Harbaugh Plans Tougher Camp

[ragnorok99]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/footbal...3,0,86475.story

I think it'll be interesting to see how this A.) affects the injury rate this season and B.) affects the level of physicality on the lines, especially the offensive.

You could say that working harder in camp might make the players more injury-prone during the season, but I think the improved conditioning will have the opposite effect.

And on another note: "He's great. He's excited. We get each other fired up. I start talking, he starts talking and the next thing, we're screaming." --Harbaugh on Ray Lewis

[smitty]

im all for a tougher training camp! i was a little worried about injuries incurred during camp but having a better conditioning program is going to make the team tougher for the regular season. i really think that our training camp was the reason everyone got hurt last season. strength and conditioning must be a top priority if we are going to make it to the post season.

[ragnorok99]

I'm for it too. I also think the vets will be mature enough to handle sleeping in the team hotel.

[smitty]

i would certainly hope they could handle that. i like the emphasis that Harbs is putting on the TEAM

[Sub-Zero]

yeah I like his philosophy and everything.......just waiting to see if it will all translate

[exiledraven]

I think this is BY FAR the most important thing and cannot be overstated

"We need to practice all the things that are going to come up in a game. You can't manufacture situations for every player in the preseason. We want to get [young cornerback] David Pittman in that situation where he's got to make that play on third-and-five, get a guy down and know where the sticks are at." Harbaugh.

I think this is something hugely missed. Billick had some goods ideas about keeping the wear and tear down on vets...but then he didn't seem to be able to get these younger guys developed...on either side of the ball. Some of that you're going to need the pads.

We'll see what happens.

[Sam]

It is about time we have a tougher camp & the players are ready to play when week 1 comes around. I am so tired of watching us not be ready at the beginning of the season. Harb is a breath of fresh air!

[theFRANCHISE]

I'm glad Coach Harbaugh is handling the delicate situation of training camp diplomatically, as it relates to veterans.

He spoke of introducing a modified conditioning program for the "30-and-over club" (which the team has quite a few members), and that should alleviate some of their concerns about the increase in intensity level in camp.

Although he is still emphasizing the TEAM aspect of it all, I also appreciate that he acknowledges the importance of Ray Lewis to the team, showing neither favoritism nor indifference towards his stature.

He understands that Ray Lewis is a big part of the team's chemistry and morale, and although he stresses that no individual is above the team, he knows that he'd be lying if he didn't recognize how much value is placed on Ray Lewis's presence, both on and off the field.

[minford]

If I ran training camp, I'd have the rookies serve as rickshaws and chauffer the vets to and fro the practice field.

[Raven07]

i also agree with what Harbaugh is doing with this basically new concept in our Facility,i personally think that it really gives those younger players out there and on the team to really show what they got and really exploit their talents more so than that of before (Billick Era). I think it offers a good chance for Coaches to get a Truly "good" look into what the Future will hold or what the future has in store for this team down the road.

This kind of Change also gives those younger players on the team a "second chance" or a new opportunity to proove themselves. kinda like a new lease on life in a way. meaning they will get another shot at showing the staff, coaches, and teammates that they belong a Raven and a member of particular starting Quality or cailbur.

i also think that this is a Good move on HarBaugh's Behalf of the deal (the new concept with the older "30 and over" type guys) because it allows them to practice yes and stay in shape and keep them on their toes as far as the pace of the game goes as well as keeping up with the play calling..which just doesnt entirely incorporate the whole deal of "Film Study" in terms of keeping up with the game.....by Harbaugh Allowing this, It allows the older type guys on the team to do exactly that and keep up with the Game and its pace....AND being able to rest them so that t hey can be rested and refreshed and ready to go come game day.

[neepo13]

Nice article. I wish there wasnt so much hate on in the messages that follow it. Sometimes, I wonder just how many REAL Ravens fans exist. We got people on there calling our players murderer's and cry babies. WOW!

[Raven07]

i think that with more time, that kind of persona, will eventually come to pass completely. its just that some people or fans aroud the league seen to be to "stuck on one thing". instead of realizing that time moves on and so should they, the past is the past and thus it canot be changed. its how you approach the future and Tomorrow that will ultimately end up as the deciding factor of our course of Action and how we deal and move on from it. The Football world has moved on, the players have moved on....because they know that Time stands still for noone, it only moves forward and thus you must make the absolute best of every opportunity or chance that may happen to come or pass your way.

[rayvenfan_52]

I like the BIG comment Ronnie put up at the end for the comments in the article. Hes right at what he put on there. Some of those people really arent TRUE Raven fans when they still complain about stuff that happened years ago. I wish I lived up in Baltimore that way I dont have to worry about hearing people say stuff to me about the Squeelers. Especially cuz I live in samoa. Everyone heres LOVES Troy Polamalu. When they beat our injured team I thought Id never hear the end of it. But all thats in the past now. I cant wait for the season to get here already.......... ITS TAKING FOREVER!!!!

[Raven07]

exactly my thoughts. like i said before.....a True Fans sticks by their Team and its players through it all, thick and thin.....there most certainly will be ups..in which case we most certainly will make the best of, and the Downs...in which we will to, take in stride, and learn from our past or previous mistakes....not be some band wagoner whom hops on one wagon when a team is "good" then hops onto another if they're "bad"...thats not the true Definition of a True Fan......one thing for sure is that....a True Fan knows and love's their team like a part of their own family as i do and im sure many other people can agree with me on this...and we'll most certainly be there in the heat of things when the Good times arise....and we most certainly will make the most out of even the worst of times.....good can always be found to which was otherwise thought of to be a Failure....in which case Failure...is not "failure" but merely lessons learned and must be taken i stride and studied accordlingly so that come the next time.....the same thing wont be sure to happen again.

[rayvenfan_52]

Lets just hope that the same thing doenst even come close to being seen.. Id be happy this year for the team to go 1/2 n 1/2 for wins n losses on our record. Goin 1/2 n 1/2 on a brand new start is great. If they do better then that would be the best.

[Raven07]

which is an undertandable prediction....seeing how this Team is under new management as far as new People roaming our sidelines is concerned...thus it will take at least a Little bit of time for everything to gel and come together, there will be mistakes at first, and thats just something us Raven Fans must endure and take in stride here, and we must remember that Success is not measured by the amount of playmakers out there or how many wins you have, though its a nice little bit of Bonus material we'd love to have, success is how well this team comes together and clicks as one.....getting on that overall comfort level....and in which the benefits will be great and the performances will show for it with the the sweet smell of victory as just an Added Bonus.

[FerrariFan87]

I love it and am excited that there isn't going to be anymore "Camp Cream-Puff"

[Raven07]

"Camp cream-puff" or "Camp Billick" or whatever you want to call it or refer to it as...is no more. this is a new day and age....in which our new Head Coach in Harbaugh, has stressed the continual importance of being tough, being physical, being prepared. and he seems to be the kind of guy/coach in which believes strongly and passionately in being ready for any type of game day situation...thus he said that there will be full contact practices, so that come another sunday...the players will be physically and mentally ready and most of all...focused about whats at hand.

With this type of preparation that will be in effect come Training Camp, Harbaugh is preparing his team to compete with the best, be prepared for the best, and work as the best. the older guys out there...that Harbaugh refer's to as the "30 and over club" will get a chance to see live action during the course of Practices and become prepared for game day, but he has stressed the importance of maintaining the Good Health of his players....thus the older guys will recieve a more moderate version of the practice rather than the regular full force practices.

[rayvenfan_52]

thats a good thing Harbaugh is doin for the 30s and up club.. especially since they cant take as much of the punishment as they could have before..

[Raven07]

its a good thing of what he's doing indeed....i think that this type of action solidify's the fact that Harbaugh is really coming along and making himself known amoungst the Baltimore sports world..especially with our much beloved Baltimore Ravens.......also i feel, that by doing this type of move for our "older" type players on the team, it keeps the team (for the most part) keep everyone (in the very least) relatively healthy and ready to go whenever the time comes for them to step in or if their name is called upon.....i think that by modifying their practices a little bit from the regular practice sessions...it will also keep them fresh and on their toes...in the sense that they will keep that "Football" mentality....stay in shape, stay aware of whats going on and whats happening around them...and be able to maintain that steady style of play throughout the course of the game.

[neepo13]

thats a good thing Harbaugh is doin for the 30s and up club.. especially since they cant take as much of the punishment as they could have before..

I disagree. Some of those guys are in better shape then rookies coming in. Some of our 30 and over guys take very good care of themselves and havent suffered any major injuries, so they are still going strong with the best of em.

[rayvenfan_52]

Well then I guess whichever way works out for the 30 nd up club...

[Raven07]

I disagree. Some of those guys are in better shape then rookies coming in. Some of our 30 and over guys take very good care of themselves and havent suffered any major injuries, so they are still going strong with the best of em.

yea i can agree with you there that some of the older guys are "more" in shape than the younger players on the team....in addition to what i said before....the "30 and over club" that Harbaugh has been talking about/established....means more than just "staying in shape".....it also means that with a modified practice program taking place on the practice field.....we are basically making sure that the players stay healthy rather than not.....thats the basic mindset here.

[smashmouth82]

something he picked up from andy reid no doubt. every year the players comment on how brutal it is but overall they go out and do their jobs and don't complain. never hurt the eagles.

[Raven07]

i think that its not about the getting hurt and all that.....Harbaugh's focus and thesis of full contact practices and being 100 percent hands-on is certainly a concept in which, has alot of players as well as other teams around the league, tipping their hats off for the job that they/he had accomplished year after year.

noone should ever think of Football has a soft sport, thus Harbaugh is preparing his players both mentally and physically on the field, for the many many weeks of battle and constant seige that will plague all teams in the NFL.

when your out there, playing hard and going 110 percent....thats football, the full force contact....that goes for Practices as well as games......everyone must be 100 percent ready to go come game time. and thus how doi you get that way?....by going 110 percent in practices.

Harbaugh knows the importance of having everyone on the same page, and thus re-itterates his Hands-on doing with the players and staff......thats what a True Coach should do...prepare his team and staff both physically as well as mentally.....go over and through every possible game day sitaution....so that when the kick off bell sounds, nothing is left un-checked or un-noticed.

players shouldnt really complain about it because of the way it will be.....football is a physical sport, both in practice as well as games, thus none should be taken differently....and i think that the players will gain a much better, much deeper undertanding and overall knowledge of the game and how its run and what will or can go on in it. and so they will be more and more prepared for any possible sitaution.

[Ravens_Pwn12]

hopefully it makes us better