bigger practice squads? the potential impact

BIGGER PRACTICE SQUADS? The potential impact

Bucky Brooks

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-s-hottest-offensive-scheme-my-top-five-receivers-ravens-complacency

Teams using the practice squad to groom players for roles this season instead of using it as a red-shirt year. With vets also allowed to be on PS, we could see teams invest more time and $ into PS players

The practice squad could become a more integral part of a team’s success in 2020 if the NFL and NFLPA expand the size to 16 players for the season. As NFL Network’s Judy Battista and Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday, there are internal discussions on this potential change to safeguard against potential roster issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new collective bargaining agreement already boosted the squad from the 10-player limit in 2019 to 12 players for this season and next, with a further expansion to 14 players per club in 2022. The CBA also eased the eligibility requirements, with veteran players now in play. As of right now, here is who is eligible to join a practice squad:

1) Players who do not have an accrued NFL season.

2) Players who have been on an active roster for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s).

3) Players who have earned no more than two accrued seasons with any number of games.

4) Players with any number of accrued seasons.

* A team may only have four practice-squad players whose eligibility is based on Group 3, and only two from Group 4.

Savvy team-builders have always utilized the practice squad as part of a developmental plan to upgrade the talent on the 53-man roster down the road, and an expansion could provide organizations with more intriguing personnel options.

On a recent episode of the Move The Sticks Podcast, we discussed teams possibly utilizing one of the veteran spots (Group 4) to roster a quarterback with player/coach capabilities in order to help a young signal-caller prepare without violating time limits on the coaching staff set forth by the new CBA. This would enable a franchise to sign a veteran QB with extensive experience in an offensive system to serve as a mentor. He could conduct one-on-one film sessions and on-field training workouts with the newbie to help accelerate his development process. Imagine a guy like Josh McCown sitting on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster for the 2020 season to help Carson Wentz and tutor Jalen Hurts (and maybe Nate Sudfeld) as the team’s QB3/de facto QB coach.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding more veterans to a practice squad could help teams stash a few more plug-and-play guys who would allow the organization to navigate potential roster challenges that arise from positive virus tests. Additionally, the veterans would give coaches the opportunity to keep around a few “designated hitters” for the stretch run.

As a member of the Green Bay Packers in the mid-1990s, I watched Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf sign a handful of veterans each season to serve in mentor/DH roles. Those grizzled players weren’t necessarily counted on to contribute in key roles, but they were good enough to play in a pinch while also offering words of wisdom to the young players at their respective positions.

The expansion of the practice squad will also enable franchises with strong developmental programs (teams like the Seahawks and Falcons) to continue turning unheralded players into key contributors. With those teams’ front offices and coaches committed to giving young players extra attention through carefully scripted skill development sessions and classroom work, the gap between the good teams and the also-rans could grow wider.