The Atlanta Falcons are off to Miami today to take part in something they haven't done in quite a while, a joint practice.
A joint practice is where two teams link up for a combined practice and face off. The Falcons are doing so against Miami today and tomorrow ahead of this weekend's second preseason game, also against the Dolphins.
With the preseason being shortened to three games now the joint practices may be more important than ever.
There are multiple benefits to joint practices that even a game can't recreate.
Former NFL WR Harry Douglas, who didn't participate in any joint practices with the Falcons, but did when he was with Tennessee, explains how they benefit the players and coaching staff, and actually may be more valuable than the preseason games in some ways.
"Having these joint practices, that's one of the things they didn't do under Dan Quinn. You want to see who you are as a team, who you can count on, when you practice against another team you have to go 100% every play or you're going to get embarrassed," says Douglas. "You get to see different things, work on different things, situations, I'm glad they're getting able to do that.
"It's so fun, especially when you get to travel away and go somewhere and do it, it doesn't feel like training camp anymore. You see what you really need to work on and that's why it's good for teams to do this," continues Harry Douglas. "There's a reason why teams do it every year multiple times. It gives you a different feel, a different environment, and a different perspective as well."
Among the benefits of joint practices are the ability to see your team in specific situations (goal-line, 2 min drill, etc.), more direct opportunity for 1st teamers to face off, and the opportunity to see new looks your own team wouldn't normally provide.
21 of the NFL's 32 teams are holding at least one joint practice with the Falcons and Dolphins actually holding a pair of them.
To hear all of Harry Douglas' comments, click here.