Our 2013 NFL Tech Series provides a quick hit of tech insight on all 32 NFL teams up until kickoff of Week 1 of the regular season. Each feature includes the latest tech advances implemented by the organization in the effort to advance the team’s success… in a wide variety of venues. Stadium experience, fan engagement, mobile technologies, player performance and health, statistical data gathering and analysis… any and all aspects of the organization’s procedures in the effort to find success in the NFL is on the table. We’re uncovering those efforts, investigating those innovations and pondering the benefit they might provide, for the team, players and fans alike… today and looking forward.
Today’s focus is on the Washington Redskins’ plan to change the grass (uhm, RGIII) and continue to embrace the new age of technology.
New Grass Technology
When RGIII’s knee bent in that awkward, painful looking manner, how fast do you think owner Daniel Snyder got on the phone and called his sod guy? I’d say about as fast as an RGIII juke.
In their wild card playoff game against Seattle the whole world watched as the superstar buckled to the ground because of a field that looked suited for a junkyard. The fan response was swift and strong, calling for a new field, one fitted for RGIII’s greatness. So, “Latitude 36” was installed this offseason as the official grass of the Redskins. It’s no ordinary grass though; it’s Bermuda grass sod, considered to be some of the best in the world for such a purpose.
According to Tim Newcomb, of SI, it was “specifically designed by Oklahoma State University horticulture experts in conjunction with the United States Golf Association.”
The grass is a perfect fit for the NFL, due to its strong texture and aesthetically pleasing look. Not to add that it won’t rip up players’ knees anymore.
Playbooks in the Digital Age
The Redskins joined almost half of the league in adopting iPad only playbooks. In 2013, this new technology has become the new normal, replacing bulky playbooks for the sleek and efficient tablets.
Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch explained the key benefits of using the iPads.
“While a lighter load is one benefit, the bigger convenience for coaches is increasing players’ access to film study. The iPads, which are specially designed and don’t run any other apps, have remote access to video of every play from every game, including those by upcoming opponents. It means players don’t have to come in on 
their day off for film study. Coaches still know who’s doing his work — their devices give them access to usage information.”
They do come at a fairly large cost to the team, but the benefits certainly outweigh the potential downfalls. Even if a player were to lose the device (or get cut), all information could be disabled before any issues would occur.
Solar Power
As already explained in our #NFLTechSeries, the Philadelphia Eagles have gone completely off the grid and turned Lincoln Financial Field into the gold standard of green energy.
While they have been one of the pioneers, riding along side them have been the Redskins, introducing solar panels in the FedEx Field parking lot in 2011.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Redskins owner Daniel Snyder said after a news conference featuring local officials and CBSNFL Today host James Brown, again in 2011. “It’s something we’re proud of doing for the environment for the future. We believe and understand what’s taking place here in the shift and the transformation of the United States and being involved early is really special for us.”
This space is now the largest solar power installation in the metropolitan D.C. area. Through working with nrg solar, the parking lot is littered with panels, totaling 7,600 over the 841-space lot. That’s not even counting the 700 solar panels incorporated throughout the stadium.
In spite of the team’s success, its been made clear that Mike Shanahan, unfortunately, is not a Sport Techie. The coach recently commented, “I don’t have an email, I do text and I’m not very good at that,” Shanahan said. “I’m not getting into Twitter. I never have read a Twitter account.”