Any lifters/trainers watch the 'Skins weight room videos?

[Hooligan]

Redskins.com has two training videos showing the team working out with the new strength and conditioning staff. I was a little surprised to see a pro coaching staff, whose goal is to make their players as big and powerful as possible, using the latest fad of rubber bands and kettlebells. You'd think they'd have those guys under some heavy barbells. There are some gorgeous olympic platforms there, which is great, but not when guys are only squatting to 1/2 depth. Shouldn't a coach be over there yelling? I half expected the next video to have everyone on a pink inflatable ball.

It was only a snapshot of the program, but do any athletes, trainers, or lifters out there have any comment on it so far? Are pro athletes a pre-sorted, genetically gifted bunch that don't need heavy weight work to keep in football shape? Does anyone think (like I do) that more power/olympic lifting focused program would produce bigger, stronger, tougher, more explosive athletes, or is there more benefit from the modern kettlebell/band movements? Is there an excuse for the poor squats?

Nit picking? Probably. There's not much else to talk about other than Okung or not-Okung.

[The Hogster]

I'm pretty sure that the short clip is but a piece of the workout regimen. Shanahan has emphasized "football specific" exercises for his staff. So, I expect that clip just showed a minor part of what they are doing.

[SKINFAN]

what no throwing pads at the QB?

[frankcal20]

Have you done kettle bells? They're popular now but they've been a mainstay outside of your local Gold (Rhoids factory) Gym.

[tribeofjudah]

kettle bells were used by USSR for their olympic athletes....long long ago. It's an quick way to increase strength, endurance, cardio...all at once. It's a big Hollywood item now to bulk up actors for movie scenes too.

[VetSkinsFan]

You have to balance power with speed, agility, and cardio. I had a motor SGT in the Army that all he did was powerlift. He was huge and strong, but couldn't run for jack. NFL athletes need to balance.

ANd I doubt that the snipett you saw was the whole workout regimen.

[PAPDOG67]

If all you do if power lift, you lose a lot of flexibility as the muscles increase. Flexibility is just as important as stregth to survive the rigors of a full NFL season. I'm sure these guys mix up power lifting with stretching exercises so they don't get too stiff.

[Chris Luva Luva]

A snippet is nothing to base an opinion on or get worried about. An opinion to listen to is that of the players who have been raving about the new regime.

Brian Orakpo went as far as to call last year a joke in comparison.

[Irn-Bru]

Brian Orakpo went as far as to call last year a joke in comparison.

I fear that with time, we are going to hear more and more stories about how incompetent the organization was under Zorn — not unlike the real horror stories that emerged after Spurrier had left town.

I feel worse for Zorn the farther we get from his tenure here; it is clear that he was not the man for the job and was put in a no-win situation.

[chiefhog44]

Brian Orakpo went as far as to call last year a joke in comparison.

I fear that with time, we are going to hear more and more stories about how incompetent the organization was under Zorn — not unlike the real horror stories that emerged after Spurrier had left town.

I feel worse for Zorn the farther we get from his tenure here; it is clear that he was not the man for the job and was put in a no-win situation.

Thank you Vinny Cerato

[Chris Luva Luva]

Brian Orakpo went as far as to call last year a joke in comparison.

I fear that with time, we are going to hear more and more stories about how incompetent the organization was under Zorn — not unlike the real horror stories that emerged after Spurrier had left town.

I feel worse for Zorn the farther we get from his tenure here; it is clear that he was not the man for the job and was put in a no-win situation.

I wouldn't even put it on Zorn and I don't think you are. The blame lies solely on Snyder. He and Vinny made that bed. They had everything preset and popped Zorn in.

Quite truthfully that weight room was bullcrap when Gibbs was here too. Remember all the hammy injuries?

[dmwc]

1) you do not lose flexibility if you bulk up. You just have to stretch. Just like you have chest day or lifting day you need a stretching day or make it part of your routine.

2) All NFL players have a foundation from college and highschool. It is up to the NFL coaches to make them better to build on that foundation.

[brad7686]

Marv Marinovich will tell you, "you want a real workout, or do you want to go back to three sets of ten?"

[ATX_Skins]

Marv Marinovich will tell you, "you want a real workout, or do you want to go back to three sets of ten?"

Just an FYI, I really like that quote so I'm going to steal it and post it on my facebook like I came up with it myself.

[brad7686]

Marv Marinovich will tell you, "you want a real workout, or do you want to go back to three sets of ten?"

Just an FYI, I really like that quote so I'm going to steal it and post it on my facebook like I came up with it myself.

Ha, well I'm not mad, its not really my quote

[KazooSkinsFan]

I was a little surprised to see a pro coaching staff, whose goal is to make their players as big and powerful as possible, using the latest fad of rubber bands and kettlebells. You'd think they'd have those guys under some heavy barbells

First, I'm sure they spend plenty of time with weights. But actually this makes perfect sense. There are only so many muscle groups and so many ways to exercise them. Two major benefits of varying your routine are that it makes it less dull and it's actually better for your muscles to have different exercises that use them a little differently. The little different motion works more of the muscle instead of having it just lift weights in the exact same motion. That's why for example it's good to use both machines and free weights.

Also, it's better not to use the same muscle group two days in a row. What they do to say exercise 6 days a week is to divide the groups in half and alternate days. Then you do a variety of routines on the half of the groups you are using each day. So say you could do on each group, machines, free weights, rubber bands and kettle balls as opposed to just doing more reps on the same weights all day.