The Importance of Flexibility and Adaptability in Pandemic Football
As the 2020 college football season comes to a close, there is no question that this year has been unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic nearly postponed the season entirely, forcing college decision makers to make the difficult (and formerly unthinkable) choice of whether to proceed with traditional fall play.
A season that was once at the brink of cancellation has now reached its final weeks of regular season play–but not without significant ramifications. As we enter Week 15, there have now been 124 games affected by COVID-19. The numerous disruptions across every conference has impacted nearly every team at this point, with unknowns about the virus itself mirroring the uncertainties of team schedules.
All of this uncertainty has forced athletes to adjust to the day-by-day changes of the environment we’re living in. Leagues and teams are navigating uncharted territories; flexibility, patience, and the ability to adapt to change have become crucial characteristics in successful players. This mentality is especially necessary for those looking to be drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft. Even with a vaccine on the horizon, the future of the sports landscape remains precarious.
College athletes seeking to make their NFL debut in 2021 should look to the example set by this year’s NFL rookies who have all demonstrated an ability to be flexible and rapidly adapt to changes in schedules, training routines, and game minutes. Buffalo Bills rookie running back Zack Moss, for example, has been a standout player for the Bills this year. Even behind second-year player Devin Singletary, Moss has proven himself with his time on the field, stepping up to the starting position at any moment. The rookie has had his name called on nearly a third of all Buffalo’s carries in the red zone, demonstrating not only his ball-handling skills, but also, the confidence the Bills’ coaching staff has in him.
These rookies have been tossed into the deep end–they entered the league at a time when there were no preseason games to develop team chemistry and no opportunity for veterans to assist them with the difficult transition from college football to the pros. Yet, despite these hurdles, the 2020 draft class rose to the occasion and has taken the league by storm. They were flexible, they adapted, and they learned that sometimes being the best player on the field isn’t as important as being the best teammate.
As college football athletes near the end of their seasons, those who are looking to continue their careers professionally should look to the 2020 NFL rookies. The 2021 NFL draft class will need to embrace remaining flexible, open-minded, and able to adapt to the many changes that are only just beginning in the post-COVID NFL.
