It has been a busy season for special teams. Fake punts, exciting returns, and now a Saints blocked punt. Chuck Zodda looks at how the New Orleans Saints put an early touchdown on the board in a play reminiscent of Steve Gleason’s magical block in 2006. The New Orleans Saints have had little to cheer…
The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts are set to square off in Week 6 in a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game. Brian Filipiak shows that no matter the back, style, or scheme, the New England ground game has shown that there is more than one way to go running on Indy. Over the…
The Indianapolis Colts defense is fresh off its best performance against the run this season, holding the Houston Texans to 82 yards on the ground in a Week 5 victory. Brian Filipiak looks at the rookies revamping the Colts run defense. Operating with a completely new starting defensive line, the Colts much-maligned run defense from…
When the Seattle Seahawks meet the Carolina Panthers in NFL Week 6, it will be a rematch of last season’s divisional round matchup, won by the Seahawks. Mark Schofield looks at how Panthers quarterback Cam Newton must be patient against Seattle’s defense. Seattle’s Best Safety: No, Not Him, The Other Guy While Kam Chancellor has grabbed headlines early this season…
Chuck Zodda has written about Matthew Slater as a punt gunner. He’s written about Slater as a blocker. He’s written about Slater as a defender. And now he’s writing about Slater again – because he’s actually that good. The New England Patriots traveled to battle the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, facing a stout defense…
The St. Louis Rams recent history is full of exciting special teams plays. Last year, they scored two punt return touchdowns – conventionally and unconventionally. This year, punter Johnny Hekker’s fake punt scramble drill against the Green Bay Packers took lemons and made them into lemonade. Time stood still. The ball hung in the air as the 25-year-old…
The 2015 season has been a roller coaster for the Philadelphia Eagles, with an anemic running game part of the problem. Mark Schofield shows how they got back on track against the New Orleans Saints, thanks to an efficient Eagles drive and defenders colliding. After dropping their first two games, Chip Kelly’s team earned their first win…
So many traits are needed to be an elite quarterback: quick release, ability to climb the pocket and read the field being just a few. Mark Schofield explains how all of these were on display with this quick strike for Aaron Rodgers against the Rams. One of the more intriguing NFL matchups this past weekend occurred in…
The team that wins the turnover battle usually wins the game, and it’s no mystery why: whether a fumble that stakes an underdog to a lead, a giveaway that shifts momentum, or a game-saving pick, few plays make more of a difference in winning and losing. Dave Archibald looks at Robert Alford’s overtime pick six…
An already bad season took a turn for the worse for the Detroit Lions on Sunday when they were blown out at home by the Arizona Cardinals. Mark Schofield looks at how the big run by the Cardinals Andre Ellington had Lions’ fans headed to the exits, early. The Lions were dominated on both sides…
Embattled Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has a reputation for unemotional play, but coolness under fire can be asset, such as this play which delighted Mark Schofield with its resemblance to a fictional favorite. As a high school football player in the early 1990s, I have a fond appreciation for the movie “The Program.” Starring James…
While an inconsistent running game has been an issue for the San Francisco 49ers, the giant problem has been the poor performance of quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Dave Archibald looks at how the 49ers could get both the running game and Kaepernick back on track. The 49ers clash with the New York Giants on in NFL Week…
Brandon Weeden will start at quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys against the New England Patriots in NFL Week 5. Weeden’s professional journey is a convoluted tale that takes both Inside The Pylon and SoSH Baseball to tell. Brandon Magee chronicles Weeden’s trouble with baseball, Mark Schofield looks at Brandon Weeden the football player. When the…
The San Francisco 49ers offensive issues have been plentiful this season: Colin Kaepernick has disappeared into quicksand and the running game has been inconsistent. Dave Archibald explores what might happen when the 49ers Carlos Hyde meets the New York Giants defense. The 49ers and Giants meet in a matchup hearkening back to battles for NFL supremacy…
Chuck Zodda is our special teams expert. Mostly because we don’t let him do anything else. But whether kickoff returns, fake punts, or fire calls, Chuck has you covered in the third phase of the game. Today we examine the critical role that punters have in determining field position, in Bryan Anger vs. Pat McAfee. Locked…
The Denver Broncos defense continued it’s dominance in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings, sacking quarterback Teddy Bridgewater seven times for a total loss of 57 yards. Using a medley of pressure schemes in an attempt to harass and confuse the second-year QB throughout the tightly contested game, Brian Filipiak shows how the Broncos overload blitz…