The NFL season comprises of eighteen weeks of action, and then there’s the post-season. But, when it comes to progress, many will suggest that it’s the off-season where the real magic happens. And the work put in at this point will go on to benefit everyone.
Of course, because of how intense the season is and that all the focus is on the next game and then the next game, there’s a period in the off-season where everyone – players and staff – will have that time to reconnect and spend time with friends and loved ones.
But, what’s also important are the connections that will gather together in the offseason within franchises and the league to deliver more progress across the board. There is always a desire to keep the juggernaut that is the NFL moving forward at pace, and that generally happens by continuing to improve and moult the overall product.
One of the critical areas was improving the product overall and making progress in the off-season is to push the NFL further on the global front. There is evidence that the NFL is becoming a worldwide product, with insightful data showing that interest is generated thanks to online NFL betting, especially when fan forums and the like get involved. But there’s more work to do, and the off-season is generally when it happens.
Of course, during the off-season is when franchises will be plotting their next moves on the personnel front too. The league, as everyone knows, is incredibly evenly matched. Each team can beat each other on their day, so being able to gain the edge by getting the upper hand via the free agency or annual draft routes is vital. And again, there’s no real-time to put the work in during the season, as everyone is focused on winning.
The off-season is also the time for progress for staff and players. Coaches can never stop bettering themselves as professionals and people. It could be a case of looking at how the team performed and what could have been done better from a coaching point of view. Other coaches are going to improve, and squads may even look to fire and hire better, so staff cannot afford not to make progress during the post-season, or they’ll be left behind.
In the off-season, players must first ensure they’re staying in the right condition. They’re better off staying prepared consistently than having a drop-off and having to fight to get back to the level they should be at. And in terms of progress, again, it’s about staying consistent and using the post-season to analyse and find areas where it’s possible to eke out an extra few percent.
The NFL schedule moves in sections, with the season being tunnel-vision almost because winning is what counts. However, the area where real progress is made across the board is in the off-season, and it’s everyone who benefits – the league, franchises, players, coaches, staff and fans.
