Player Practice Equipment Question
I was watching the practice video that Jordan Strack tweeted HERE, and I noticed some device on the back of Shea Patterson and Chris Evan's helmet. Does anyone have an idea of what that is? From what I can tell, these were the only two players that had this.
Thanks!
August 14th, 2018 at 8:44 AM ^
New supplemental inflatable concussion prevention device probably.
Detects impacts and cocoons entire player in one of those Zorb ball things.
I guess it could be something else entirely but I doubt it.
Edit: maybe it's an NCAA brain scan device to detect whether a player is feeling inclined to do some extra stretching or to sell their shoes...
August 14th, 2018 at 8:45 AM ^
Didnt even think about the concussion device. That would be interesting to see.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
That would make sense. Maybe it absorbs some the impact from if he lands on the back of his head
August 14th, 2018 at 8:44 AM ^
A couple of us discussed this in a previous thread. Most likely, a GPS type device. However, slight chance its VR or video, "if" there is a very small camera inside the helmet.
August 14th, 2018 at 8:47 AM ^
Don't know where, but I seem to remember hearing about some sort of vision tracking equipment to watch the reads the qbs are making. Could be something to that effect.
August 14th, 2018 at 8:54 AM ^
Yes. I saw something on TV last season(?) with Stanford who had already been using VR for a few years (developed by someone at the school). Players go back and watch film after practice to see the play from their POV in live time.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
Here is a link to VR piece. 3 years old. Not the Stanford clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb0p68ULQUM
August 14th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^
garde's observation is correct. Read-video must be for the RPO stuff if only SP and CE have the device. Really excited to see SP / CE and Perry/Gentry execute the RPO twists this season.
August 14th, 2018 at 1:07 PM ^
Brian Kelly uses cameras at ND so he can show his QBs where their eyes are
August 14th, 2018 at 7:53 PM ^
I'm pretty sure it's a camera. Sports Video Innovations, the company that patented this technology, sent a couple helmets to Michigan a few years ago. Shea Patterson happened to also go to high school his junior year in the same city as SVI.
Here's a link to a video from them:
August 14th, 2018 at 9:37 AM ^
Coach mentioned GPS trackers in his interview yesterday. My money's on that.
August 14th, 2018 at 9:53 AM ^
Def not GPS those are worn on body.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:28 AM ^
Yeah GPS and heart rate monitors are usually worn on the chest on those things that look like sports bras.
August 14th, 2018 at 4:14 PM ^
Interesting, did not know that. I would've guessed they'd be bulky and better on the helmet. Shows how much I know!
August 14th, 2018 at 8:46 AM ^
A bluetooth speaker so he can jam at practice ;-) My guess is some sort of virtual reality camera so the coaching staff can break down what the QB sees as he goes through his progressions.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:07 AM ^
Wouldn't that be actual reality and not virtual?
August 14th, 2018 at 10:18 AM ^
Actual reality only has so-so graphics. Prefer virtual reality
August 14th, 2018 at 8:46 AM ^
Looks like they took a page from the script of Saw. Hate to see what happens if they mess up a play.
August 14th, 2018 at 8:47 AM ^
SAW BRANDON PETERS FUCKING HAND OFF OR YOU'RE NOT STARTING!!!
Great test of commitment, bad for locker room moral...
August 14th, 2018 at 9:14 AM ^
I laughed
August 14th, 2018 at 9:16 AM ^
Me too. Because I laugh hysterically at my own jokes like a 7 year old...
August 14th, 2018 at 8:47 AM ^
It's a tracking device, so the coaches know where they are at all times.
Or, Harbaugh is actually our quarterback this year... with a neural interface between his brain and Patterson's younger, healthier body.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^
Next step is a brain transplant a la Get Out
August 14th, 2018 at 8:50 AM ^
I'm guessing it's for gathering telemetry data of some kind. GPS position and velocity accelerometers, etc.
August 14th, 2018 at 8:52 AM ^
So it’s Waze for his helmet???
August 14th, 2018 at 10:23 AM ^
So we can crowd-source completions?
August 14th, 2018 at 11:04 AM ^
oh great. all of michigan stadium crowd-sourcing accidents. and i thought the complaining was bad during the navarre years...
August 14th, 2018 at 9:12 AM ^
Lasers
August 14th, 2018 at 9:14 AM ^
Possibly the super duper seekrit Jim Harbaugh research program we heard about a few years ago? Looks like either a sensor or camera.
If it's being used in tandem with Chris Evans I suspect it may be a tool to help with optimizing RB handoffs?
Could be a zapper for missed throws who knows!
August 14th, 2018 at 9:18 AM ^
https://technical.ly/philly/2018/01/18/tozuda-helmet-sensor/
Going with concussion sensor...possible indicator light there
August 14th, 2018 at 9:23 AM ^
Kovacs sighting?
August 14th, 2018 at 9:43 AM ^
Probably not a concussion device. QB's are usually not live/hittable during scrimmages yet. I imagine there is no risk for concussion.
Guessing tracker or VR Cam.
August 14th, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
Was just going to write that, it's not a concussion device as it would be pointless with Shea wearing it. I thought perhaps it may be an audio device for the coaches to communicate with the QB like the NFL QB's have, but is not allowed in college games.
August 14th, 2018 at 9:53 AM ^
Money clip.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:00 AM ^
If it is a camera, it would be cool to see film from that perspective.
As a side note, I think the maize jersey with the white away pants would be a cool look. Not sure if I’d really like to see it in a game or anything, but could look cool.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:07 AM ^
I'm just guessing but it may have to do with all of the VR stuff that's going on in football now -- some sort of tracker / mapper to aid in establishing VR positioning / environment.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:22 AM ^
Extra weight to help strengthen neck muscles
August 14th, 2018 at 10:36 AM ^
It look a camera / GPS device. You wouldn't call it Virtual Reality or even Augmented Reality - more simply a device the coach's are using to assess each QB's Points of View and positioning.
August 14th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^
It looks more like a 3D video camera to take training film. Shea and the coaches will then use the VR headsets to help him train via film work. Can't you see Harbaugh with that VR thing on seeing exactly what Shea sees and then coaching him up from that vantage point? If so, that is cool.
August 14th, 2018 at 8:24 PM ^
Like QB vision from madden, allows coaches to see the QBs view from the all 22 film
August 14th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^
New compliance department program to ensure all helmets are GPS tracked and shoes are inventoried.
/s
August 14th, 2018 at 12:10 PM ^
A friend/former work contact founded a sports analytics company called ShotTracker for basketball. It's amazing the amount of data you could record and analyze. Couldn't find anything for the black box on google though there are slimmer concussion/hard hit detectors on amazon.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^
It's a mind control device that allows Harbaugh to take control of his body. The catch is that each time Harbaugh uses it, there's a small chance that Shea irreversibly turns into Nick Sheridan.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
Maybe he hasn't paid for his helmet yet so he can't take it out of the store.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:53 PM ^
Pretty sure its a smart helmet with a sensor to collect information in real time about the stress being placed on the player's head by a hit.
Riddell has something that looks similar on their website.
August 14th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
he has the black box because he's gonna Strike It Up for Everybody Everybody
August 14th, 2018 at 1:00 PM ^
LoJack. In case Ole Miss tries taking him back.
August 14th, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^
Didn't you guys open your season ticket packages? We all get to vote on the plays, and this device tabulates the results and downloads the winning selection into Shea's brain for execution. The only downside is that we also have to wear the devices -- and if the play goes poorly, well . . . .
August 14th, 2018 at 2:57 PM ^
I thought that this wasn't a new thing. I remember 'helmet cams' from the 90's.
Sacks were great.