NFL teams spend a lot of time analyzing talent and personality traits, but when it comes right down to it, there’s not a lot of time to prepare players for the demands of competition against the best players in the world.
That’s why it’s so tough for rookies to make a positive impact in the early part of their career. Some rookies have a chance to learn as they go and start making a consistent contribution by the time they reach the second half of their rookie season, but for most it takes longer.
Players who get drafted, attend minicamps and other team activities before coming to their first training camp are usually overwhelmed in the early part of their professional career.