Thoughts on joint practices between teams?

by James Brady on May 27, 2010 3:15 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

What with the recent speculation that the 49ers and the Raiders won't be holding a joint practice before their exhibition meeting in the preseason after doing so the last couple seasons, I was wondering what people thought about such practices to begin with.

Providing the teams do not play in the regular season (as is the case for the 49ers-Raiders in 2010), do you think it's beneficial for the teams to work out against players from other teams? Last year some fights broke out, and on more than a few occasions, groups of players had to be separated, things of that nature. But do you think it has any tangible effect on the team physically or mentally?

Personally, I think it's great. The players always seem to enjoy it. The amount of "it was nice to hit someone else for a change" that we got last season was staggering. I think it gives the team a certain fire. I firmly believe there is a "100% capacity" threshold when it comes to football that can be broken with enough motivation. People say "well players should be playing at their best at all times" obviously don't understand grudges and things of that nature.

Case in point: the 49ers-Raiders practices probably turn Chilo Rachal into a raging maniac. The rivalry just does something to these guys, and so long as the coaches have a good grip on things and can keep injuries from happening, there's no reason I can see that more teams don't do this.

The 49ers likely won't be doing it as the Raiders are rumored to be setting something up with Dallas. As mentioned earlier, they play the Niners less than two months after their practice would be in the regular season.

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I can definitely see why the players like it, mixing up who they're facing

but I don’t rally see what the coaches get…seems like there the potential for cheap shots and injuries.

I’m ok with it not happening this year even though it’ll make training camp a little less interesting to read about

by foosball4949 on May 27, 2010 3:21 PM PDT reply actions

It’s been a varsity vs junior varsity practice the last few seasons.

by bignerd on May 27, 2010 3:33 PM PDT reply actions

They play in the regular season.

I personally think practicing against the Raiders wasn’t too beneficial. Yeah, it was a different look. But usually you can only sharpen iron with iron and the Raiders are more like aluminum.

"I'm blessed..... Thanks, God bless" ...hey, it worked for Tim Tebow.

by Drew Kerr on May 27, 2010 3:39 PM PDT reply actions

Well their defense isn't that bad.

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"

by SportsChicken on May 28, 2010 2:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Can we even keep up with the Raiders?

I would think they’re just too fast for us to make it worthwhile! ;)

80 days to go. . .

by Mangoman on May 27, 2010 3:44 PM PDT reply actions

Oh yea, and when they have all their scary pirate masks on it is REALLY SCARY

Oh crap, like I am scared of a bunch freaky,pirate guys who don’t have a QB or a RB or anything that looks or smells an offense. Oh crap there comes a defensive that is more potent than an antibiotic!!!!, WHAT SHALL WE DO, OH DEAR WHAT SHALL WE DO..

by WC-Ninerhead on May 28, 2010 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't under-estimate them..

To me Campbell is a proven QB and he is a heck of a lot better than J.R. They have a pretty decent WR corps with Schilens, Higgins, Murphy, and who knows how Ford will turn out. Their TE Miller is very productive. Their RBs McFadden and Bush play pretty good “when they’re not injured”. On the other side of the ball they have a pretty stout defense and they will become more talented this year thanks to the great draft they had by picking up McClain and Houston.

Now do I think we should conduct scrimmages with the Raiders? My answer is no.

The risk of injury is too high. If Crabtree, Gore or another top player of ours was to get injured do to a late hit in a scrimmage we all would be infuriated. It also takes the point away of having 4 preseason games, which prepare you for the season.

Furthermore, my position on whether we will beat the Raiders in the season has not changed “since I was born”. Yes we will beat the Raiders. I want us to embarrass them badly and leave them with a goose egg. As long as we control the tempo of the game we will be in the driver seat to win.

by StevenC on May 28, 2010 1:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Their WRs are atrocious

Louis Murphy is probably the best of them all and he’s barely a 2nd year player.

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"

by SportsChicken on May 28, 2010 2:21 AM PDT up reply actions

hmm..

You don’t like Schilens.. i think he’s pretty good and Higgins is good at KR/PR

by StevenC on May 28, 2010 4:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

Higgins isn’t good at WR (he frustrated Raider fans with his drops).

Schillens is not a No.1 WR.

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"

by SportsChicken on May 31, 2010 2:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I think it's great...

One thing is, it gives a chance for the new guys to go all out against some other pros in a nothing to lose environment (barring possible injuries).

It’s not necessarily the best thing for the new guys to go up at 100% against the 1st teamers on the same team because of possible conflicts or alpha dog mentalities/team social dynamics. (Revenge issues as well)

I think as long as there’s some good camaraderie/competition promoted by the coaches and players, and the right vibe is there, then it is definitely a good thing. Especially if they set up a networking outing or just a kickback over some food right after the scrimmage.

It would be a great PR thing for both teams as well, showing off class and sportsmanship if done right.

I dunno, I just remember playing HS ball that it was always fun scrimmaging against other local teams not in the same league.

by thedly on May 27, 2010 3:56 PM PDT reply actions

Raider's or Cowboy's ...

… alway’s good to pound on some fresh meat …!!

Kewl

by Edggy on May 27, 2010 4:02 PM PDT reply actions

pound it in...

WITH CRABS AND VD!!

by thedly on May 27, 2010 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh now that’s just greasy

by Rod Blogojevich on May 27, 2010 9:41 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

No kidding, I say hide the grease,, they well just abuse it anyway,

What with all that stuff going on!!!!!! makes me sick…

by WC-Ninerhead on May 28, 2010 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions

how about

a joint practice against the colts? or vikings a lil poundin for the sour taste the gave us last year,…sounds good to me…

Rugby for Pu***s: That's what he and his teammates call American football.
- Gareth Thomas (Rugby Pro Player for the Cardiff Blues)

I love football, but that is just too funny to be angry at. Rugby is truely a harder sport than American Football.

by imjuliooo89 on May 27, 2010 4:06 PM PDT reply actions

What having a joint at practice!!! just un American,, just un-American!!!!!

Just Kidding!!!

by WC-Ninerhead on May 28, 2010 12:37 AM PDT up reply actions

The problem is the phrasing

I think calling it joint practice confused many of the Raider fans and players and also upset them to find that neither tweeds or Big Snake were involved!

by Chip douglas on May 27, 2010 4:08 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Comment of the day folks

by Rod Blogojevich on May 27, 2010 9:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I think it's usually a good thing........

Not this year though since we play them twice. Once in pre-season and once Oct 17th……can’t wait for that one!!

by sak9r on May 27, 2010 4:15 PM PDT reply actions

i like it

even back in highschool we scrimmaged against some other schools we didnt play during the season it was fun to practice against other guys. Even though no score is kept and yeah it can get heated. But as long as you have coaches who can control the enviornment it usually works out well for both teams. Of course im against scrimmaging against the raiders this year just cuz we play them 4 real. But hopefully we can go against another team if it works out. SD wont work either we play them

Can u c coach sing's vision? I do!......We all know PATRICK WILLIS is our future!
May 12 2010 comment of the day award winner on the nuggets!

by DreZ on May 27, 2010 5:02 PM PDT reply actions

if the Cowboys are practicing with Raiders

We could practice with say, Houston? Not likely but would be good

"I will speak at times, when it's necessary, but I don't believe in talking just because you can." - P-52
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by Tre9er on May 27, 2010 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions

I like it

yeah it’s not actually useful as a practice but it’s a nice change up for the players

Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority

by smileyman on May 27, 2010 5:03 PM PDT reply actions

yep

practicing against people you haven’t seen in a while, who don’t maybe run your exact defense…you don’t know their tendencies, haven’t heard the offense’s check’s as much, seen the defensive blitz looks as much…always a good thing.

"I will speak at times, when it's necessary, but I don't believe in talking just because you can." - P-52
Let's talk on Twitter

by Tre9er on May 27, 2010 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions

I think in some ways it can be more useful

You can be the be playing ever snap in practice as hard as you can… Against your own team the mental edge to push yourself harder just isn’t as present as it is against an enemy/competitor.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on May 27, 2010 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions