Rookies get their first taste of life in the National Football League.
Dog Days of Spring?
For many NFL fans this weekend was a welcome sight. The wheels of the 2007 season are now in motion as teams begin their first official work outs in what they have dubbed "mini camp."
Most fans envision football practice in the middle of summer as most training camp sessions begin near the end of July or early August amidst the scorching summer heat. Mini camp offers teams a chance to come together under relatively cooler conditions and see what they have to offer the 2007 NFL schedule. Many rookies and off season acquisitions get to meet and greet their new teams as they prepare to make their marks in pre season.
This is the time of year where everyone is an equal, in theory everyone has the same shot at making the roster as his teammate and optimism runs at an all time high. As the business of the NFL moves forward and veterans move on it creates a number of voids on every roster. Those voids are not left unfilled as the new guys strive to earn their way onto the roster and try fearlessly to earn the respect of their teammates and coaches.
Rookies have a tougher transition than most; more than likely this is their first chance to show what they can do on the professional level. The speed and strength of their opponents and fellow players is most often what surprises them at the onset of their careers. Ryan Kalil was a second round pick this year for the Carolina Panthers and hails from one of the most successful programs at the collegiate level. The experience he got at the University of Southern California will serve him well at the next level, but even he admitted that playing against top tier talent in college doesn’t adequately prepare you for what you face in the NFL.
In a recent interview rookie Ryan Kalil told Brett Borden of Panthers.com: "“In college, every team has their All-American players,” said Kalil. “Defensively at SC, we had a bunch of them. But here at the pro level, everybody is kind of an All-American. Everybody is fast and everybody is a stud. You really can’t let down one play. It’s one of those things where you’ve got to stay on top of every bit of it. Every bit of technique and every bit of energy you have has to go into that play. At the same time, you’ve got a thousand things going on in your mind. Just adjusting to the speed, getting used to running that fast and getting the plays all settled in my mind have been the biggest adjustments.” Kalil was considered the best prospect at center in the 2007 draft class.
So get ready football fans as the days of the calendar count us down to the time of the year that we all love. The sun sets high in the sky, the winds gently stir as the fresh grass and flowers emerge from the earth, soon the blood, sweat and tears of the 2007 season will be upon us and the rookies will begin their journey in the National Football League.
