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How are NFL players able to memorize plays and recall them during games?

Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:20 pm
Posted by hikingfan
Member since Jun 2013
1679 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:20 pm
If history is anything to go by, NFL players don't seem to be a very bright bunch for the most part - OJ, Aaron Hernandez, Adrian Peterson etc.... the list goes on... What surprises me the most is that these players who seem to lack basic common sense and intelligence when they do stupid shite off the field are able to memorize hundreds of pages of playbook and are able to recall each one of them instantaneously when the QB calls them out in the heat of the moment in a game. How are they able to do that? Does the NFL train these players on their memory development and powers of recall? I'm kinda curious to know. Their stupidity off the field seems to be at odds with the brain power they display on the field.
This post was edited on 10/9/14 at 5:23 pm
Posted by LSUzealot
Napoleon and Magazine
Member since Sep 2003
57656 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:20 pm to
quote:

How are NFL players able to memorize plays and recall them in the heated environs of the g


I get your post, but WAT….and to answer your question, only a select handful can be a QB which requires you to know where everyone is at all times…it's not anymore difficult than taking a comprehensive college final…study a bit and you got it.
This post was edited on 10/9/14 at 5:23 pm
Posted by ReauxlTide222
St. Petersburg
Member since Nov 2010
84559 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:21 pm to
They've played football for 20+ years dude..

This post was edited on 10/9/14 at 5:23 pm
Posted by PrimeTime Money
Houston, Texas, USA
Member since Nov 2012
27496 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:22 pm to
It's not that hard.
Posted by TigerBait1127
Houston
Member since Jun 2005
47336 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:22 pm to
Repetition
Posted by WicKed WayZ
Louisiana Forever
Member since Sep 2011
32312 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:23 pm to
It's their job. I assume in they study and watch film almost all of the time.

The good ones anyway.
Posted by Grit-Eating Shin
You're an Idiot
Member since May 2013
8451 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:25 pm to
Other than QB, I think they only have to memorize their part in a particular play, which is only a small part of the overall play terminology. A RB only has to know which hole to hit, or where to block, etc. A WR only needs to know his routes.

Also, football is really all they ever do or think about.
Posted by PrimeTime Money
Houston, Texas, USA
Member since Nov 2012
27496 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:26 pm to
I never played football, so I don't know how extensive their playbooks are, but I did work at a sandwich shop in high school with some of the dumbest people on the planet.

And amazingly, they were able to memorize the menu and know everything that came on the multitude of sandwiches on the menu.

Every sandwich came with a different dressing, combination of vegetables, meats, cheeses, etc.

It just takes time and even morons can memorize stuff.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
122574 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:27 pm to
That's all the know.
Posted by schexyoung
Deaf Valley
Member since May 2008
6548 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:28 pm to
The plays aren't random combinations. There is a structure with the play call nomenclature. One part of the play call always indicates personnel, then the formation, the actually play, the motions, the snap, etc. They are then combined in different ways to form a "language" of sorts, that becomes interchangeable. Not very difficult if you speak/read/watch it every day.

This post was edited on 10/9/14 at 5:28 pm
Posted by SabiDojo
Open to any suggestions.
Member since Nov 2010
84204 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:29 pm to
Easy, flash cards.
Posted by Tiger1242
Member since Jul 2011
32167 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:32 pm to
My high school basketball team had 70+ plays my senior year and we all had them memorized practicing 2 hrs/day. These guys practice WAY more than that, plus film, advanced stats, position coaches, ect...

It's not that hard
Posted by GeauxLSUGeaux
1 room down from Erin Andrews
Member since May 2004
23868 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:41 pm to
If they paid you 1 million a year to memorize 100 plays, you're gonna memorize the plays. It's not like you're studying astrophysics.
Posted by LeonPhelps
Member since May 2008
8185 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:41 pm to
Depending on the complexity of the offense and the intelligence of the player and the position, it can take a full year. Linemen can learn more quickly because there are only so many blocking schemes. But receivers and running backs have to learn a myriad of route combinations.

Pierre Garcon did not play outside of special teams his rookie year because it took him a full year to learn the playbook of the Colts. His second season was 2009 when he was pivotal in helping the team to the super bowl. He led the league in receptions last year.

The Broncos used their 2nd round pick on a Demaryus Thomas clone in Cody Latimer, but the guy has yet to take a single offensive snap and has been a healthy scratch for weeks. The reason is that he still has not learned the playbook.

Brandon Cooks must be smarter than most or they really simplify his responsibility for him to be such a cog in the Saints offense already.
Posted by BayouBandit24
Member since Aug 2010
16643 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:44 pm to
you don't have to know what everyone on the play does, just your part.

Normally there is some sort of number system and key words to know. The play may be 6 words long but all your listening for is that one word related to you.

For example, it could be like "Purple penis 56 alpha dildo pants" and the slot receiver would know to run a 6 route.
Posted by Boomshockalocka
Member since Feb 2004
59731 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 5:49 pm to
Having common sense and being able to memorize things are in no way related not sure what correlation you are trying to make.
Posted by S
RIP Wayde
Member since Jan 2007
158256 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 6:21 pm to
Do you even personnel packages bro
Posted by MottLaneKid
Gonzales
Member since Apr 2012
4543 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 7:10 pm to
Rosetta Stone.
Posted by cajunx2
Edgefield,SC
Member since Jul 2005
417 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 7:30 pm to
Have you ever met Army personnel? Training. Training. Training.
Posted by Jcorye1
Tom Brady = GoAT
Member since Dec 2007
72572 posts
Posted on 10/9/14 at 7:49 pm to
I'd have to dig it up, but playbooks are pretty easy to read and memorize.
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