Why the 49ers Love to Stretch (Wall Street Journal)

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Why the 49ers Love to Stretch
online.wsj.com
By KEVIN CLARK on January 16, 2013, 12:00 p.m. ET

The San Francisco 49ers' two-year rise from the depths of mediocrity is widely attributed to ferocious defense and the dazzling running ability of quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

But as the 49ers head to Atlanta favored to beat the Falcons this weekend and advance to their first Super Bowl in 18 years, here's another possibility: Maybe it's that they stretch a lot.

That's not a proposition you'd want to state too loudly in the 49ers' locker room. The San Francisco stretching program is something team officials refuse to talk about, ostensibly for competitive reasons. But let's face it: The same 300-pound linemen who quickly brag about how much weight they can bench aren't likely to admit that they can do the splits. That's the province of cheerleaders, isn't it?

Privately, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has made it clear that stretching isn't for sissies, for good reason. Stretching, research shows, can dramatically reduce the risk of injury, and nothing about the 49ers is more remarkable than their bill of health. Since Harbaugh took over the team two years ago, Niners players have missed 159 games due to injury. (A missed game is one player missing one game.) According to Stats LLC, the three other teams left in the playoffs have had dramatically higher injury rates. Over the past two years, the Falcons have missed 29% more games and the Baltimore Ravens 94% more than the 49ers. The New England Patriots' number is 440, an injury rate 176% higher than the 49ers.

Several 49ers say the explanation is a stretching regimen. "We do these old school stretches—heavy, heavy squats with chains, a lot of flexibility, a lot of warming up when a lot of people in the NFL skip warming up," said safety Donte Whitner. "That's why we have a good, healthy football team right now."

In the 49ers training facilities, however, it's P.E. class all over again. Before lifting a single weight, a 49er must hit a cardio machine for 10 minutes, a muscle-warming tactic shown to ward off injury. From there, on the field, the team has simple but crucial periods of basic stretching before and after each practice (something overlooked by many teams, players say).
continue

I have no idea what to think on this one. Heard Madden talking about it the other day (he said he hated the guys stretching

) and decided to look into it. Interesting read. Sounds crazy to me that teams would over look the most basic thing about sports.

1/22/138:28 PM

Original Post

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Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

You know what?

Played soccer 25 years and I was religious about stretching.

It works.

Look how much cooler I am than Fedya who's hated ~~pigs~~ cops for 25 years and only stretches when he's straining to see a Premier League game on his dial-up modem.

1/22/138:39 PM

FandameMember

Some of the research shows stretching does nothing to prevent injury, but I beg to differ. I don't see how it can't help when football players get bent into pretzels by opponents, slip and slide making cuts, etc. It would stand to reason that if you are more flexible you would be able to get twisted around without getting hurt or sore as often. I wonder what kind of stretching CMIII does for his hammy? Or what they are having Bishop do? It would be interesting to see what type of exercises and training the GBP staff insists that players do.

1/22/139:32 PM

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

More ridiculousness. The Packers stretch too. What's next? Voodoo Dolls? & Acupuncture?

1/22/1310:26 PM

trumpMember

Bonds, Sosa and McGwire stretched a lot too ...

I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin.

1/22/1310:29 PM

PakrzFREEZE!

quote:
Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
You know what?

Played soccer 25 years and I was religious about stretching.

It works.

Look how much cooler I am than Fedya who's hated ~~pigs~~ cops for 25 years and only stretches when he's straining to see a Premier League game on his dial-up modem.

You can't use "played soccer" and "cool" in the same post.

1/22/1310:55 PM

Pack-ManMember

quote:
Originally posted by Boris:
More ridiculousness. The Packers stretch too. What's next? Voodoo Dolls? & Acupuncture?

They must be doing something differently to get those kinds of results. It would be crazy to simply write off the massive difference in the level of injuries the Packers have when compared to other teams as a fluke.

1/22/1311:07 PM

phaedrusMember

Stretching is extremely healthy. That is braindead obvious.

1/22/1311:31 PM

DH13Member

quote:
They must be doing something differently to get those kinds of results. It would be crazy to simply write off the massive difference in the level of injuries the Packers have when compared to other teams as a fluke.

It's not just the difference between GB and SF re: injuries but also between SF and the other 3 remaining playoff teams. I think that's the better comparison group. On top of that, I remember reading an article several weeks ago pointing out how many snaps the starting 11 on D were getting for SF - they do minimal sub packages vs. GB who does many. This was before the playoffs started and SF's D appeared to be fading a bit in the last several games of the season. It just amplifies the difference between the injury situations. Not saying it's all due to stretching but yeah, there has to be a little more than luck going on when GB leads the league in injuries 2 of the last 3 years and SF is near the bottom.

1/22/1311:42 PM

PakrzFREEZE!

It is mind-boggling that people actually think the concept of stretching is lost upon the coaching staff of a professional football team. Or players for that matter. Do you have any clue the amount of work these guys put into their bodies? Guess nobody ever told them about stretching. I remember stretching in 1st grade gym class. I wonder if the old gym teacher is available to give these guys a lesson or two?

You cannot be serious with this BS.

1/22/1311:55 PM

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
It is mind-boggling that people actually think the concept of stretching is lost upon the coaching staff of a professional football team. Or players for that matter.

I thought the same thing. I'm guessing it's more about the way SF goes about stretching and how much they emphasize it.

quote:
Linebacker Clark Haggans arrived in San Francisco this year and wasn't surprised to hear the training staff address the four major types of lifting weights. He was surprised, however, that they spent just as much time talking about flexibility, requiring players at different positions to perform different stretches. Initially skeptical, he is now sold. "It's kept our muscles from doing something funky," he said.

1/23/135:52 AM

ammoCheese Master

I tried stretching and I ended up yelling, "Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!"

1/23/136:36 AM

FedyaMember

Does "Pull my finger" count as stretching?

1/23/137:35 AM

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

Oh great. Now I gotta go check my shorts

1/23/137:38 AM

FedyaMember

If you wore a kilt you wouldn't have to worry about that.

1/23/137:46 AM

lambeausouthMember

The national media's 49er slurp fest is in full gear, I see. Apparently everything the Niners do is special. Harbaugh is a genius. Kaepernick eats lightning and craps thunder. They're dancing 24/7 at Haight-Ashbury. And dumb articles like this one are popping up all over the place. A whole article on how the Niner players think stretching gives them an edge? Really? Holy crap, wait until next season, when players all around the league start stretching, too.

Give me a break.

1/23/138:07 AM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

it happens to both superbowl teams every year

1/23/138:11 AM

Johnny BoyMember

My son is a High School pitcher. When he throws to me he warms up (stretches for 15 min) before he throws. Swears it is easy on his arms and legs. Fewer aches and pains after.

1/23/138:31 AM

ilcuquiTHE F*** WITH FASHION

1/23/138:37 AM

MN SnowBongMember

quote:
Originally posted by titmfatied:
Sounds crazy to me that teams would over look the most basic thing about sports.

Me too. Where did you read that teams do this? Besides Donte Whitner saying it, I mean.

quote:
Originally posted by Pakrz:
It is mind-boggling that people actually think the concept of stretching is lost upon the coaching staff of a professional football team. Or players for that matter. Do you have any clue the amount of work these guys put into their bodies? Guess nobody ever told them about stretching. I remember stretching in 1st grade gym class. I wonder if the old gym teacher is available to give these guys a lesson or two?

You cannot be serious with this BS.

1/23/138:39 AM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

quote:
Originally posted by Fedya:
If you wore a kilt you wouldn't have to worry about that.

The Scottish Tartans Authority disagrees.

1/23/138:41 AM

DH13Member

That Play60 ad with the kid and Cam Newton is awesome. The full length version.

1/23/138:54 AM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

Lance's brother agrees with the 49ers

1/23/138:55 AM

chickenboyTic Toc

quote:
Originally posted by Johnny Boy:
My son is a High School pitcher. When he throws to me he warms up (stretches for 15 min) before he throws. Swears it is easy on his arms and legs. Fewer aches and pains after.

I wonder if the Brewers do this?

1/23/139:59 AM

Pack-ManMember

quote:
Originally posted by DH13:
It's not just the difference between GB and SF re: injuries but also between SF and the other 3 remaining playoff teams. I think that's the better comparison group. On top of that, I remember reading an article several weeks ago pointing out how many snaps the starting 11 on D were getting for SF - they do minimal sub packages vs. GB who does many. This was before the playoffs started and SF's D appeared to be fading a bit in the last several games of the season. It just amplifies the difference between the injury situations. Not saying it's all due to stretching but yeah, there has to be a little more than luck going on when GB leads the league in injuries 2 of the last 3 years and SF is near the bottom.

I don't think it's all, or even mostly due to stretching either (may even have absolutely nothing to do with it even). But something in the Packers' training program is clearly very wrong right now. Maybe some of it is because the Packers take more chances on injury prone players, but the Justin Harrells and James Starkses would only explain some of it.

1/23/133:54 PM

IowacheeseKeen Insight

quote:
Originally posted by DH13:
That Play60 ad with the kid and Cam Newton is awesome. The full length version.

yep...laugh every time I see it

1/23/134:00 PM

DH13Member

That kid is great. Is that johnny manziel?

and become the starting quarterback of the panthers?

okay

and you can be my backup?

excuse me?

and make your parents and friends forget about you..

whaaaat?

1/23/134:10 PM

GBFanForLifeLarge Member

and become your mom's favorite player?

1/23/134:53 PM

HauserMember

Do you think the Packers Strength & Fitness coaches should maybe pay attention to all this? Do you think it might help with the pulled hammies and groin pulls? Just sayin

1/23/136:51 PM

Pikes PeakMember

Did Hawg Hanner stretch?

1/23/137:11 PM

HenryYou rang?

Yoga bitches.

1/23/137:43 PM

FarmDogMember

quote:
Originally posted by Hauser:
Do you think the Packers Strength & Fitness coaches should maybe pay attention to all this? Do you think it might help with the pulled hammies and groin pulls? Just sayin

Exactly my thoughts. Looks like many non believers on the qualities of streaching on this blog. - SF may be on to something here.

1/23/138:42 PM

PackdogMember

Yup, lack of stretching got Atlanta to choke in the second half.

I'm still in shock. I mean, a team scores 24 in the 1st half . Needs 1 TD or 2 FG in the second half to win a trip to the SB and can't do it. Gag.

1/23/139:22 PM

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