The Arizona Cardinals’ top two selections in the 2017 NFL Draft are perfectly suited to the defensive scheme run in Phoenix. Budda Baker and Haason Reddick give defensive coordinator James Bettcher even more options in the hybrid scheme. For another piece breaking down Baker and Reddick’s fit in Arizona, check out this piece by Ollie…
A few weeks ago I introduced my latest project Contextualizing Sack Production, and explained how and why the endeavor could be useful in evaluating individual performance for edge pass rushers in the NFL. With the regular season over, I compiled the final results of the CSP and organized them to give you an idea how…
All production is good and all sacks are good. I’m not here to debate that. From a team or fan perspective, an 8-second hustle sack is just as valuable as DeMarcus Ware bending the edge in a ridiculous show of athleticism. But while the box score stat has consistent value on the field, it can…
Even in the San Francisco 49ers’ 23-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals the added mobility that quarterback Colin Kaepernick brings to Chip Kelly’s offense was clear to see. Yes, Kaepernick’s flaws were also on display, with his passes lacking any sort of touch and the fifth-year quarterback failing to consistently progress through his reads; taking…
Stifling defenses come in different shapes and sizes, but they can be all be beaten. Matty Brown shows how the blitzing Arizona Cardinals defense has an exploitable weakness in the short pass game. The Arizona Cardinals are one of the most blitz-happy teams in the league, having sent five or more rushers on 45.1% of plays last season. The…
The start of the NFL season is upon us (finally!) and before the Week 1 action concludes, it is important to look at all the rosters to see which teams currently have holes and which teams are stacked. Jeff Feyerer used his roster evaluation system to break down each team’s roster and see which teams are primed…
Every season there are good players who get overlooked or are undervalued across the NFL. As we approach the regular season, Brandon Thorn will look at players who are not getting the appropriate level of attention from big media – or even smaller entities – and put them under the microscope to evaluate their skills…
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…
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…
The NFL Playoffs continue with an AFC Divisional round matchup between the 5th-seeded Kansas City Chiefs visiting the 2nd-seeded New England Patriots. The ITP editors have collected our coverage of these two teams from the 2015 season. Kansas City Mark Schofield uses Travis Kelce’s week one performance against the Texans to demonstrate how the Houston defense is susceptible to…
Football is littered with specialized terminology. From bull rush to NASCAR front, commentators rarely get to explain everything you need to know before the next play. Inside The Pylon’s glossary was developed to give fans a deeper understanding of the game through clear explanations, as well as image and video examples. Please contact us with any…
Football is littered with specialized terminology. From Landry shift to option route, commentators rarely get to explain everything you need to know before the next play. Inside The Pylon’s glossary was developed to give fans a deeper understanding of the game through clear explanations, as well as image and video examples. Please contact us with any…
Even the best laid pressure schemes of a defensive coordinator can go awry. Whether because of sound fundamentals in pass protection or a quarterback escaping the pocket to keep a play alive, a blitz that doesn’t hit home quickly can just as easily create a big play for the offense. In those instances, pass coverage and…
Defenses rely on eleven players doing their jobs. Brian Filipiak breaks down how the New England Patriots team sack of Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill shows it takes a village. The Dolphins offense uses a heavy dose of misdirection in an attempt to deceive opposing defenses, both in the running and passing game. But the Patriots defense rarely fell victim…
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick prizes versatility, and the defensive line provides many different options: Veterans such as Chandler Jones and Sealver Siliga, and youngsters like Dominique Easley and rookie Malcom Brown. Aidan Curran reviewed the film of the New Orleans Saints Week 2 preseason matchup, focusing on Patriots versatile defensive line. NFL coaches crave versatility, as it offers them flexibility in roster…
The New England Patriots added another Vince Lombardi Trophy to their collection, thanks to Tom Brady’s near-perfect fourth quarter and Malcolm Butler’s improbable interception. In a game often decided by mere inches, less heralded plays can be just as important. In Super Bowl XLIX, stopping the read option proved crucial in the Patriots’ victory over…