Broncos Training Camp: How Social Media Has Changed Our Views
By Doug Perry
Social Media has provided us with a completely different view of our favorite sports teams than we had 10 years ago. Back then, we would wait to read the Post the next morning to check on our team. With social media basically shoving newspapers out the door, we have instant access and reactions to our teams. Broncos Training Camp today inspired me to take a look at how things have changed.
Today was a rough day at Dove Valley. Not for everyone though, the defense was awesome. Wade Phillips, who would never tell you he was pleased with his unit, knows there’s room for improvement, but basically the D completely dominated the offense, especially the quarterbacks.
Head coach Gary Kubiak gave the team a well deserved day off Tuesday, a break from the summer sun, sore legs, and newly discovered muscle tweaks. As they went into the day off, Kubiak gave some props to many players, including Paxton Lynch.
As camp resumed Wednesday, Kubiak channeled a much different attitude, and tone. He was pissed… Going against a top 3 defense every day will make your offense look like crap. In his eyes, progress was halted.
What is different now is that you, the fan, get to hear this instantly…. “Mark Sanchez is having a rough day.” “Trevor Siemian just threw a pick six.” “Paxton Lynch just had his worst day as a pro…” Previously we wouldn’t have had this information so readily available.
What this does is completely alter our perception of training camp. As we live in our instant access, instant result society, we can be quick to jump the gun on almost anything. Tweet after tweet is cool to follow. It gives us a prospective we haven’t seen before. It also sways our minds as fans.
Follow the insiders. It really is cool to have that information available to you. But I would say, let’s wait this out. We’re football fans, and we love to watch football. Watch a couple preseason games, and then make your assessment.
Our own evaluations make the NFL, and all sports even more exciting. Insiders give us insight, but there is nothing like watching and seeing for yourself. The Broncos first preseason game is coming up next Thursday in Chicago against a familiar face in John Fox.
Maybe you see an undrafted wide receiver make an awesome block that springs a running back for 17 yards. Maybe the play by play guy doesn’t notice it. You see his heart and determination. You kind of see yourself rooting for this guy to make the team. The coaches will probably notice this too, and this is why you’re not a casual football fan.
Another cool part about social media is obviously following your favorite Broncos. Here we see a post by the “Vonster” Von Miller: @MillerLite40
By the way, this is Von showing that he is kryptonite for “Superman.” Social media makes things more exciting for sure, but it shouldn’t completely shape your mind as a fan. That takes most of the fun out of it.
I leave you with this: Make sure you use your eyes more than your twitter account to analyze your team. This is how it was 10 years ago. Don’t let that part of you as a football fan be compromised. You’ve been watching the game long enough to see things. It’s much more exciting to tell yourself something about the game.
Let’s hear your comments Broncos fans! This is FanSided, so we want to hear the fan’s point of view.