Ravens to switch back to natural grass in 2016

[Bltravens]

Even just playing competitive flag now, tournaments just destroy my body.  5 games in 2 days running on field turf and I am wrecked.

[H8ME]

Love this. Football should be played on natural grass.

[redrum52]

You definitely notice the difference. Grass is softer and though can make for harder cuts is a more body friendly surface. Also seems easier to get cleats stuck in turf which results in some of these freak knee, leg or ankle injuries.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

This is a no brainer. The NFL has been burying its head in the artificial turf for years and the chicken's come home to roost.  They have been treating the symptom rather than the disease, that is, the cause and effect of so many concussions, not to mention the joint injuries. Having your head slam onto a solid concrete slab cushioned by 2 inches of artificial turf & carpet padding is a prescription for a bad headache. I applaud the Ravens for once again being proactive on an issue that affects the players' well-being.

[BmoreBird22]

So, during the game, I stumbled across a stat provided by the NFL when they conducted some research on injuries. 

 

Knee sprains as a whole are 22% more likely to occur on turf and ACL sprains are 67% more likely to occur on turf.

 

It's not surprise when you consider that it's a slab of concrete with like two inches of cushion and artificial grass over top of it. It's incredibly unforgiving to the body every time a player lands on it because most of that force is going to be returned right back to the body. 

 

Anyway, though, we should hopefully see less injuries with the Ravens going to grass.

[GrimCoconut]

So, during the game, I stumbled across a stat provided by the NFL when they conducted some research on injuries. 

 

Knee sprains as a whole are 22% more likely to occur on turf and ACL sprains are 67% more likely to occur on turf.

 

It's not surprise when you consider that it's a slab of concrete with like two inches of cushion and artificial grass over top of it. It's incredibly unforgiving to the body every time a player lands on it because most of that force is going to be returned right back to the body. 

 

Anyway, though, we should hopefully see less injuries with the Ravens going to grass.

Good research. Thanks for posting this!

[PurpleCity5]

So, during the game, I stumbled across a stat provided by the NFL when they conducted some research on injuries. 

 

Knee sprains as a whole are 22% more likely to occur on turf and ACL sprains are 67% more likely to occur on turf.

 

It's not surprise when you consider that it's a slab of concrete with like two inches of cushion and artificial grass over top of it. It's incredibly unforgiving to the body every time a player lands on it because most of that force is going to be returned right back to the body. 

 

Anyway, though, we should hopefully see less injuries with the Ravens going to grass.

I never thought much of the grass vs turf thing. I really hope this works in our favor. 

[GrimCoconut]

I never thought much of the grass vs turf thing. I really hope this works in our favor. 

Not being funny, but have you ever played football on grass and turf?

[PurpleCity5]

Not being funny, but have you ever played football on grass and turf?

Played on grass, never played on Turf, at least I don't think I have lol 

[GrimCoconut]

Played on grass, never played on Turf, at least I don't think I have lol 

Turf is really hard and noticeably different than grass. I'm not sure where you live, but go find yourself a turf field at a local school and run on it. You can just tell it's turf, too, just by looking at it. I can give you some places to go if you don't know where. Any of the community colleges in the Baltimore County area use turf. 

[PurpleCity5]

Turf is really hard and noticeably different than grass. I'm not sure where you live, but go find yourself a turf field at a local school and run on it. You can just tell it's turf, too, just by looking at it. I can give you some places to go if you don't know where. Any of the community colleges in the Baltimore County area use turf. 

Wow, what exactly is beneficial about turf then? Is it cheaper? I don't hear anything good about turf quite honestly and its a good thing that we are switching back. Maybe some time later when I head to school I'll check out the turf field. 

[GrimCoconut]

Wow, what exactly is beneficial about turf then? Is it cheaper? I don't hear anything good about turf quite honestly and its a good thing that we are switching back. Maybe some time later when I head to school I'll check out the turf field. 

It's significantly easier to maintain and it is more consistent. Since grass is natural, it can also suffer from the sinkhole that Tucker found his foot in on that kick in the Niners' new stadium. It's hard to have consistent grass field since it is nature. 

[PurpleCity5]

It's significantly easier to maintain and it is more consistent. Since grass is natural, it can also suffer from the sinkhole that Tucker found his foot in on that kick in the Niners' new stadium. It's hard to have consistent grass field since it is nature. 

Oh ok I see, If I call recall, I believe Ray Lewis said he prefers grass over turf and has advocated it. I'm sure other players have advocated for it as well. 

Edited December 21, 2015 by PurpleCity5

[Mad Puppy]

Sadly too late for 2015...

 

Glad to hear switching back to grass, the stats on the Ligament sprains really stands out considering Perrimans' odyssey this year.

Wonder if the concussions, broken arm, Achilles tear, etc....was the nail in the coffin.

[JO_75]

I'm just kinda curious if they are some injury stats out there for natural grass vs a field turf. I can't think of injuries we have had that would have not happened if we had grass installed any previous year.

[terrynjulia03]

I'm just kinda curious if they are some injury stats out there for natural grass vs a field turf. I can't think of injuries we have had that would have not happened if we had grass installed any previous year.

There are a ton. Google it. Unfortunatly even scientists cant agree. One study shows a significant jump in lower leg injuries, than another group counters saying its nill. However all things considered there is a chart out there, lower leg injuries for the Ravens have INCREASED since we switched to the turf. All things considered, not to mention the players voted on it and thats good enough for me.

[Militant X 1]

Whether its on turf or grass players will still get injured.  Grass is preferable!

[K-Dog]

I think they should switch to bubble wrap.

The sound alone would be tons of fun.

[Nightman]

Last time they had grass, they filmed the Replacements when the team wasn't playing there during the season.  Switching from "Ravens 2000" to Washington (for the Sentinels) took its toll and all that painting and repainting at the end of the season, took its toll and it look like black colored dirt in the endzone at the end of the year..

[Bullrush]

Honestly I say take a vote from the Raven players and do what they want. They are the guys playing on the field not the front offices not the coaches and not the owner. Try to make the players as comfortable as possible. I like the grass idea but I am not a player.

 

But that would make sense, so why bother. It's like asking the fans to pick our uniforms (colors).

[LosT_in_TranSlatioN]

We can make the world's first bionic grass

Unless it's grass that can instantly heal an ACL injury me no want. Eventually an M. Night thing will happen and it'll take over the world.

[52520Andrew]

Unless it's grass that can instantly heal an ACL injury me no want. Eventually an M. Night thing will happen and it'll take over the world.

What a twist!

[Militant X 1]

I'm just kinda curious if they are some injury stats out there for natural grass vs a field turf. I can't think of injuries we have had that would have not happened if we had grass installed any previous year.

 

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sportsdoc/Grass-vs-Turf-does-it-affect-injury-rate.html

[Grapple Raven]

Besides injury patterns of ACL tears, concussions and ankle injuries related to turf, I've also read reports that cite the instances of turf toe was unique to artificial turf surfaces.  Hopefully we will see a decrease in these injury patterns for the players sake. Time will tell.

 

As related to turf, the greater the traction the higher the injury rate, so if grass has less traction than turf, then the worry would be a decrease in performance due to "slips".   But I hope that we will also take a good look at the shoes and cleats required to be the most effective on grass as the shoes you practice and play in should be a big part of an injury reduction program.  

 

There is also the worry about field conditions if more teams or other events are played on the grass surfaces which could downgrade the playing surface.  Makes me think of the field conditions at Heinz Field which are notoriously horrible, as they let anybody and everybody play on their field.  But I'm sure Biscotti will give our players the best natural grass surface possible.

 

If that is what our players want, I'm all for it.  If it is only amounts to one injury less, that is still a good thing.

 

Interesting article about the best and worst NFL fields as it relates to turf vs. grass for this year:

 

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/10/01/nfl-stadium-turf-grass-rankings