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NFL: Five Reasons Why OTAs Are Important

By John Sarianides

May 26, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks on as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to pass downfield during OTA
May 26, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) looks on as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to pass downfield during OTA /
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NFL offseason training activities are about more than just conditioning. Teams lay the foundation for the upcoming season at OTAs.

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“OTA” has become a common term in a football fans vernacular nowadays but what exactly are OTAs? OTA stands for Organized Team Activities. Up until five years ago, most football fans had no idea OTAs existed, but thanks to the collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011, OTAs have taken on an added importance. Not only are they important for the teams, but they are important for the fans and the media as well.

So what do teams do at OTAs? Contrary to what most people think, the players don’t just show up, lift weights, condition and do drills. They do a lot more than that. Here are five reasons why OTAs are important and why you should pay attention to what your team is doing in the offseason.

1. Develop Camaraderie: I know most people think that camaraderie is overrated in sports but it still matters in football. OTAs are a chance for the veterans to get back together and begin working towards the upcoming season. It is also an opportunity for them to meet new teammates, young and old. OTAs are also their first opportunity to work with a new coaching staff, assuming a coaching change was made. Team bonding still matters in football. The sooner a team can bond, the better. OTAs afford teams the opportunity to build that much-desired preseason camaraderie.

2. Review Base Schemes: OTAs are a good opportunity for coaches to review the playbook. Offensively, the offensive staff would review huddle procedure, personnel groupings, formations, base runs, nickel runs, dime runs, three step pass plays, five step pass plays, seven step pass plays, screens and no huddle procedure. Defensively, the defensive staff would review base fronts, coverages, pressure packages, sub packages and communication. Typically, most coaching staffs won’t spend a lot of time on reviewing, but they’ll go over their base concepts before they install new plays and concepts for training camp and the upcoming season.

3. Install New Schemes and Concepts: Teams use OTAs to introduce new concepts and install new plays. These new plays are installed in meetings and run on the field . Depending on what’s being installed, teams may or may not show the “new stuff” during the pre-season. More often than not, teams will run more out of their base offense and defense during the pre-season and break out the new plays at the start of the regular season.

4. Evaluate Players Conditioning: Coaches don’t spend as much time with their players in the offseason as they used to. The onus is more on the players now to stay in shape in the offseason. If they are not in shape when they come into OTAs, it could be costly. This is especially true for guys who are looking to crack the training camp roster.     

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5. Identify Talent that Can Be Added to the 90 Man Roster: OTAs are a great opportunity for coaches to evaluate talent. Most teams know who their starters but depth is still an issue. OTAs give coaches a chance to evaluate young players and veterans alike and figure out who they want to put on the training camp roster.   

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