From last year: why teams are upping their use of extra linemen and heavy personnel groupings. Alec Anderson walked so everyone can run (and hit chunky play-action shots) www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...

From last year: why teams are upping their use of extra linemen and heavy personnel groupings. Alec Anderson walked so everyone can run (and hit chunky play-action shots) www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...

New pod! Previewing week 6 with @ollieconnolly.bsky.social 🎧: apple.co/3VX0Tfe 📺: youtu.be/y3GV4S_hJgQ?...

Per sources: Bill Belichick has discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy. Belichick has signaled a willingness to trigger his own $1 million buyout if he can find a soft landing with another team or in media

Not sure there is a single (non-superstar) as important to the structure and success of his team's defense than Indy's Nick Cross www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...

Not sure there is a single (non-superstar) as important to the structure and success of his team's defense than Indy's Nick Cross www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...

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Monster Week 5 recap with QB Island looming - Darnold and Baker’s Duel - Daniel Jones’ 40-burger - Drake Maye’s showcase - A regime-changing L With @willgav.bsky.social and @ollieconnolly.bsky.social from London: 🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n... 📺: youtu.be/_nBSKULr9xo?...

This is bleak, bleak, bleak stuff for the Ravens. No pass-rush, limited in coverage without Hamilton.

Bryce Young is going to get benched before the half here

You knew North Carolina was fucked when Lombardi was sending desperation emails to boosters talking about a multi-year rebuild with a 73-year-old coach and openly admitting they stink

This is as embarrassing as it gets for Belichick. But it's also a damning (and funny) indictment of Mike Lombardi. It's his roster -- and UNC looks like a bad FCS school compared to any FBS school

I wrote about the Lou-issance in Indianapolis. Is it real or a mirage? www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...

I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off. www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...

A bunch of teams sought out new ideas on offense this offseason. @ollieconnolly.bsky.social joined @robertmays.bsky.social on today's episode of The Athletic Football Show to talk about five of them...the Patriots, Bears, Jaguars, Seahawks and Cowboys. youtube.com/watch?v=DNAg...

I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off. www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...

Colts had only 10 men on the field for the play. Such a dumb and sloppy way to lose a game to go along with AD Mitchell's mistakes

Woof.

Jared Verse with a running start on Tanor Bortolini hahahhahahaa

INT is a great example. Bolton isn't just flying into the line or working a greendog. He's timing up the rush in sequence with the first line of pressure hitting. Cruises through untouched. Always been Spags' go-to strategy against Lamar because he knows he wants to hold it and scan downfield

The league really needs to give Al-Shaair an unprecedented suspension. I love me a violent linebacker. But every week he is intentionally trying to give QBs life-changing injuries with dirty hits

Spags is using his favored layered-rush style against Lamar. Sending waves of rushers from different depths as Lamar holds the ball -- often with some kind of flush element so that they force Lamar to a spot with a free runner from depth

A GREAT MAN

Tony Romo's bronzer is completely out of control

Drake Maye is stacking career-best performances. This was his most mature game against a lousy Panthers defense: took what was available in the structure, a couple of high-level throws down the field, and created when needed

Lou Anarumo got Matt Stafford with a good one: A creeper paired with a press-and-drop from a mugged up 'backer. Stafford thought he was replacing the blitzer, 'backer right there. Should have been picked. Anarumo has a great way of using your blitz answers against you. He'll be livid

Brian Callahan is just woefully out of his depth as a head coach. He should be gone tomorrow. If I were a wannabe head coach, I'd be moving like crazy now to get in position for that job. The box score will be ugly, but there is so much to like about Cam Ward's game *cough* Joe Brady *cough*

This is a beauty of a back shoulder throw from Maye to Diggs on fourth-and-three. Another week where Maye has played within the system where he can and has been decisive when it's go time

Washington's defense is in a complete bind. Every time they're in man, they have two sink holes, including Wagner on Bijan (no good!). When they switch to zone, there are busts everywhere (no good!)

Josh McDaniels continues to be dialled in. The Pats came into the week 12th in success rate, and the Panthers have no answer today. You can see the schematic glee in designing a plan for Maye, blending the Glory Years with the Cam 2020 season

A bunch of designed runs from Brian Daboll to get Jaxson Dart comfortable early, and show the threat to the Chargers. Finish it up with a nice QB Draw Lead with a box RPO attached

It's beautiful. Knew Keegan Bradley was fucked when his plan to turn things around was to have the fellas watch Trump fly over the course on Air Force One

Do not hit quarterbacks high. Do not hit quarterbacks low. Do not hit them in the midriff. Do not play two-hand touch. Roughing the passer on Washington

Sunglasses girl is the vibe

This is an unbelievable design from Lincoln Riley, burned by a dumb penalty. Everyone will be pinching an iteration of that

Always learn something new from @ollieconnolly.bsky.social. - Tebowmania. - Detroit’s wizardry. - How rookie Jackson Hawes is unlocking Joe Brady’s playbook in Buffalo. - Will the Real Bryce Young stand up? - Who's to blame in Atlanta? Go Long Pod is live: www.golongtd.com/p/gl-pod-ins...

Cam Ward might have the most elastic arm in the league

Bobby Wagner generated five pressures on seven pass rushes (71.4%) against the Raiders, sacking Geno twice. His five pressures were the most in a game by an off-ball player this season, per @NextGenStats No one has mastered the two-man blitz dance like Wagner www.readoptional.com/p/the-two-ma...

The Cowboys made many awful moves this offseason, but hiring Matt Eberflus, given their personnel, is high among them

Bobby Wagner generated five pressures on seven pass rushes (71.4%) against the Raiders, sacking Geno twice. His five pressures were the most in a game by an off-ball player this season, per @NextGenStats No one has mastered the two-man blitz dance like Wagner www.readoptional.com/p/the-two-ma...

Trevor Lawrence completed just 2 of 11 passes over 10 air yards for 62 yards and an interception against the Texans. Houston continues to field a championship-level defense with an offense that throws up all over itself

Losing James Conner and Najee Harris to devastating injuries in the same day is a special kind of cruelty from the football Gods

The Saints kicking a field goal down 38-3 is the most cowardly thing ever

*Matt Eberflus have someone press, redirect, disrupt a route or lineup near the line of scrimmage challenge*

Davis hit 18.59 MPH on that return hahahahhahaa

SKINNY JORDAN DAVIS.

The Eagles have spent the second half just hunting Emmanuel Forbes -- and that's profit every time

Bad football everywhere.

Brian Thomas Jr may legitimately have the yips. His average separation is down. When he is open, there are constant mental errors: missing his landmarks, jumping out of throwing windows, and concentration drops. It's bizarre

Kevin Patullo calls plays like he's terrified of his own quarterback, a quarterback who has shredded two Steve Spagnuolo defenses in Super Bowls