The 49ers this year are using digital playbooks on iPads at training camp, adding to "a growing trend around the NFL," according to Cam Inman of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. The Ravens and Buccaneers "were the pioneers" in '11, and a dozen teams "reportedly switched to iPad playbooks" last season. 49ers QB Colt McCoy said, "It's going to be effective. The technology is there and everything is moving that way. I don't know if there'll be hard-copy playbooks for much longer" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/4). 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said, "Not to get into an argument about binders, or paper or iPads but, the biggest thing is video. You get the video on the iPads. These guys can walk around and download today's practice and be watching it wherever they are -- back at the hotel or sitting in the cafeteria eating or in the training room. They can watch video more often than they would otherwise. That's huge." McCoy: "As soon as we get in the locker room, the practice film has already been downloaded on the iPad" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 8/5).
HARD WORK, DEFINED: In Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter reported the Falcons have recently signed with Australia-based Catapult "to provide them with GPS athlete tracking technology." The devices are "used by seven other NFL teams to monitor athlete movement and they let the team know how hard each player is working" (AJC.com, 8/6).
