If you’ve been keeping up with the NFL’s pre-season workouts, you’ll know that the league’s biggest games tend to involve a big number of athletes competing in weightlifting, running, swimming and other athletic activities.
And, of course, you probably know that most of the games are held in the dome, the kind of arena where fans typically congregate to watch the action.
But the NFL, for some reason, hasn’t kept pace with the times.
Here are seven key takeaways from the week of training camp workouts.1.
All eyes on a couple of guysThe NFL has plenty of talent at its disposal for its regular-season opener.
Here’s a look at what we’re likely to see at each position during the week.1) Safety: The Steelers are coming off of their biggest win of the preseason, when they beat the Panthers 41-23.
The Steelers will need to continue to keep their starters on the field and get their guys healthy for this game.2) Running back: Le’Veon Bell and Giovani Bernard are in the thick of things in the backfield.
Bell will be in the mix for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, while Bernard could win the MVP award.3) Wide receiver: We haven’t seen much of Josh Gordon yet.
But he did get the nod for the NFL MVP award, so expect a lot of the attention to him.4) Linebacker: The Bengals have plenty of depth at linebacker.
And the Steelers might have to play a lot less of them than they did last season.5) Defensive end: The Falcons have lost several starters, but their defensive line has plenty to prove.
The Packers are one of the league leaders in sacks, and the Lions have a ton of talent in that area.6) Defensive tackle: There are a lot going on with the Steelers’ defense.
They need to play to their strengths, and it will be interesting to see if Antonio Brown, the MVP candidate last season, can get back to his pre-lockout form.7) Defensive back: Safety James Harrison is a big reason why the Falcons have been so successful, and he’s expected to be among the team’s top cover men.8) Defensive lineman: The Broncos are going to be one of those teams that is a lot more physical than the Packers.
But they also have a lot to prove, and this is a team that needs to play smart.9) Cornerback: The Patriots have had a rough season so far, but cornerback Logan Ryan has shown his ability to make plays.
The Jets’ cornerback position might be the biggest question mark, and there’s a lot riding on that one.10) Running backs: The Jets are a great team to watch this preseason.
The Lions have the most talented running back in the league, but it won’t be easy for them to keep up with Ezekiel Elliott and the rest of the NFL.11) Wide receivers: The Seahawks are one to watch.
The Colts are another team that could be vulnerable, and both teams are going up against teams that are getting a lot out of their receivers.12) Tight end: It will be tough for the Cowboys to keep Matt Barkley, but Dallas is going to have to do everything it can to keep tight ends in the game.
They also have an injury situation at tight end.13) Linebackers: Safety Devin McCourty and defensive tackle Dontari Poe are the only linebackers on the Bears’ roster.
But both are capable of playing a big role.14) Lineup QB: Matt Barkley is back and ready to go, and Carson Wentz will be the clear-cut starter.
The Eagles’ defense will be a big part of that, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be effective in pass protection.15) Lineout: There’s a good chance that Matt Ryan will have a good game.
The Cowboys will be looking to stay away from the Bills’ passing game and get back on track.16) Wide Receiver: The Colts have had to replace a lot from the previous group.
They’ll be looking for consistency and a lot fewer turnovers.17) Defensive line: The Ravens are going into camp with a lot on their plate.
And while they’ve already lost some key players, they still have enough talent to keep the pressure on the quarterback.18) Defensive End: The Cardinals are going all in on Khalil Mack, and they’ll have a big problem against the Raiders’ defense this season.
They’re also going to need to protect some of their stars, including running back Todd Gurley, who was a top-five pick in the draft.19) Cornerbacks: The Packers have a number of cornerbacks on their roster, but they’ve had to deal with injuries and suspensions.
They should be able to compete for a few key players in this game, and that includes Khalil McDowell, who has played well
