03-18-2019, 10:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2019, 08:47 PM by JKortesi81.)
Oh boy. Today was my first day training with a DSFL team. It was my first official day as a Portland Python. And I couldn't have been more excited to start the grind and to get to know the team. Once I heard the news that Portland was my new home, I immediately knew that I'd fit right in.
I'll be honest though; it wasn't anything like I expected. Coming straight out of college, I thought the practices, meetings, and schemes would all be somewhat similar to the way that I'm used to. Boy was I wrong. Everything was so official, efficient, and, honestly, professional. The Pythons are a very well managed organization.
One thing stuck out to me more than anything else today though. While I was walking through the facility for the first time, I overheard two veteran players talking about the coaching staff. They were having a discussion about the preseason training camps and all of the adjustments that would be made on the team to accommodate for the group of rookies.
"It's going to be really tough this time around; they're gonna use us up," one of the players said. What does that mean? What happens after "we" get used up? I'm not the kind of guy to keep quiet when I have questions, so I decided to approach them.
After introducing myself to both players, who I learned were linebackers, I asked them to explain that ominous statement. They started laughing big hearty laughs as they saw the look of concern and confusion on my face.
They informed me that the coaching staff doesn't accept complacency in any form and constantly looks to use players in new ways. They "use players up" by taking advantage of every ounce of talent that a player possesses when designing plays and schemes. If the coaches see a glimpse of something new in a player, they'll expand on it in practice and see if it can be incorporated into games. Players aren't allowed to simply do what they know in Portland. The coaches are always looking to adapt and mold the team to meet its absolute full potential. Improvement isn't just a goal to strive for here; it's the only way to survive.
By the time the two players were done explaining all of this to me, I was smiling ear to ear. Here was the exact culture that I was looking for. I'm not looking to just be a great cornerback in the DSFL. I'm on a path to be the best one ever. What better way to do that then to keep getting pushed past the limits I think I have?
So at the conclusion of my first day on the team, I just want to reiterate: thank you to the Pythons for giving me this opportunity. I will not let any of you down. We are going to start the domination with the preseason tomorrow. Then, we are on to win the Ultimini and to have the best defensive unit in the DSFL. With the rookies and veterans of the Python squad by my side, we cannot be stopped.
I'll be honest though; it wasn't anything like I expected. Coming straight out of college, I thought the practices, meetings, and schemes would all be somewhat similar to the way that I'm used to. Boy was I wrong. Everything was so official, efficient, and, honestly, professional. The Pythons are a very well managed organization.
One thing stuck out to me more than anything else today though. While I was walking through the facility for the first time, I overheard two veteran players talking about the coaching staff. They were having a discussion about the preseason training camps and all of the adjustments that would be made on the team to accommodate for the group of rookies.
"It's going to be really tough this time around; they're gonna use us up," one of the players said. What does that mean? What happens after "we" get used up? I'm not the kind of guy to keep quiet when I have questions, so I decided to approach them.
After introducing myself to both players, who I learned were linebackers, I asked them to explain that ominous statement. They started laughing big hearty laughs as they saw the look of concern and confusion on my face.
They informed me that the coaching staff doesn't accept complacency in any form and constantly looks to use players in new ways. They "use players up" by taking advantage of every ounce of talent that a player possesses when designing plays and schemes. If the coaches see a glimpse of something new in a player, they'll expand on it in practice and see if it can be incorporated into games. Players aren't allowed to simply do what they know in Portland. The coaches are always looking to adapt and mold the team to meet its absolute full potential. Improvement isn't just a goal to strive for here; it's the only way to survive.
By the time the two players were done explaining all of this to me, I was smiling ear to ear. Here was the exact culture that I was looking for. I'm not looking to just be a great cornerback in the DSFL. I'm on a path to be the best one ever. What better way to do that then to keep getting pushed past the limits I think I have?
So at the conclusion of my first day on the team, I just want to reiterate: thank you to the Pythons for giving me this opportunity. I will not let any of you down. We are going to start the domination with the preseason tomorrow. Then, we are on to win the Ultimini and to have the best defensive unit in the DSFL. With the rookies and veterans of the Python squad by my side, we cannot be stopped.
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