Quiet game practice

MARK down Oct. 5, 2017, as the day the music died.

The volume was turned off by Don McLean, er, Ben McAdoo, with his team an out-of-tune 0-4 and on the way to falling completely off the charts. The second-year head coach, so embracing to the needs and desires of the millennials filling his roster, decided the best playlist was the sound of silence. When drills began at the start of Thursday’s practice, the large speakers lining the field produced no beat and no rhythm.

Perhaps McAdoo was trying to remind everyone how his offense has operated in the f irst quarter of every game this sad season. No beat, no rhythm.

“It’s nice, some of the simple things, we can really correct them when there’s no mayhem and chaos going on, we can narrow down and get those things going,’’ Justin Pugh said of the practice devoid of the usual musical accompaniment. “Turning the music off allows the coaches to really get in there and coach their guys. Somebody messes up, they’re coming out. I guess it’s more accountability going on.

“We’re trying to fix it. Trying to figure out what the deal is.’’

McAdoo said the deal is, “I did not eliminate the music from practice.’’ But he did eliminate it from parts of practice.

“During periods where t here are f undamental emphasis and team emphasis as far as the scheme and getting the details right, we cut the music so our focus and concentration can go up,’’ said McAdoo, who added the music is not gone for good.

Is this a big deal? Of course not. But it is a concession from the new-age coach. The youngsters are failing their courses, and it is time to take away the tunes.