The opening days of the 2024 NFL preseason provided a ton of excitement as fans geared up for their first taste football after a long offseason. As we dream of the season to come, Week 1 gave us a little taste about what teams and players might be serving up. Here Bagshaw takes a critical look at the movers and shakers ahead of us… Friday night’s triple-header was especially revealing, as an array of new talents made their presence known alongside established names.”With season one in the bag each team is beginning to reveal some early cards about what they’ve got up their collective sleeves. Read on for the biggest things we learned in each game and what it could mean as they pertain to the NFL season ahead.
Game 1: The Youth Movement, Part I
The first game of the triplehead billed as Game for the Future featured a group of young quarterbacks hungry to cement their legacy. The preseason is a crucial time for many teams to assess the succession plan under center, and Friday’s games did not disappoint on that front.
Emerging Star: Quarterback A
Quarterback A: QB1 is going to argue that he wasn’t on the field, but it seemed like they won with ease and all of his throws were ‘off-target’, conveniently hitting receivers in stride. It was his quick decision-making that really shined here, he read defenses well and played with a maturity beyond his years. This should be the most challenging test of Quarterback A’s young career and make him one to monitor very closely for 2020.
Struggles for Quarterback B
Crappy QB B, on the other hand had issues all game. He flashed glimpses of what he could be, but his performance was crippled by inconsistency. Both his coaches and the fans will now be keeping a close eye on him, to check if he rediscovering his feet in subsequent weeks.
Game 2: Defensive Dominance
In second game of the night we saw a defensive battle This ended up being a lower scoring but solid contest as both units appeared focused on limiting their opponents chances.
Defense Wins Championships
The old saying “defense wins championships” was apparent in this game. The strength of Team A was definitely their defense, which consistently harassed the quarterback and created turnovers. How well they disrupt the opposing offense will be key for their success this season.
Defensive Lineman C Standout Player
Defensive Lineman C — Multiple sacks, game-changer helping his team win the match. His non-stop motor to the quarterback and at 391 pounds played a significant role in that as he was literally never tired on either pass rushes nor running plays. If he continues playing at his current level, Defensive Lineman C should even be in the running for DPOY.
Game 3: Rookies Stepping Up
The finale of the tripleheader showcased numerous rookies looking to make an impact at the next level. Typically, the preseason can be when rookies do their best work to stand out and Friday night was no different.
Rookie Standout: WR D
The instant rapport wide receiver D had with Durant was on full display, as the speedster hauled in a number of catches and showed great fluidity making cuts. It became quickly evident in training camp the chemistry between he and Relph was there as he instantly turned into a favourite target. Performance from Wide Receiver D has likely him earned more reps as the preseason wears on.
Challenges for Rookie E
Wide Receiver D performed well, but Rookie E struggled. Attacks the DB and gets some useful advice from viewOn one play, it was suspect whether or not he actually knew what route to be running at all. Yet, it is the preseason and there are a lot of games left for Rookie E to get this thing turned around.
Lessons Learned from Coaching Strategies
The preseason is not only an individual showcase but it gives the coaches a chance to prepare and work on different packages in their cultural system. By seeing how teams approached their games on Friday, we gained useful information for what will happen in the regular season.
Innovative Offenses
A number of teams showed off some new tricks on offense, looking to stretch the field and take advantage of their speed in space. Team B has great success in using its motion and misdirection to keep the defense off balance, sometimes resulting straight up big play opportunities. Team B has the potential to be one of the more dynamic offenses as long they can sharpen up these tactics.
Defensive Adjustments
In less than a month of playing each other, teams had already figured out the new offensive wrinkles they were seeing on the defensive side. The ability of Team C to consistently change their coverage schemes on the fly really put a clamp down on what had been an effective offense. Teams face numerous offensive looks throughout the season, and this adaptability is critical.
Influence on the Year: Damage Worries
However, it is also a time of the year where injuries can really disrupt what teams have in store. Only 31 days before NFL football is back, however Friday’s games had them some key players go down raising concerns about their availability for the regular season.
Key Injury: Running Back F
Injury: F -article here Running Back suffered a long term injury, and the team could be without him for weeks. Team D, an outfit that was expected to rely on him for the vast majority of their offense would be left reeling if he were unable suit up. This means the team will need to lean on their positional depth and hope Toliver recovers quickly.
Next Man Up Mentality
Injuries are going to happen in the NFL and teams have to go with a “next man up” mentality. Backup Running Back G (or should I say Starting Running Back when the first string goes down with injury!) put on a strong performance in place of an injured starter, which Team E demonstrated Friday. His ability to step in and impact the void left by that injury could be key for a team preparing for all of 2021’s twists.
Special Teams: The X-Factor
QUICK HITS: Special teams can be the difference in winning and losing A lot of the chaos that ensued on Friday came from special teams plays that were huge in changing games.
Game Breaker: Punt Return Score
A breathtaking touchdown return on a punt by the electrifying return man of Team F. The game-changing plays he’s capable of are a testament to the impact special teams has on every NFL matchup. Now coaches will be preaching the value of disciplined coverage units to avoid many a game-changing moment.
Kicking Woes
It was not all roses and sunshine for the special teams though. On the other hand, Team G did struggle with their kicking game — missing a couple of field goals that could have changed the entire outcome. Team G will need to get the kicking game consistent moving forward into this week and beyond as a priority with the regular season on its way.
What to Watch For in Week 2
Here are some of the other storylines that will be worth monitoring as the preseason progresses. Although Week 1 was meant to show you the best way of leaning with some teams and gamers, it debatably requires place in Few days No.
Position Battles
Several position battles are still too close to call, and Week 2 will play a huge role in determining who emerges on top. The competition at Quarterback Battle H is the most heated, as both earn each other flares of greatness. The coaches will be carefully watching to see if they can decide between the four by their performances.
Injury Recoveries
In addition, teams will also monitor the health of injured players. Running Back F’s situation will be a can’t miss story, as well the continued healing of injured players league-wide. These injuries, and how teams manage them could have a real impact on the regular season.
Rookie Development
In addition, Week 2 should be about the growth of young players. Wide Receiver D will be striving to better a continued strong performance, whereas Rookie E will look for redemption. Preseason is make-or-break time for rookies to prove they belong, and Week 2 will offer another chance you do just that.
Preseason
Week 1 of the 2024 NFL preseason kicked off with plenty of action and intrigue. Those games helped reveal what teams and players show like in competitive play this season, with the real regular-season beginning 11 days from now. Week 2 is going to be even better, and what happens now will stick with us for the foreseeable future. From breakthrough performances by young quarterbacks to the return of shutdown defenses, and a rookie class beginning to make its mark just months into their careers, there are plenty. Now starts the road to Super Bowl and the 2024 season is setting up for what should be a memorable year.
