The Preseason: Your Friend

    If you are a professional football fan then you probably have some sort of opinion on the preseason. Some people see it as the bringer of good news that the regular season is on its way. Some see it as a sneak peek into how their team is going to fare in the coming season. Other, however, see the preseason as an enormous waste of time. Those people are wrong. The preseason is your friend, but just like any other friend you have to know how to treat and react to it for the relationship to work.

Preseason Personalities: The Worrier

          Everyone knows a Worrier. They are the first to condemn the coming season after a loss in the first game of the preseason. This person will watch the preseason as if every game is a playoff game. This simply is not the case. Look at it this way the Indianapolis Colts, the winningest team in the past decade, has a terrible preseason record over the same stretch of time. This is because of the organizational focus and purpose behind their approach to the preseason. The preseason is a time to get timing down between QB and WR. It is a time to knock some rust off for the veterans and get the rookies acclimated to professional play. Most importantly it is about experiencing different parts of the professional game in an environment where winning is not crucial. So, if your team is blown out in the first game of the preseason don’t fret. It’s just the preseason. Having said that, it’s true some teams are just bad, so they will play bad whether it is in the preseason or the regular season. All I am saying is don’t get rid of the season tickets and go into mourning because your team lost a game that does not matter.

Preseason Personalities: The Gloater

          If there is one person who needs a reality check more than the worrier it is the Gloater. This is the guy who after his team wins big in the preseason predicts a Super Bowl win and the beginning of a dynasty that will rule over the other teams in the NFL for years to come. The Gloater puts way too much stock in preseason performance. The Raiders, who have not been good in a while, have a pretty good preseason record over the last 4 years but it does not translate into actual success. Regardless of whether a game is played in the preseason, the regular season, or the post season there has to be a winner and a loser (unless they tie which is lame). So, I am not saying that if your team does well in the preseason then it is a bad sign. Simply do not look too hard at the win/loss column when evaluating your teams chances in the coming year.

Preseason Personalities: The Hater/  The Apathetic

          The first two individuals have a problem with putting too much stock in the wrong areas of the preseason. The Hater or those who are simply apathetic about the preseason do not put any stock in the preseason and don’t see the point of these four exhibition games before the “real football” starts. These people are simply misguided. They too are looking at the preseason with the wrong focus and motivation. If you go into a heartwarming family flick expecting to see a spine tingling horror movie you are going to be disappointed. The same is true for the preseason. If you go into it looking for games whose win/loss outcome have ramifications for the team’s future the preseason will seem like a pointless waste of pigskin. There is much more to the preseason than just the wins and losses. If you can adjust your “sports watching palette” accordingly the preseason can not only be important to your fandom but also exciting.

Preseason Personalities: The Preseason Fan

          The actual Preseason Fan does not fall into the traps that the others seem to find themselves in every August. They are able to see what the preseason is actually about and are able to enjoy the games because they know what is important about them. Here are some general qualities in a good Preseason Fan. First, the fan understands that when watching a preseason game, more than any other NFL game, the focus should be on continuity. A great way to evaluate your team’s chance for the coming year is too look at how the units on the team gelling. Do the plays seem crisp? Do the players seem like they are on the same page? The Preseason Fan also understands that the preseason is an opportunity to get a good look at some young talent that might be further back on the depth chart. If I have learned one thing about teams that are successful in the NFL it is that they are able to keep a sustained flow of good young talent on the team. One day that 6th round rookie won’t be a rookie anymore and could develop into a star player. Now be warned, you have to be careful how you evaluate these players as well. If you are expecting your up and coming middle linebacker to hold it down like Ray Lewis then you’ll be dissappointed. Instead look for the players awareness to the development of the play. Are they often near the tackle being made or are they constantly out of position. Also look for a good motor. Does the player play hard until the whistle or do they seemingly give up on some plays? Look for athleticism and physical prowess. If a WR has good hands, great speed, and determination to learn the nuances of the position they could be great! The third and final characteristic of a Preseason Fan is that they love the game of football. Football is in my opinion the greatest sport. The preseason is an opportunity for fans who have been jonesing for football since the draft to sink their teeth into what is actually some very entertaining and exciting games.

-Jonathan J$ Shreves