NFL OTA Rules 2015: Explaining Offseason's Workout and Contact Regulations

NFL OTAs, or organized team activities, are set to get underway this week for some teams, leaving many fans likely pondering what exactly comprises these programs. So let's break it down. 

Here's how the NFL offseason works. There are three phases in each team's voluntary nine-week offseason program, per the collective bargaining agreement passed on by NFL.com (which also has the tentative dates for team programs):

• Phase 1: Players can undergo strength and conditioning, rehabilitation from injuries and nothing else during this period. This phase lasts two weeks.

• Phase 2: On-field instruction and drills are allowed, but contact is not permitted and offensive and defensive players cannot be pitted against one another in drills. This phase lasts three weeks. 

• Phase 3: Teams are permitted 10 days of OTAs. Again, contact isn't allowed but seven-on-seven, nine-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills are allowed. This phase lasts four weeks, and teams are also allowed to hold a mandatory veteran minicamp during this time. 

Teams are also allowed to hold a rookie football development program over the course of seven weeks, including a rookie minicamp. 

For many players, then, the OTAs are a chance to get acclimated with a system, while for teams it's the opportunity to see how players might fit into the scheme. 

For the Houston Texans this year, for example, it will be a chance for potential starting quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett to show their stuff—and for Hoyer to re-acclimate with Bill O'Brien, as he told Deepi Sidhu of the team's official website:

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It’s not new - for me, it’s kind of just getting back on the bike. You learn to ride a bike and whether you don’t ride it for a year or two, you can pick it up pretty quickly. There’s some adjustments, especially with (George) Godsey being the offensive coordinator. It’s been a great three weeks so far of getting re-acclimated and learning the nuances that he’s kind of put his own spin on.

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Meanwhile, David Helman of the Dallas Cowboys' official site thinks the team will use the OTAs to determine its running back situation:

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Ever since the draft ended, we’ve heard the Cowboys say that they aren’t ruling out the possibility of adding another running back before the season. If I had to take an educated guess, I’d say they’re going to use OTAs and minicamp to take a hard look at the guys on the roster. Those practices should give them a better idea of how well they can handle it. If they aren’t confident in those four by the end of OTAs, I bet they’ll go add another guy this summer. 

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Yes, training camp and the preseason are where teams can really make the most educated decisions and evaluations of their rosters. There's no substitute for seeing how players perform once the pads go on and in live-game situations, while injuries also factor into the decision-making process. 

But the OTAs give participating players and teams a leg up on the process. And, of course, they give fans another chance to find out what exactly is happening with the team and which players are impressing coaches and all of the other little tidbits all of us NFL addicts love.