Why preseason prep football practice matters

There’s no avoiding the excitement of prep football season.

The glitz, the glamour … the Friday night lights.

But it’s also important to remember the lead-up to Aug. 21, when most of the state’s teams play their first IHSA game. For nearly a month players sweat in the summer heat, honing their skills to be sure they hit the ground running.

This edition of the High Five looks at why preseason football practice matters.

5. Summer fun

Team camps and 7-on-7 passing competitions are great ways to fill the summer. Coaches are able to evaluate talent levels to a certain extent, especially at quarterback and the skill positions.

It’s the closest we get to football, but it’s not real football.

Until the pads come on and guys consistently start hitting each other in 11-on-11 situations, we have no idea how teams will come together. Line play is where games are won and lost, and it’s not until practice ramps up when everything starts to gel.

4. Call ups

Football is all about physicality. High school is dominated by juniors and seniors because they’ve come up through the ranks and have matured enough physically to handle the load of a long season.

But now’s the time when coaches tinker with sophomores — and sometimes freshmen — to see if they can compete and stand up to the pounding of varsity players one or two years older.

Some of these names we already know because they’ve been on recruiting radars. Others will surprise, starting in the next couple weeks.

3. Position battles

Most quarterback competitions are settled. Either there’s a returning starter, or a front-runner emerged in the offseason.

But what about that fifth offensive line spot? We’ve got depth at linebacker, what if we moved one of them to safety? Or could one of those guys thrive on the line?

Coaches would love to enter camp with every starting spot settled, but it never happens. While nothing’s ever set in stone, these few weeks are critical in determining who takes the field for the opener.

2. Final install

The drive for five wins and a nearly-guaranteed playoff spot no longer exists because of the expansion of the postseason. Now you can have three wins and likely still qualify.

But make no mistake, every team still wants to win.

Game-planning has been going on for months through offensive and defensive installs. Working on yourself is the obvious priority.

Now it’s time to prepare for that first opponent. Which key players are returning for them? Are their coaches back, running the same schemes? What did they show over the summer? Any tape on them from last year?

1. Who’s been working?

There’s no hiding in preseason football practice. If players truly have been hard at work in the weight room and if they’ve attended offseason workouts, it’ll start showing now.

For those who entered this month a step behind, it may be tough to catch up. Players earning playing time in the preseason don’t give it up without a fight.

It’s a hard lesson for a lot of players, but there’s always someone working harder than you. Unless, of course, you make sure it doesn’t happen by putting in the work in February and not just August.

kschmit@dailyherald.com