The speed with which the defender exhibits moving from Point A to Point B to decrease the distance between themselves and the ballcarrier is known as closing speed. Acceleration, foot speed, and the angle the defender takes to get to the ball all factor into whether a defender displays great closing speed or not. These…
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…
We now find ourselves at the back portion of the quarterback rankings. We’ve gone through the Big Four, the Next Four, and the Guys I Can’t Quit. This final group of signal-callers are developmental type of players, and while there are more in this quarterback class, these are the guys I’m highest on. Others that…
Each spring, as the sun peeks out and the remainder of the heaping piles of plowed snow slowly melt away in the corner of the food store parking lot, the feeling of new life slowly disseminates through the air. Perennial flowers are taking shape in the garden and the sight of green leaves overwhelm the…
Click here for a full explanation of methodology and categories used in the chart above. About the class: Marshon Lattimore: #2 In the context of rankings, “#2” is usually associated with being the runner-up, the second best, or the first loser. For Marshon Lattimore, #2 means his overall ranking in this class from me. In…
You can count on one hand now the days remaining until day 1 of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over these next few days, teams will be finalizing their strategies and big boards if they haven’t already. Who do these teams want on day 1? Are they looking to draft the best player available (BPA)? Or are…
Click here for a full explanation of methodology and categories used in the chart above. Head of the Class Western Kentucky left tackle (and friend of the #PylonU podcast) Forrest Lamp highlights the interior offensive line class. Lamp, a left tackle for the Hilltoppers, could play the position at the next level, but he best translates…
Coming into his week in Mobile, Temple University’s Haason Reddick had much to prove. Reddick lined up as a defensive end at Temple but at 6’1”, 237 pounds, he is widely considered to be undersized for the position in the NFL. The athletic intrigue was always there but evaluators had several questions about his ability…
Declined invitations from Tim Williams, Jonathan Allen, Takkarist McKinley, Taco Charlton and DeMarcus Walker have severely dampened the enthusiasm for what could have been on of the best edge groups the Senior Bowl has ever seen. While the absence of those five and Carl Lawson, who didn’t graduate on time to make the Senior Bowl…
In Matt Rhule’s introductory press conference as the head coach of the Temple University Owls football team, he mentioned his team will throw the ball until they were good at it. After years as an assistant coach in college football and the NFL, Rhule thought his best chance at success would be to spread defenses…
With the 2016 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, evaluators are already working through the next crop of young men hoping to realize their NFL dreams. Mark Schofield has started his process of quarterback evaluation for the 2017 draft and, after some preliminary film work, has identified 30 prospects he will be keeping an…
Before the big American Athletic Conference championship game ‒ Temple vs Houston ‒ review what Inside the Pylon head writer Mark Schofield had to say about these teams throughout the season. Click here for Stanford vs USC, Florida vs Alabama, North Carolina vs Clemson, and Michigan State vs Iowa. The Temple Owls had a big matchup with Notre Dame on Halloween. The Owls rely…
Football is littered with specialized terminology. From punt gunner to climbing the pocket, 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…
Notre Dame faces a stiff road test this weekend when they travel to Philadelphia to take on the #21 team in the country: The Temple Owls. With the guidance of Mark Schofield, let’s meet the Temple offense. To understand Temple’s accomplishments so far this season you need a bit of context to the school’s football…