The MAC, pipeline to the NFL

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 4:54 pm

Here's an interesting article I found today about MAC players going to the NFL. The article is pretty good, even though they fail to mention J5. But that's minor. They even have a section on Jack Lambert looking for a college that would let him play football and how Kent State stepped up to the plate to give him a chance. And we all know how Jack's career choice in football worked out.

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn/sp_p ... 99,00.html

CapitalFalcon · Post by **CapitalFalcon** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:36 pm

Uhhh...Is J5 technically still in the NFL? He was released.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:20 pm

MotownFalcon wrote:Uhhh...Is J5 technically still in the NFL? He was released.

I would assume so. Being on the practice squad is still being under a contract with an NFL team.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:16 am

I think Josh is a heck of an athlete who can make a practice squad better because of how he challenges defenses. Meanwhile the practice he gets against them allows him to become a more refined player. Developing the last missing links in his skill sets will be the real test for Josh. We knew he had some aspects that were in need of work. I will assume he must do a lot of self-coaching however. I can't think they spend much time or money actively developing the practice team.

BGSUfanatUT · Post by **BGSUfanatUT** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:31 am

HOLY CRAP NWLB! Billy Dee avatar! w00t!

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:55 am

NWLB wrote:I think Josh is a heck of an athlete who can make a practice squad better because of how he challenges defenses. Meanwhile the practice he gets against them allows him to become a more refined player. Developing the last missing links in his skill sets will be the real test for Josh. We knew he had some aspects that were in need of work. I will assume he must do a lot of self-coaching however. I can't think they spend much time or money actively developing the practice team.

First of all, love the new avatar.

Secondly, you are correct that most practice squadders don't get much attention. In fact, they are not even the scout team as you elude to in your post. Most teams will use their second teamers that may actually have to play on Sunday in the practice squad role. Practice Squad guys are additional bodies in practice, but they get almost NO reps during the regular season. They may see some action during a team's bye week or if a rash of injuries occur, but generally they watch & learn.

The best place to go from the practice squad is to NFL Europe, but that sets you back for the next season. I think, though, that it would be the best thing for J5. He would go over there, and if Baltimore likes him they can make him a starter some where. That would get him valuable gametime reps against live competition. The downside is that he then comes back to America after playing a full season of NFLE (6-8 games I think?) then immediately has to go through the rigors of training camp and compete for a roster spot against guys who have fresh legs coming off an offseason. NFLE is a great place to learn, but it is very difficult for someone to play a lot over there then come back to training camp and not start to show some signs of fatigue.

In the end, I still think that NFLE is the right thing for J5 to do if he ever wants to move from practice squad to active roster.