Training Camp Part 1

Hey Friends,

As you all may know, I recently finished up with training camp, a crucial part of the NFL pre-season. Training camp influences your performance and installs the tools necessary for a productive season. The most beneficial outcome is the mindset you leave with. Once you are on the field, you don’t think; you act with instinct. With the right mindset a player will make the best split-second decisions on the field.

During camp, my days last from 6:30am-10pm and are spent doing nothing but preparing for the season. I love all the drills and the contact I get with the other players. Every year it helps me refine my techniques and allows me to take another step towards maturity in the game.

The best part about camp is the trust you gain for and from your teammates. You start to look at the man standing next to you on the field differently. Training all day helps us form a brotherhood. We joke around, act up, and even open up to each other. We talk about things you don’t talk about in normal conversation. Bonding helps you feel safe; like you couldn’t think of anyone better to have your back on that field.

I still remember my first training camp experience being very intense. I was a little bitter, because I had been drafted in the third round. Seeing other linebackers get picked before me left a chip on my shoulder. I felt then that I had to prove my worth to the league. I came up with a strategy; I was going to go run around the field just hitting everyone with as much force as possible. As foolish as it was it actually worked, and I am grateful for that today. Before I knew it people were saying, “Lance may not know what he is doing at the moment, but he will hit you”. Hitting everyone as hard as I could proved that I belonged and soon people started to listen.

Lance