SHOULDER INSTABILITY

IF YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW, YOUR SHOULDER IS THE MOST MOBILE JOINT IN THE BODY. THIS MEANS THAT YOUR ARM CAN MOVE IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. WHICH IS GREAT FOR RECIE\\EIVERS, RUNNING BACKS, AND TIGHT ENDS BECAUSE THIS MOBILITY ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE A WIDE CATCH RADIUS.

HOWEVER, THIS MOBILITY IN THE SHOULDER ALSO PUTS IT AT DANGER FOR DISLOCATION, WHICH IS A PRETTY COMMON INJURY IN FOOTBALL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS IS USUALLY BECAUSE YOU FALL ON YOUR ARM AWKWARDLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER ONE SHOULDER DISLOCATION, YOUR SHOULDER IS PRETTY MUCH AN UNSTABLE SHOULDER FOREVER. AND THAT’S BECAUSE YOUR SHOULDER JOINT IS LIKE A SUCTION CUP HOLDING ONTO YOUR ARM KEEPING IT IN PLACE. AND WHEN YOU DISLOCATE YOUR SHOULDER, AND EVENTUALLY GET IT PUT BACK INTO THE SOCKET, YOU LOSE THE ORIGINAL SUCTION FORCE THAT YOU ORIGINALLY HAD BECAUSE IT IS AIRTIGHT! THAT SUCTION FORCE IS ABOUT 20-30 LBS OF STRENGTH!

THAT’S WHY, WHEN YOU DISLOCATE YOUR SHOULDER ONCE, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO KEEP DISLOCATING IT. OR IT WILL POP IN AND OUT A COUPLE TIMES EVERY NOW AND THEN ONE SOME HITS.

SO IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH WITH CURRENTLY, OR YOU WANT TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURING IN THE FIRST PLACE (WHICH I RECOMMEND FOR ALL) STRENGTHENING THE ROTATOR CUFF MUSCLES IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO WEEKLY.

THE ROTATOR CUFF MUSCLES ARE A SMALL GROUP OF MUSCLES AROUND THE SHOULDER THAT HELP KEEP IT IN PLACE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP THESE MUSCLES IN ALL FOOTBALL PLAYER DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF CONTACT THE SHOULDER RECEIVES.

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO FOR A ROTATOR CUFF EXERCISE! 

DAVANTE ADAMS IS ONE OF THE BEST REDZONE RECEIVERS IN THE NFL. HE IS A BIG TARGET AND IS OFTEN DOUBLE TEAMED DUE TO HIS ELITE PERFORMANCES.

ONE THING THAT HE SAYS HE DOES IS HE STARTS OFF WITH THE SAME THING EVERY TIME COMING OFF THE BALL WHICH ISN’T LIKE MOST RECEIVERS. HE GIVES A SKIP AND SQUARES UP THE RECEIVER, BUT THEN HE ADJUST HIS DECISION BASED OFF OF WHAT THE DB DOES AT THE SNAP.  HE NEVER GOES UP AND SAYS HES GONNA DO THIS MOVE TO THIS GUY, ITS ALWAYS BASED OFF OF THEIR REACTION. THIS REQUIRES A LOT OF SKILL AND REACTIVE ADJUSTMENTS BUT CAN BE LEARNED THROUGH REPETITIVE PRACTICE.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY ADAMS BEST SKILL IS HIS ABILITY TO MAKE PLAYS IN THE RED ZONE, OR HIS ABILITY TO CREATE SPACE WITH HIS RELEASES, BUT HE STATES HIS BIGGEST TOOL IS HIS MIND. PRE SNAP, HES READING COVERAGES, LOOKING AT LEVERAGES OF THE DEFENDER, AND APPLYING THE KNOWLEDGE LEARNED FROM THE TAPE TO HIS GAME TIME DECISION WHICH IS IMPERATIVE FOR WIDE RECEIVER SUCCESS. 

ADDITIONALLY SOME TIPS DAVANTAE GIVES IS THAT HE BELIEVES WRS ARE BUILT TO BE CLOSE TO THE DB UP UNTIL YOU CATCH THE BALL. HE SAYS WRS SHOULD STEP ON TOES AND CLOSE THE SPACE TO REALLY PUT THE DB IN A TOUGH POSITION TO MAKE A BREAK WHEN YOU BREAK.