The Counter – Page 2 – Syndication Server

The Counter: Breaking down the Patriots’ defensive scheme with NFL Twitter’s Betz

Betz joins the show to discuss defensive scheme and what makes Bill Belichick so good.

[protected-iframe id=”78fa2f3019edd4bbee21b209d987c014-58289342-33787661″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/the-counter-an-nfl-podcast-by-for-the-win-betz-joi/embed?style=cover” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

This week, with Chris Korman out, we were joined by a special guest co-host: The infamous Betz (@alltwentytwo) of NFL Twitter. Without a lot going on in the NFL world this week, the discussion focused on defensive scheme and Bill Belichick’s scheme in particular.

Some topics we hit on during the episode:

Betz being called out by one of his football heroes, Hal Mumme
His ‘scheme > talent’ take and how that applies to Belichick’s Pats
My article on the Patriots defense and the concepts behind it
The schematic evolution of NFL defense
Betz lists his favorite NFL defenses to watch
Betz puts together his ideal defensive scheme

The discussion centers around my post on the Patriots defense. I would recommend giving that a read before listening to this episode, as we review some of the concepts I cover in that post.

[lawrence-related id=920195]

If you’re unable to read it, here are some helpful visual aids for the two main concepts we cover: Divider rules and position maintenance.

First the rules for the divider:

And the rules for position maintenance:

And here is an illustration of position maintenance in action:

My series on the NFL’s defensive evolution from last offseason is another helpful appendix to the conversation I have with Betz. We cover a lot of the ground that I covered in the four-part series.

[lawrence-related id=838998]

You can find (and subscribe!) to The Counter at the usual spots linked below. Thanks for listening.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | TuneIn

[protected-iframe id=”69f8f4abbe9c7118c53370e493c5bcdf-58289342-1665738″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/playlists/podcast/embed?style=cover” width=”100%” height=”500″ frameborder=”0″]

The Counter: Is now really the time for a Tom Brady documentary?

Also: Why the Dolphins could be a surprise contender.

[protected-iframe id=”6bda566019a194bb08814cae603cb22c-58289342-1665738″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/the-counter-an-nfl-podcast-by-for-the-win-the-nfls/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

Henry McKenna, the managing editor of Patriots Wire and FTW staff writer, joined the show this week to catch up on all (of what passes for) the NFL news this week. Topics we discussed include:

Update on the NFL’s diversity initiative
Does Dak Prescott deserve to be paid like a top 10 QB?
Thoughts on the Tom Brady documentary
Was Brady all-in with the Patriots in his final years?
N’Keal Harry’s development in New England’s offense
Why the Dolphins should resist the temptation of starting Tua right away

You can find (and subscribe!) to The Counter at the usual spots linked below. Thanks for listening.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | TuneIn

The Counter: Why are the Cowboys hedging on Dak Prescott?

Pay him, Jerry.

[protected-iframe id=”58afcfae7f031ee3bb5da30e22a85fea-58289342-1665738″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/the-counter-an-nfl-podcast-by-for-the-win-2020-n-1/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

We caught up on some news in the latest edition of The Counter.

First, a look at the NFL schedule, and which teams might benefit or suffer thanks to it. (We have quite a few stories from last week that examine this, too.)
Explaining how it appears the schedule was designed to allow for flexibility should the NFL decide to shorten the season.
We also dig in on the Monday Night Football announcing team shake-up, looking at potential replacements and mapping out what we’d like to hear from the booth in the future.
The Bears didn’t pick up Mitch Trubisky’s fifth-year option, which wasn’t surprising. But that decision led to a feisty exchange on the internet in which Doug Gottlieb revealed himself to be powerfully out of touch … which also, come to think of it, was not surprising. BUT since the topic is race and quarterbacks it’s worth talking about and exploring, so we did.

Finally, we tried to figure out what the Dallas Cowboys might be thinking as they continue to string along Dak Prescott, a clear franchise QB who should be treated as one.

Steven referenced a few throws in particular in the episode, from the Cowboys’ late-season loss to the Eagles that was held up by many as a “bad” game by Prescott.

But these clips pretty clearly show a QB playing well enough to win:

This 4th-down play where he fools a defender by pointing to open space is just sublime.

Prescott’s receivers let him down time after time. Amari Cooper made just four catches on 12 targets. Michael Gallup had a strong game but this is brutal.

Look at these throws!

This one isn’t as immediately impressive but it shows a quarterback thinking the game on an advanced level. The Eagles come out in an exotic look, with Fletcher Cox lined up directly over the center with six other players in the box at least feigning like they might rush him. Prescott takes time to adjust the blocking, then sidesteps Cox after he easily wins his mismatch before making the throw.

Pay the man, Jerry.

Anyway, download/listen to/like/rate-highly The Counter at the following places, if you would. We’ll be back with another episode on Friday.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | TuneIn

The Counter: Does anyone have any idea what the Patriots are doing?

Henry McKenna joins the show to offer his thoughts.

[protected-iframe id=”5bc4f9a5c3735bf50d17211ea0a8b988-58289342-1665738″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/the-counter-an-nfl-podcast-by-for-the-win-henry-mc/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

The drama in New England played out quickly when free agency opened earlier this year, with Tom Brady swiftly announcing that he would not re-join the Patriots before agreeing to a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Like that, one of sports’ most fascinating and enduring dynasties … changed, at the very least. Bill Belichick has now set off to try to win championships without the greatest QB of all time. And Brady, with Gronk at his side, will try to do the same without the greatest coach of all time.

We brought our friend Henry McKenna, Managing Editor of Patriots Wire and a contributor here at For The Win, on to discuss how things got to be this way in New England and, crucially, what happens next. A few of the topics we talked about:

The surprising choice by the Patriots to not select a QB at the draft
Whether Andy Dalton or Cam Newton might fight
What type of replacement Jarrett Stidham would be
Belichick’s plan to devise an offense that is less reliant on QB play
How the events of this spring will impact Belichick’s and Brady’s legacies

We also took your reader questions, providing answers for the following:

Thoughts on the new look Tampa bay bucs?

— Logan (@dealerofcancer) April 30, 2020

(Steven actually offered some thoughts on this in an article Thursday, too.)

Where are there market inefficiencies currently for NFL defensive roles? (Cover 2 corner doesn't count.)

— Cameron Soran (@cameronsoran) April 30, 2020

How would a season/offseason logistically work if the NFL played into April/May 2021? Is it likely that this would shift the sport back forever since players would have less recovery time?

— Ryan King-White (@SbFCJebus) April 30, 2020

Why do teams get stuck on specific plays? (Outside zone for the Rams/ Arians deep ball passing.) are these college QBs really groomed to be NFL QBs? Are college QBs even good enough to play in the NFL? Do weapons in college hide a QBs deficiencies?

— Knicks (21-45) NY City (@DrowningHipster) April 30, 2020

We’ll be back on Monday and Friday of next week with a discussion of Steven’s initial power rankings heading into next season.

The Counter: Making sense of the NFL Draft with PFF’s Seth Galina

We talked Jalen Hurts and the Patriots’ controversial kicker, too.

All 255 picks are in, and the Eagles selecting Jalen Hurts remains the most shocking selection of the 2020 NFL Draft. At least when you’re talking about on-the-field ramifications.

The Patriots also picked a kicker with a tattoo of the logo for a far-right movement whose members wore full military gear to the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville. The same one where a counter-protestor was run down and killed by a car.

Justin Rohrwasser, who played at Marshall, said he doesn’t support the Three Percenters and got the tattoo when he was a teenager, thinking it stood for support of the military. He told reporters he plans to cover it up.

We talked about Hurts and Rohrwasser in our latest episode. We also discussed Jameis Winston finding a (promising) new home and Steven explained his methodology after being called out for being the toughest draft grader on the internet.

2020 NFL Draft – 1st Round Grades
> Everyone loves grades
> makes no sense. still fun!

I combined the grades of these guys for GPA:
Doug Farrar
Luke Easterling
Vinnie Iyer
Danny Kelly
Andy Benoit
Pete Prisco
Dan Kadar
Mike Tanier
Eric Edholm
Steven Ruiz

Thanks everyone 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/WkGJwKK5q6

— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) April 26, 2020

Finally, Pro Football Focus senior analyst Seth Galina joined us to give his insights on No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, Hurts, Winston and to defend Jake Fromm.

You can find us on Apple Podcasts now, as well as Spotify, or listen below.

[protected-iframe id=”f2fa0264ae37121b58a4934d29d86a57-58289342-1665738″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/the-counter-an-nfl-podcast-by-for-the-win-draft-re/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

The Counter: Analyzing the first round of the NFL Draft and looking ahead

Trying to figure out the most unique night in NFL Draft history.

The Counter, our new podcast covering the NFL, is back with a second episode. We jumped into our virtual recording studio after the first round of the NFL Draft concluded in the early minutes of Friday to try to make sense of the most unique night in draft history.

We did not figure out what was going on at Mike Vrabel’s house, nor get any sort of understanding of how a man as large as Tristan Wirfs could jump *out* of the pool like it’s nothing.

Among the topics we discussed:

Drawbacks (so much Roger Goodell) and things we loved (players at home, without all the pomp and circumstance) about the format.
Our biggest surprise of the first round.
Winners and losers
Steven graded every pick; we talked about at his 5 As and 3 Fs
Who’s left? A look at the top talent remaining going into Day 2

[protected-iframe id=”04175fc4041791d418ce9f204fdd1ff2-58289342-1665738″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/the-counter-an-nfl-podcast-by-for-the-win-2020-nfl/embed” width=”100%” height=”180″ frameborder=”0″]

Introducing For The Win’s new NFL Podcast, ‘The Counter’

A look at big questions heading into the draft, scouting the QBs and ranking our Top 10.

NFL Draft week is always a mess. There’s the avalanche of mock drafts and big boards to deal with. Anonymous scouts spout nonsense. Teams send up smokescreen after smokescreen.

This year, it’s all happening in the midst of a global pandemic that has otherwise brought day-to-day life to a grinding halt. It’s all so surreal. The NFL Draft already got too much attention — and now it’s basically the only sports-related event happening in the entire world.

We’re here to try to help. We’ve launched The Counter, a new NFL podcast, to help you wade through it all. Our first episode is now live. Here’s a quick rundown of what we discussed:

Five big stories

How weird will this draft really be?
Is Tua Tagovailoa going to fall?
How deep is the WR class, and which players are for real?
Do we expect any dramatic trades?
Where does Isaiah Simmons actually fit in the NFL?

QB Rankings

We take a deep dive on the top two prospects in this class, Joe Burrow and Tagovailoa.
We dig back into our past rankings to show you just how difficult it is to evaluate QBs.

Top 10

Steven ranks his best players in the draft (though he’s since changed his mind about No. 2!)

So, listen. Subscribe. We’ll be back with another show on Friday.

[protected-iframe id=”3e2c357b663f6c2e1e60cee371538842-58289342-1665738″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/the-counter/the-counter-2020-nfl-draft-preview/embed?size=square” width=”100%” height=”400″ frameborder=”0″]