[OutsiderFan]

It's near impossible to judge your team based on how it practices against itself. How can anyone make any real accurate judgments on the short yardage contest? Maybe the defense is told the play, to make it harder on the offense. Maybe play-action passing isn't allowed in such scenarios. Maybe the least talented ball carrier got the ball.  Was it first team OL vs. first team DL?  

One could just as easily raise concern if the defense didn't stop the offense.. How could the defense actually be improved if it can't beat a still in flux OL?

[OutsiderFan]

It's near impossible to judge your team based on how it practices against itself. How can anyone make any real accurate judgments on the short yardage contest? Maybe the defense is told the play, to make it harder on the offense. Maybe play-action passing isn't allowed in such scenarios. Maybe the least talented ball carrier got the ball.  Was it first team OL vs. first team DL?  

One could just as easily raise concern if the defense didn't stop the offense.. How could the defense actually be improved if it can't beat a still in flux OL?