Lovie Smith Conducting Football Enrichment Clinics And Giving Player Led Workouts Little Value

Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune, reported the Bears coaching staff are using the extended off-season to perform extensive self-scouting and conducting daily coaching clinics for the staff.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith refers to these clinics as "football enrichment".

 

Coaching Clinics

Pompei reported that offensive coordinator Mike Martz coaches how he teaches quarterbacks to throw. Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli coaches a pass-rushing seminar.

Today the bears are inviting Tony Dungy to visit and share ideas.

"We're just going to talk football for a day," Smith said. "There aren't a whole lot of us still in our system who believe in it the way we do. We're pumped about him coming."

Player-led Workouts

Pompei wrote "Player-led workouts, such as those Jay Cutler has taken part in, are a poor substitute for OTAs (organized team activities). Without a playbook to work on and coaches to instruct players on mechanics and technique, the potential for improvement is minimal.

Smith seems to agree. "It's a good thing whenever teammates can get together and work out, but as far as really getting ready for the season, it doesn't do it," Smith said. "Why would you go through OTAs if that was the case? When our players get here, we're saying we're starting from scratch."

Smith and Pompei make good points, but why discourage your players from trying. These players are demonstrating that they care and taking the initiative to do something rather than make excuses like others are doing.

In an interview with KHTK-AM (1140) in Sacramento, Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he has not worked out with any of his teammates. He told KHTK that it's not exactly easy to get together with his receivers, since they live all over the country.

"Donald (Driver) lives in Houston, and he's not going anywhere," Rodgers said. "Greg (Jennings) lives in Michigan. James (Jones) lives in San Jose. Jordy (Nelson) lives in Kansas. And Brett Swain lives in San Diego so to get those together who are all married and living with kids, is tough to do. We're going to try, but it's going to be difficult."

Statements like this fuels the fire about the greed of the players. These guys would be attending OTA's and minicamp's if not for the lockout, so too say "We're going to try, but it's going to be difficult," doesn't speak highly of the players commitment to their team of fans.

I for one am glad Cutler and the offense are making an attempt and believe it will be off in the long-run.