Press Row

As a college and NFL fan who loves stats and knowing every last detail of what’s going on, there are few times of the year more fun than training camp.

It’s that time when every last player on the roster has a chance to make their mark and prove they belong. It’s also probably the only time you’ll get to see some of your favorite college players get any meaningful professional action (I’m looking at you, D.J. Shockley)—not to mention keeping track of the Reshard Lee’s and Todd Bouman’s of the world.

For the media, however, training camp is a hectic whirlwind of two-a-days and covering inconsequential events like preseason games and intra-squad scrimmages, devoting full columns to who the team’s sixth receiver will be, and featuring any number of the 30-or-so new faces around the team that summer.

There is definitely no shortage of topics to write about during training camp. After reading the articles year after year, though, you can begin to pick up some of the common “storylines” that a beat reporter can turn to for the day’s entry.

Why, just perusing Redzone and taking a look at today’s print articles, plenty of the training camp “form” articles are represented.

The Old Veteran: Professor LT giving Bolts backs savvy education or Old but steady, Kendall provides line stability
The Improved Veteran: Panthers linebacker in position to bust out or 49ers’ McDonald showing a lot of improvement
The Come-Back Veteran: Jaguars’ Reggies — Hayward and Williams — ready to return
The New Guy: Favre still trying to digest Jets offense
The Small-School Underdog: Would-Be Redskin Westbrook Can Taste the NFL
The Stand-Out Rookie: Eagles rookie Mays impressing while he’s learning or Rookie could be Royal pain for opponents
The “Grooming The Future” Angle: Running back Green, Texans keep faith
Who Will Make The Team? Little-known, little-paid players could make team
The Position Battle Update: Right guard competition heating up
The GPS Article: After two preseason games, Patriots are far from being a super team or Is it time for Lions fans to believe?
Details of the game: NFL punters must develop intricate routine or Tall WRs pick on corners

Next time you’re reading a training camp article, give it a shot.