Playing running back for the New England Patriots is different than most teams, as Sony Michel has been finding out this season. Lining up right next to or behind Tom Brady brings on added responsibility. Under Bill Belichick’s tenure New England has made a priority of getting smart football players who have a deep understanding of the…
The level of play across the National Football League is generally down. Many players coming into the league lack fundamentals and it shows. You see the discussion most frequently regarding quarterbacks and offensive lines, but I would extend this to other positions, particularly defensive backs. Quality coaches do not grow on trees despite the fact…
The New England Patriots fascinate me. They have been the class of the NFL for a long time. Depending on your definition of a dynasty, you could state that New England’s has spanned the last two decades. Or they had one in the early 2000s and we’re presently living in the second iteration. Either way,…
Each year during the NFL Draft, the league opens its doors to hundreds of young, aspiring athletes looking to continue their dream and make a name for themselves at the highest level of competition. What happens after the draft, however, is ultimately more important. Unfortunately for these players, their ability to actually bring those dreams…
Inside The Pylon works to deliver quality football content to our readers. This Week in Football Writing collects some of our favorite pieces from friends and colleagues last week and shares them with you. For years, former CU and Broncos lineman Ryan Miller refused to tell his full story. Not anymore. Nicki Jhabvala reveals how…
The NFL’s rules are designed to create parity with the draft and roster turnover through free agency. But don’t tell that to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. As if you didn’t already know, the Patriots have had unprecedented success in the last two decades – winning five Super Bowls in that span. And…
It’s to be expected that each of Bill Belichick’s players are told to simply “do their job”. The phrase “Do Your Job” is basically the approach of being prepared to execute the assignments given to a player. It’s a team-first philosophy where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is why…
I fell asleep. To say this is surprising is an understatement. I mean, I don’t fall asleep easily even under normal circumstances. Yes, over the last week, for a work project, I reversed day and night and I had been up for close to two days with a brief nap in between … but still:…
This millennium, the New England Patriots’ defense has consistently ranked better by points allowed than it has by yards allowed. For many of those seasons, the difference in its rankings has been notably large. Such disparities have led announcers, fans, and analysts alike to conclude that the Patriots employ a “bend but don’t break”-style defense…
The Philadelphia Eagles have a new quarterback in Carson Wentz to run a new coach’s offense. Sean Cottrell checks the film to evaluate how their new receiver, Dorial Green-Beckham, will fit in. Since wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was traded to the Eagles from the Titans last Tuesday, there has been much debate among Philadelphia fans and media about the…
Coming off their fifth consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance, the New England Patriots entered the draft looking to continue stacking the roster to make another Super Bowl run as the Tom Brady window closes. They lacked a 1st round draft pick – due to DeflateGate – and had no major holes to fill, which was good for…
From time to time NFL GMs must make difficult moves in order to preserve cap space or set their team up for a Super Bowl run. Last week GM Dave Gettleman made a move that saw the Carolina Panthers pull a Bill Belichick. Dave Archibald explains how Gettleman’s move is reminiscent of a move the…
With the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine getting underway, draft hopefuls will be put through a number of drills to test their speed, agility, explosiveness, and strength. Inside the Pylon is publishing a special set of glossary terms to define some of the drills these players face in Indianapolis. Three Cone Drill One of the tests…
Inside The Pylon works to deliver quality football content to our readers. Football’s finest writing collects some of our favorite pieces from friends and colleagues last week and shares them with you. Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Brady And Patriots’ Offense Are Built To Adapt Greg Bedard visited ex-New England offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and explores the multiple responsibilities each receiver has on every snap.…
The NFL Playoffs continue with the AFC Championship Game featuring the 2nd-seeded New England Patriots visiting the 1st-seeded Denver Broncos. The ITP editors have collected our coverage of these two teams from the 2015 season. New England Aidan Curran broke down the composition of the Patriots’ defensive line at the start of the season, and found that Bill Belichick built a versatile…
