All season long the Patriots mantra has been Do. Your. Job. Nothing personified this more than Malcolm Butler’s Super Bowl-securing interception of Russell Wilson in the end zone. Dave Archibald explains how Butler recognized the play early, and used his experience from film and practice to cement the legacy of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and…
Analysts and commentators will often include “start fast” in their keys to the game. While every team would like to score on their first possession of the game, only the Cincinnati Bengals have done it in 2015. Dave Archibald examines the Bengals opening drive prowess, and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson’s innovative schemes. Things can be hectic in the…
With the emphasis on throwing the ball, elite pass rushers are a valuable commodity in today’s NFL. No matter how a team acquires these talented players or how long they take to develop, any team is pleased when they have one on their team. Brian Filipiak shows us an example of such a player in Minnesota…
The team that wins the turnover battle usually wins the game, and it’s no mystery why: whether a strip-sack on a well-designed blitz, a giveaway that shifts momentum, or a pick-six in overtime, few plays make more of a difference in winning and losing. Dave Archibald looks at how Indianapolis Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson walks…
The Dallas Cowboys struggled without stars Tony Romo and Dez Bryant for a seven-game stretch. Mark Schofield shows how Romo to Dez was the key to victory over the Miami Dolphins. 2015 has been a rough year in Jerry World. Both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant were sidelined after two wins to open the season, and…
The Arizona Cardinals game plan was designed to show the Cincinnati Bengals defense what it expected ‒ right up to when Carson Palmer and the offense needed a backbreaker. Mark Schofield looks at how play design and doing your job led to Palmer finding Nelson for a key score. Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald…
Clemson Tigers quarterback DeShaun Watson connects with Charone Peake on a beautiful long pass play that Mark Schofield highlights as his big throw of the CFB weekend. Having already secured their ticket to the ACC Championship Game, #1 Clemson looked to continue their undefeated season when they hosted Wake Forest. The Tigers did their job,…
The Cincinnati Bengals Cedric Peerman is a kickoff wrecking ball and coverage extraordinaire. Celebrating touchdowns and big returns on special teams is easy because of how visible they are. More difficult is seeing how a coverage unit works together to snuff out returns most of the time. When Chuck Zodda reviews the film, occasionally one…
In order to keep their division title hopes alive, the Wisconsin Badgers must rely on senior linebacker Joe Schobert to slow down the Northwestern Wildcats offense. Mark Schofield turns to the Badgers’ film this year to highlight how Schobert is an athletic veteran who flashes excellent pure strength. The Big Ten West division title is close…
The Buffalo Bills hired Rex Ryan with the hopes of challenging the New England Patriots for the AFC East title. Not everything has gone as planned, but there is one defensive player that’s having an impact without putting up big numbers. Brian Filipiak demonstrates how Jerry Hughes excels at disrupting the quarterback. Buffalo Bills defensive end /…
The squib kick is the least majestic of all kicks. It does not travel as high and long as the traditional kickoff. It does not bounce and flutter beautifully like the onside kick. It does not split the uprights like a field goal. But it does have a purpose – to keep the ball away…
The San Diego Chargers have been beset by injuries offensively, but the main culprit for their poor record has been the performance of the San Diego run defense. Mark Schofield breaks down how they have struggles have been scheme-diverse, at every level. The Chargers enter their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs with a 2-7 record,…
Like any good researcher, Mark Schofield despises a small sample size. Unfortunately, prospect evaluation is almost always too early, or without all the information necessary. Thus, we have our series: On Two, in which Inside The Pylon examines two plays from a quarterback that address traits that scouts are talking about. Arm strength is one of the main traits to consider in the overall evaluation of a quarterback. It…
NFL teams have only so much money and draft picks with which to build a team, so making good decisions is paramount. In Part 4 of his 2013 draft retrospective, Matt Weston looks deeper at the overall performance of Luke Joeckel. Weston will look in depth at Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel, both in pass protection…
Punt return units typically employ one of two general strategies – devote resources to an all-out block, or set up for a return. Facing the New York Giants in Week 10, the New England Patriots appeared to be bringing pressure on the Giants punt unit. But, as Chuck Zodda shows us, returner Danny Amendola wasn’t…
The transition from the college ranks to the NFL is rarely easy for a quarterback. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are seeing steady improvement from Jameis Winston so far this season. Mark Schofield breaks down the critical drive from Tampa Bay’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, and shows how the young quarterback is growing. The…