Why the iPad gives NFL teams an edge
Quarterback Peyton Manning isn’t the only advantage the Denver Broncos have going into the new NFL season.
This season players and coaches won’t be receiving a 500-page hardcopy playbooks, rather, they’ll be handed a brand new iPad chalked-filled with plays, game plans, scouting reports and updated game film. The Broncos join the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the only teams in the NFL to go digital when it comes to a playbook.
In an interview with the Denver Post, Broncos General Manager Brian Xanders said the advantage of using an iPad comes down to game day preparation.
“The advantage is that when they leave the building, they can take everything home with them very easily and watch tape at night and review the game plan installation,” Xanders told the Post. “This is their full-time job – to prepare and do whatever they can to help us win each week.”
Barring a sneak attack by Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick to obtain the app, it won’t be available to the general public. And if by chance a Broncos iPad shows up at Wynkoop Brewery after a night of celebrating, team officials can easily wipe all information from it.
It’s likely that the Broncos are using the new Mac App “Configurator” to sync all of the organization’s iPads seamlessly. The app can supervise usage (so Head Coach John Fox can make sure his players are doing their homework), update multiple devices simultaneously (so Fox can throw in that last second trick play for his players to study up on) and prevent users from accessing certain apps (obviously for Manning to stay focused and not waste time playing Angry Birds).
For tech geeks who might be a bit lost right now (and for a majority of our UK readers), Peyton Manning is arguably one of the best quarterbacks of the past decade. This offseason, the Denver Broncos made a blockbuster deal to land the 36-year-old, which ultimately forced them to trade away their 2011-12 franchise savior Tim Tebow to the New York Jets.
The next thing to look for is the iPad showing up on the playing field on Sundays. Could we see a backup quarterback ditching the clipboard for an iPad? First, the Broncos need to sign a new backup quarterback. I think that receives priority over new technology on the field.
(And if this whole iPad thing really works and the Broncos win a Super Bowl championship, I’m starting the petition that my team – The Detroit Lions – get onboard!)
