume that they may indeed be quite hampered by this labor delay, possibly more than we have been crediting, or do most of you feel as though Dowling is simply lying to cover any possible cries of wrongdoing? Again, knowing if the lockout was lifted during the selection of Dowling would be key here, but I believe technically by the time the day two draft had started on Fri. night, the lockout was back in place.
We have talked at length about the possibility of Solder starting at LT right off the bat, and that the RB's would be another group whose hampering may not be as affected, due to the easier learning curve of the position. Knowing that there may be a chance that many of the rookies haven't even seen the playbook could make this theory somewhat altered.
Apologies if you do not this thread as a worthwhile fit to the boards, but it is a relevant subject, and we basically don't have much else to currently discuss. Thanks for the thoughts.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4697851/catching-up-with-ras-i-dowling
Now, before anyone cries 'conspiracy theory' to the effect that he's lying etc, let's consider the fact that most of the teams were able to get their playbooks out to the rookies via the window during the lifting of the lockout itself. The problem is, that was only one day IIRC. So we can assume that the day one rookies (Solder is our case) received the playbook. I can't remember if as of Friday (day two) the lifting was overruled or not? Maybe someone can chime in.
The problem is, if the lockout was still lifted as of Friday (day two), why would Dowling feel the need to then lie about it? I think most of us have assumed that copies have been made, and that whatever players were in possession of a playbook would then share them with the incoming rookies.
Is there a possibility that Dowling, and of course pretty much every rookie after him, truly has not seen the playbook yet? If so, that is a huge detriment to their development, as we have all been assuming that all they 'really missed were some OTA's,' and that their development would not be affected too greatly.
Is it unreasonable to assume that they may indeed be quite hampered by this labor delay, possibly more than we have been crediting, or do most of you feel as though Dowling is simply lying to cover any possible cries of wrongdoing? Again, knowing if the lockout was lifted during the selection of Dowling would be key here, but I believe technically by the time the day two draft had started on Fri. night, the lockout was back in place.
We have talked at length about the possibility of Solder starting at LT right off the bat, and that the RB's would be another group whose hampering may not be as affected, due to the easier learning curve of the position. Knowing that there may be a chance that many of the rookies haven't even seen the playbook could make this theory somewhat altered.
Apologies if you do not this thread as a worthwhile fit to the boards, but it is a relevant subject, and we basically don't have much else to currently discuss. Thanks for the thoughts.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4697851/catching-up-with-ras-i-dowling
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