The Hall of Fame Game is a chore for veterans. A nuisance. Just get through a series or two without busting up a knee or ankle, then head back to camp. Thats the drill. But for the rookies and?bubble guys on the roster, this extra preseason game creates an ideal stage to showcase something, anything, in the eyes of coaches and management.After playing in the Hall of Fame Game twice -- at different stages of my career -- I know firsthand that?there are?positives in Sunday nights matchup between?the Green Bay Packers?and?Indianapolis Colts.?Think about reps and opportunity for the guys trying to earn a job -- any job -- in the league. Hey, go make a play when the film is rolling. Here are a few?reasons why the game is vital for young players.Live reps are importantThe established veterans might get 10 plays Sunday night. Maybe fewer. Heck, I wouldnt even dress Aaron Rodgers?or Andrew Luck. Its not worth the risk with four more preseason games to go. Theyll both get enough work in August.But once the vets shut it down for the night, its time for the backups and roster hopefuls to get on the field. And these game reps are going to carry much more weight in the evaluation process.Yes, guys can impress the coaching staff when they show up during one-on-one drills or team periods in training-camp practice. Given the shortened offseason schedule, the elimination of two-a-days and the reduction in padded practices, however, there are only so many opportunities to move up the depth chart in camp. Plus, when the uniform goes on in the preseason, the speed of the game increases dramatically and so does the competition. And every play is graded.Think about it. These cats are fighting for a job -- and money. They are going to get hit.Sure, that applies to every preseason game, but the amount of reps in Canton is the key for the rookies and bubble guys. They are going to play almost the entire game. Thats a ton of film. And a ton of opportunity to audition for more reps in practice and more playing time in the next game.Remember, this is a process, and some seventh-round pick isnt going to make the team based on his film from Canton. But it allows those guys to start building a résumé throughout the preseason. And game reps count. Thats critical when it comes time to trim the roster.Playmakers are noticedYeah, every coach wants to see the roster hopefuls play within the scheme. I get that. That means alignment and assignment and using the coached techniques on the field. Wide receivers running their routes at the proper depth. Footwork along?the offensive line. Safeties reading their keys in Cover 2. But, really, thats just the cover charge to get in the door on an NFL team. And its expected from pro ballplayers.You want to stand out? Make a big play. Do something that excites the room when the film is turned on. Maybe thats a pick on defense, a physical run by a back in a short-yardage situation, a quarterback being aggressive and taking a shot, or an offensive lineman blasting a linebacker on a power play. Pancake that dude. And walk right over him.These impact plays resonate with the coaching staff when the?film is graded. They stick in the coaches memory. And they also stand out for the rest of the league that will grade this film. As a bubble guy, you are not only trying to make this team, but the 31 other squads that are looking to upgrade their roster as well.And everyone is watching.Special teams is vitalI love watching special teams during the Hall of Fame Game because this is how the bubble guys are going to earn a roster spot. Its that simple. Can you cover kicks, make tackles inside the 20-yard line on kickoffs or bring down a returner in the open field on the punt team?Yes, there are valuable roles blocking on the front line of kickoff return or playing the wing position on the punt team. And the return game creates opportunities for a guy to make a big play. Take one back to the house and people will start talking.But the NFL is always looking for guys who can cover kicks with speed and toughness. Thats the game. And with the league implementing a new touchback rule and?the ball coming?out to the 25-yard line, cover guys are going to once again be a priority on game days. Im talking about players who can get down the field, defeat blocks, play with vision and tackle in space.This is dirty work. And its hard. But its also a way to move up the depth chart. If you can impact the kicking game, the club will find a spot for you. And this game provides the bubble guys with more chances to pop the ball out on kickoff, light up someone or show their ability to tackle. Want more reps next weekend? Then do something in the kicking game out in Canton.The true conditioning testPlenty of teams still have a conditioning test when players report to camp (300-yard shuttles, for example), but thats nothing compared to this game. There will be some puke on the sidelines, and maybe even?in the huddle.Remember, with the established vets calling it quits early, the backups, bubble guys and rookies have to take all the reps. That means offense, defense and special teams.As a second-year player with the Rams, I had to make the team. No guarantees there. None. So the?game in Canton was a great opportunity to get on tape and showcase something on special teams. Plus, with Lovie Smith running our defense in his first year as coordinator, it was all about speed. You better run to the ball on defense and play fast with Lovie watching. Then go cover a kick. Grab a juice on the sideline, then go back out again for special teams and another series of defense. Yikes.If anything, the second half of the Hall of Fame Game shows us who can survive the night. Rookies arent used to the pace (or speed) of an NFL game, and the reps start to add up for everyone playing late into the fourth quarter. Again, its another part of the evaluation process. Can you line up, read your keys and make plays while wearing the pregame meal on the front of your jersey? Good times.Nike Air Force 1 Dámské Levně . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Air Force 1 Just Do It . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. http://www.airforce1levne.com/ . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Nike Air Force 1 Pánské Levně . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Air Force 1 Sleva . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals.COLUMBIA, S.C. - No. 8 South Carolina womens soccer extended its winning streak to double-digits after downing Kentucky 3-0 at Stone Stadium Sunday behind goals from seniors Sophie Groff and Kaleigh Kurtz and junior Lindsey Lane. Junior forward Savannah McCaskill added a pair of assists for the Gamecocks (10-0-1-, 4-0-0 SEC), who remain as one of four teams unbeaten on the year. Kentucky fell to 4-5-2 overall and 0-3-1 in conference action with the loss.All three goals came in a span of less than 12 minutes for Carolina, which didnt allow a single shot in the second half. The Gamecocks boasted a 25-2 shot advantage for the match, putting 10 attempts on target.South Carolina broke through in the 56th minute when McCaskill sent a great ball into the box from just inside the attacking third. Her pass hit Groff in stride, and the senior attacker fired a shot that hit off the post. Groff stuck with the play and collected the rebound before burying the ball into the back of the net.The lead grew to two in the 64th minute when Kurtz connected on her first goal of the season. The center back found some space near the top of the box and rifled a shot into the top right corner past the diving body of Kentucky goalkeeper Evangeline Soucie. The unassisted goal was the second of Kurtzs career.South Carolinas advantage didnt stay at two for long, as the Gamecocks put the game away in the 67th minute following great footwork on the end line from McCaskill. The forward eluded the Kentuucky defense with a back heel move that left her all alone in the right side of the box.dddddddddddd With plenty of space, McCaskill delivered a pass to Lane, who knocked in her sixth career goal from the heart of the box to make it 3-0.Gamecock freshman Mikayla Krzeczowski recorded two saves and moved to 7-0-1 on the season following the victory. South Carolina attempted four corner kicks against Kentucky, and Sundays performance marked its fifth shutout in the last six matches.QUOTABLE We continued at it and didnt get frustrated from the first half. We had a lot of opportunities, and we did well to be a little more dangerous in the second half. It was a great credit to our team to do what we needed to do to win the game. - South Carolina womens soccer coach Shelley SmithGAMECHANGER Senior defender Kaleigh Kurtzs strike from the top of the box pushed the lead to two and gave the Gamecocks total control of the match. Kurtz boasts six points this season on one goal and four assists.KEY STAT South Carolina allowed just two shots the entire afternoon against the Wildcats. Kentucky did not record in a shot in the final 51 minutes of the match.UP NEXT South Carolina plays the first of two-straight SEC road matches on Thu., Sept. 29, when it travels to No. 14 Texas A&M. Thursdays top-25 battle, which kicks off at 7 p.m. ET, will air on SEC Network. ' ' '
