Tampa Bay Buccaneers Need To Make Preseason Games Count

It’s said that preseason games don’t count, so why play them? Make them regular season, some say. Ask a rookie trying to make one of the 32 teams in the NFL if the preseason counts and you’ll get a big yes. Ask a rookie that made the team because he had a good camp and a great preseason if those four non-games counted. You bet. 

Preseason counts for reps too. Nothing is better than contact to prepare football players for the real season. It’s not like NASCAR where drivers can simulate the race with video technology, feel the track almost. But none of them can feel the heat or the bumps doing video. That takes race day.

Football players learn much from film and playbooks and none of that is contact, but that necessary study falls way short of the actual contact on the field.

That said, many NFL teams keep their stars on the sideline during the preseason. That’s prudent too. The balance between getting reps and avoiding injuries is always a difficult call. 

The two-preseason game concept is not an issue here. It’s no secret that most veterans don’t put all on the line during preseason games even if they are not held back, so adding two more brutally competitive games to the regular season might not be such a great idea. More injuries possible and any gain is suspect.

Fans get plenty of NFL action in 16 games that count. And then fans get playoffs and the Super Bowl.

Besides, give the rookies a chance. Let them all strive so a few can thrive later. 

The Buccaneers have an abundance of rookies and low-year experienced players needing evaluation. This preseason could be exciting to watch as many strive for limited positions. The games will count for those selected.

Fans get to see action even if the points mean little when the big quest begins.

Aug. 14—Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins
Aug. 21—Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aug. 28—Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sept. 2—Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans 

Photo credit: Ronde Barber by Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com.