Inside The Pylon Quick Kicks Podcast

With only five days to go until the Super Bowl, Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda take to the tape to look at the Denver Broncos offense in the February 2 Quick Kicks Podcast. While this unit has had its ups and downs this year, there are still several opportunities for them to find space against a tough Carolina Panthers defense. Topics include: -Peyton Manning and expectations in the Super Bowl after an extra week of rest, and whether or not the lack of velocity on his throws will be an issue against the speed of the Panthers (1:47) -How Carolina will match up with the Denver receivers and tight ends in the passing game and why the Broncos will be unlikely to find a lot of space against various defensive personnel (5:29) -The Denver running game and how they can find room against a Carolina front that has been stout against the run, including looking at previous similar zone blocking schemes that the Panthers have faced in 2015 (10:04) -Pre-snap motion in the Broncos offense and the use of rub routes to try t

It's Super Bowl week, and while the big game is just six days away now, Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield take one last look at the Senior Bowl on the February 1 Quick Kicks Podcast. With nearly eighty players competing this year, it offered a tremendous glimpse into some of the best players in the country looking to move up draft boards, and Chuck and Mark were down in Mobile to document everything. Topics from this show include: -Kevin Byard and how he was able to improve his draft stock over the course of the week (2:37) -The lack of any true impact tight ends in Mobile and how the college game has evolved away from the position in recent years (3:47) -How Ed Eagan of Northwestern State showed the ability to compete at the NFL level despite his small stature, as well as why any Julian Edelman comparisons are for too early at this point (7:12) -Eric Striker and whether or not he will be able to overcome his lack of prototypical size to find a niche in the NFL (10:46) -The impressive directional punting game o

With one one day to go until the Senior Bowl on Saturday, Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda discuss some of the top athletes during Senior Bowl practices on the January 29 Quick Kicks Podcast. Mark digs into the play of quarterbacks over the lasttwo days, while Chuck examines Northwestern fullback Dan Vitale and his recent performance. Chuck and Mark also look at wide receivers who have had a positive impact this week, and Chuck breaks down the two kickers present in Mobile and how their draft stock has shifted.

With the Senior Bowl in full swing, Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda have headed down to Mobile, Alabama to check out some of the top prospects in the country. They are joined on this episode by Shane Alexander, who breaks down his first mock draft for Inside the Pylon. Among the topics covered in this episode are the critical positions on each side of the ball, difficult-to-project picks such as RB Ezekiel Elliott and LB Myles Jack, and how to balance the talent levels of players with team needs.

While two teams punched their tickets for San Francisco with wins in last weekend's conference championship games, ITP The Podcast Volume 1.20 starts to roll towards draft season as the calendar closes in on February. Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda start laying the groundwork for May's NFL Draft, as well as touching on the release of Mark's first book, 17 Drives: College Football's 2015 Season, One Game At A Time. Topics include: -Mark and Chuck's top prospects to watch in Mobile, AL at the Senior Bowl, including Mark's thoughts on what Carson Wentz needs to do over the course of the week and Chuck's top kicking prospects (3:08) -The ITP Glossary term "Target Distance Punted (TDP)", a better metric for measuring the leg strength and distance control of punters (11:38) -Mark's recently-released book, 17 Drives, and the story the book tells as it takes readers through the 2015 season (16:02) -The kicker evaluation process, including the key segments of a kicker's mechanics to watch during study and how these p

Yesterday, Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield broke down the AFC Championship with fellow Inside the Pylon writer Dave Archibald. Today, Chuck and Mark dig into the NFC battle on the January 26 Quick Kicks Podcast and show you how the Carolina Panthers knocked off the Arizona Cardinals. This show's topics include: -How Carolina took control of the game at the end of the first quarter and never looked back (1:04) -Carson Palmer's inability to establish a rhythm in the passing game and whether this was due to the pressure schemes of the Panthers defense (4:08) -Whether the Carolina offense will be able to move the ball effectively in their power running game against the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl (8:58) -How Denver will have to adapt their pass rush against Cam Newton due to his running ability (10:32) -The potential return of Thomas Davis for the Super Bowl after breaking his arm in the second quarter of this game, and the key role that he plays for the Panthers (11:49) -An early look at the Super Bowl and

The AFC Championship Game is over and the Denver Broncos are heading on to the 2016 Super Bowl. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield bring in fellow ITP author Dave Archibald to break down the key plays from the NFL semifinal, looking at the reasons for the Broncos' victory over the New England Patriots. Topics include: -How this game played out as defensive battle with neither offense able to establish a rhythm thought the game (1:12) -Whether the Denver success was due more to a schematic victory by defensive coordinator Wade Phillips or individual successes by Broncos players (3:25) -The shift by Denver from a man-to-man scheme to a predominantly zone scheme and how it disrupted the New England offense in the first half (6:51) -The lack of a running game from the Patriots and the ability of the Denver defensive ends to get upfield without having to worry about containing the run (9:09) -The missed extra point from Stephen Gostkowski and how it affected strategy and the eventual outcome of the game in the second

The January 22 Quick Kicks Podcast wraps up the week as Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda dig into the matchup between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. They are joined on this episode by Daniel Syed of Syed Schemes and Inside the Pylon, who offers his views on the key concepts that will shape this game. Subjects include: -How the Chris Harris injury for Denver will affect how the Broncos look to shut down the quick New England receivers (1:15) -Whether or not Julian Edelman's timing will be closer to normal after an additional week of practice with the Patriots (3:23) -The Denver usage of trap coverage, and how it has broken down for them in recent weeks and allowed several big plays for opposing offenses (6:40) -How the Broncos rely on their ground game to move their offense at this point, and how New England can adjust their scheme to counter the Denver zone blocking scheme (9:20) -How special teams will play a role in this game, including which team has the edge if this turns into a defensive str

With the NFL Draft now only four months away, teams are starting to take stock of prospects as the post-season evaluation process begins. While four teams are still battling it out for the Super Bowl, scouts eyes are focused on Tampa this week for the Shrine Game. The January 21 Quick Kicks Podcast features hosts Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield with Jeff Risdon of RealGM, DraftBreakdown, and SideLionReport coming to you live from the site of the Shrine Game for a first-hand look at the big events of the week. Topics include: -The increased presence of NFL scout at the Shrine Game and the reasons for that in recent years (1:10) -Key prospects who have helped or hurt themselves on the offensive and defensive lines (2:25) -FCS players who may be getting extra attention during the week and could find themselves getting selected with a late-round pick or as undrafted free-agents (5:23) -Players who may be able to carve out a role as core special teams players during their first few years in the NFL as they build o

Four teams remain as the NFL season heads into its penultimate weekend where two winners will head to the Super Bowl. ITP The Podcast Volume 1.19 is here to give you the rundown of what to expect this weekend, and also to begin discussing everyone's favorite topic for the offseason - the NFL Draft. Hosts Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda are joined by Dan Hatman from The Scouting Academy and Brandon Thorn from The Football Educator as they give their thoughts on some key events from around the NFL. Topics include: -Key prospects to watch at next week's Senior Bowl practices as draft season heats up, with Mark and Chuck listing some of their top targets (1:48) -Dan breaking down the latest round of coaching and front office hires from around the league, touching on new head coaches in Tennessee and San Francisco, as well as the unique front office structure recently created in Cleveland (12:28) -Brandon discussing the struggles of the Denver Broncos offense against the Pittsburgh Steelers, how the New England Pa

With the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals heading to the NFC Championship Game, Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield are here for the January 19 Quick Kicks Podcast Part 2 to dig into the tape and see how they got past the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. From the nearly-classic comeback in Carolina to the incredible finish in Phoenix, this 15-minute look gets you all the info you need on the Divisional Round games. Subjects include: -Aaron Rodgers ability to bring the Packers back on a nearly-impossible last drive with two incredible throws on the final Green Bay drive (1:59) -The final Arizona drive and Larry Fitzgerald continuing his outstanding play this year as he solidifies his case for the Hall of Fame (5:01) -How the Packers schemed to make the Cardinals work for their yardage, with much of their success being on second and third reads throughout much of the game (6:39) -The phenomenal athleticism of the Carolina defense and how they were able to completely shut down the Seahawks in the first

The AFC Divisional Round games are in the book and the January 19 Quick Kicks Podcast Part 1 is a 15-minute trip through the events that unfolded in the AFC over the weekend. Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda break down the key concepts from the battles between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs as well as the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. Topics include: -Recapping last week's predictions for this game and how closely it followed them (1:35) -The importance to the New England offense of having Julian Edelman back in the fold after the wide receiver missed the se and half of the season with a foot injury (2:38) -Whether the inability to defend the run against the Chiefs will be something that continues to be an issue against Denver, or if it was scheme-related (5:27) -The ability of Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia, and the New England defense to take away Travis Kielce as a threat over the course of the game (7:29) -The inability of Denver to move the ball consistently until their final dri

With the weekend closing in, Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield take aim at the first game of the Divisional Round in the January 15 Quick Kicks Podcast. Rich Hill from Pats Pulpit joins Chuck and Mark as they discuss the upcoming clash between these teams. Topics include: -Examining the injury situation of the Patriots, including the offensive line and expectations after struggles in the second half of the season, as well as skill position players who can pick up the slack after a lackluster finish (1:31) -The inability of New England to generate any type of sustained running attack after the losses of Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount to injury (4:26) -Whether Kansas City has the offensive capability to exploit the Patriots' weaknesses on defense (6:38) -How the 2014 blowout win by the Chiefs factors in to this weekend's game (10:07) -The critical role of special teams in a game that has the potential to be low-scoring due to both weather and depleted offenses (11:57) -Predictions from Rich, Mark, and Chuck for

The second-ever CFB National Championship has come and gone, and the January 14 Quick Kicks Podcast has Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield ready to break down the action. Topics from this show include: -The evenly-matched first half, with both Clemson and Alabama trading blows en route to a 14-14 tie at halftime (2:22) -The unexpected Crimson Tide onside kick in the second half with the game tied, including the mechanics of an onside kick, and the scouting involved in pulling off a surprise onside kick (3:58 -The Alabama drive after the onside kick and how they were able to capitalize on a momentum-changing play (9:18) -Jake Coker's performance at quarterback and whether or not his showing changed any evaluations heading into the Senior Bowl (12:21) -The expectations for Clemson heading into the 2016 season and whether they can build on a powerful 2015 campaign or will regress in trying to maintain this level of play (15:48)

The first weekend of playoff football is in the books and ITP The Podcast Volume 1.18 is here to recap the Wild Card Weekend action and preview the four games of the Divisional Round. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield take a look at all of the critical matches with help from guests Luke Easterling of Bleacher Report and Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. Topics this week include: -Previewing matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, looking at whether or not anything can be gleaned from the 2014 matchup, how New England can attack the Kansas City defense, and whether the Chiefs offense is capable of generating enough offense to win (1:19) -Whether a beat-up Pittsburgh Steelers team can go on the road and compete against the Denver Broncos, as well as what to look for from Peyton Manning in his first start back after missing much of the second half of the season (6:37) -Luke discussing the situation in Tampa Bay, touching on the coaching change as the team moves on from Lovie Smith, what is ex

Mark and Chuck are back for the January 12, 2015 Quick Kicks Podcast, this time looking at the craziness of the NFC Wild Card Weekend matchups. This 15-minute look at the big stories of this round of the playoffs covers the following topics: -The errors by each member of the Minnesota Vikings battery, detailing the issues with the snap, hold, and kick (1:33) -An in-depth look at the mechanics of long-snapping and how the snapper factors in to building a proper hold (4:20) -Why the kick Blair Walsh faced differs from the average fan being able to make a 27-yard kick, including a discussion of Chuck's first-ever field goal attempt (7:11) -Mark's experience as a holder and how he handled the interaction as the focal point between the long snapper and kicker (9:29) -What the tape of the Green Bay Packers' offense showed and how it may have differed from what the box score looked like (15:12) -Where does Kirk Cousins fit into Washington's plans heading into 2016 (16:56) -The key improvement that Cousins must make

In the first installment of our daily 15-minute podcast, ITP The Podcast: Quick Kicks features hosts Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield breaking down the action from the two AFC Wild Card games. In this fast-paced show designed to quickly get you up to speed on the big stories of the day, Chuck and Mark discuss: -The opening kickoff return by Knile Davis and its impact on the flow of the game from the outset (1:24) -Whether the shutout of the Houston Texans was due to the Kansas City Chiefs' defense, Texans' offense, or a combination of both(4:38) -Kansas City's offense and the continued growth of tight end Travis Kelce as a versatile weapon in the passing game (6:42) -The physicality of the battle between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers and its impact on the eventual outcome of the game (9:40) -The final drive of the Bengals/Steelers game and how penalties helped Pittsburgh overcome a potentially devastating injury to Ben Roethlisberger (11:17) -Whether the Steelers can compete in Denver with a d

The final week of the NFL season is in the books and the playoff picture is set in both conferences. Hosts Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield are back for their final podcast of the regular season as they look to get you ready for the NFL Playoffs and CFB Championship. Chuck and Mark are joined by Danny Kelly of FieldGulls.com and Trevor Sikkema of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who are on hand to give you insight into this week's biggest matches. Topics this show include: -The Week 17 NFC North battle between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers and whether or not the Vikings are a legitimate contender this year, and how the Packers offense can get back on track in the playoffs(1:07 -Danny discussing the Seattle Seahawks and the keys to their second-half resurgence, as well as the outstanding play of Russell Wilson and how he has flown under the radar with a tremendous 2015 season (5:55) -The Harry Stamper All-Go Offensive Play of the Week, featuring A.J. McCarron's hookup on a seam route to Tyler Eif

Week 16 saw the last of the undefeated teams fall as the Carolina Panthers lost to the Atlanta Falcons. ITP The Podcast Volume 1.16 takes a look at this matchup, as well as several other top stories from this week in the NFL. Hosts Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield are joined by Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated and Dr. Andy Guyader of TheQ5.com to give listeners insight into where things are going as the playoffs draw closer. Topics this week include: -How the Atlanta Falcons were able to defeat the Carolina Panthers, and whether or not what the Falcons showed on Sunday is a blueprint for the rest of the league to attack Carolina in the playoffs (1:56) -The battle between the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos for the remaining bye week in the AFC, focusing on the missed field goal from Broncos kicker Brandon McManus at the end of regulation and his ability to bounce back in overtime for the game-winner (6:08) -Doug discussing his recent time spent watching film with Seattle Seahawks defensive linemen Micha

While it is a short holiday week for most people, there is nothing short about ITP The Podcast Volume 15. Chuck Zodda & Mark Schofield are back to examine the key storylines from Week 15 in the NFL, and this time are joined by a trio of guests to make sure they leave no stone unturned. Jeff Lloyd, Kyle Crabbs from NDTScouting.com, and Shane Alexander from A1GFootball.com stop by, lending their excellent analysis to this week's show. Topics this week include: -The Pittsburgh Steelers taking down the Denver Broncos, focusing on how the potent Pittsburgh attack was able to overcome a usually-strong Denver secondary, as well as how the rest of this season is likely to play out at quarterback for the Broncos (2:39) -Jeff discussing the emergency of the New York Jets in the AFC East, the game-long melee between Odell Beckham, Jr. and Josh Norman, as well as his top draft prospects at wide receiver and cornerback (8:34) -The Harry Stamper All-Go Offensive Play of the Week, featuring a 27-yard touchdown connection b