Inside The Pylon Quick Kicks Podcast

Training camp is in full swing, with the Pittsburgh Steelers now 14 practices deep as they look to put together a playoff run in the upcoming season. The August 3 Quick Kicks Podcast examines the key stories of Steelers camp to this point, with Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield joined by Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot to discuss some of the major happenings thus far. While Pittsburgh was able to reach the Divisional Round of the playoffs last year, suspensions and injuries could put a strain on their roster this year, though the depth of talent may be able to overcome those issue. Topics this episode include: -The overall tone and tenor of Steelers camp to this point, and some of the key themes emphasized by the coaching staff (2:04) -Injuries to the Pittsburgh secondary and who may end up playing a bigger role in 2016 due to those injuries (3:42) -Undrafted free agents that have stood out to this point, both from this year's undrafted class, as well as the 2015 class that may have spent time on the practice squad over the past year (4:52) -The battle at punter between incumbent Jordan Berry and undrafted rookie Will Monday, and who appears to have the early edge (7:52) -The development of Landry Jones as a viable backup to Ben Roethlisberger, given Roethlisberger's injury history, and how the staff feels about the depth at the position heading into the year (9:10) -The running back situation due to the suspension of Le'Veon Bell to start the season, and who projects to pick up the slack in his absence (11:32) -Pittsburgh's tight ends and the projected rotation with the retirement of Heath Miller in the offseason (13:32) -Other key stories to watch throughout the next four weeks of training camp (16:34)

Training camp is officially underway across the NFL, and in the first full week of camp, we take you across the league to look at the landscape as it takes shape. The August 2 Quick Kicks Podcast features hosts Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda along with Joe Marino of Draft Breakdown and NDT Scouting, as they examine the Buffalo Bills and key early battles. Beyond the Bills, Joe also gives an initial look at some of the top storylines from the 2017 NFL Draft class, focusing on the senior class and several key trends to watch for these players looking to make their mark for NFL scouts. Topics this show include: -Who are the rookies in camp that have either underperformed or overperformed so far in camp? (1:46) -The early scouting reports on quarterback Cardale Jones and whether the early struggles are cause for concern or simply reflective of a small sample to date (3:03) -What are the major changes on the defensive side of the ball to help improve an inconsistent Buffalo defense last season? (4:27) -Whether the veteran secondary or young defensive front will be the strength of the Bills defense this season (6:03) -Sammy Watkins and the expecations for the rest of the Bills receiving corps, including who will replace Chris Hogan as the third wide receiver this year (7:37) -The running back situation in Buffalo and how the depth they have accumulated this year will pay dividends over the course of a 16-game season (10:23) -The 2017 NFL Draft senior class, and who stands out among the 88 prospects Joe has examined (13:12) -The senior running backs and how their skillset may be a good fit in the modern NFL that utilized running backs significantly more in the passing game (15:41) -Other position groups that are particularly strong in this year's senior class (18:15)

Quick Kicks August 1, 2016 - R.J. Ochoa on Dallas Cowboys Training Camp by Inside The Pylon

Quick Kicks July 29, 2016 - Greg Zuerlein And The Chance of A Bounceback 2016 Season by Inside The Pylon

Quick Kicks July 28, 2016 - Breaking Down the LSU Play-Action Attack by Inside The Pylon

Quick Kicks July 27, 2016 - Matt Brown on Seattle Double Stacks, Kansas Jayhawks Anthony Smithson by Inside The Pylon

Quick Kicks July 26, 2016 - Jeff Feyerer on AFC East Player Evaluation by Inside The Pylon

Quick Kicks July 25, 2016 - Doug Moore on Fantasy Football Camp Battles by Inside The Pylon

As we do every Friday, our thoughts turn to our fine specialist brethren, as Kicker Friday is here once again. In December of 2013, facing the Detroit Lions in a critical game with playoff implications on the line, Justin Tucker, kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, went 6-for-6 on field goals en route to scoring all 18 of Baltimore's points in an 18-16 victory. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield host the July 22 Quick Kicks Podcast, this time examining the greatest regular season kicking performance in NFL history. Topics this show include: -The overall flawless performance from Tucker and how he turned what initially appeared to be a regular night into a special performance with three short field goals in the first half (3:35) -The final kick of the first half as time expires, and the opening kick from Tucker in the second half, a 49-yard attempt that starts to ramp up the level of difficulty (5:59) -Tucker's fifth kick of the night, a 53-yarder from the right hash, with the placement being critical as right-hash kicks tend to be more difficult for kickers due to their rotating motion (8:18) -The do's and don'ts of kicker celebrations as it relates to mechanics and safety (10:45) -Tucker's final kick, a 61-yard masterpiece from the right hash with 38 seconds remaining in the game (13:20) -How Tucker's mechanics from 61 yards can be a textbook example for kickers from any distance in terms of efficiency and follow-through (16:01)

We dial it up to 88 in our DeLorean to take you back to 1980 and the SEC clash between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs. The second installment of ITP Rewind examines "Run, Lindsay, run," and its place in the lore of these two football powerhouses. Hosts Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda are back together for this trip through football history, and they leave no stone unturned as they look at the key schemes, players, and storylines that made this one of the biggest games in this rivalry. Topics in this episode include: -Setting the stage for the 1980 matchup, with a history of these two programs through the 1960s and 1970s leading up to this battle (1:33) -The types of offenses utilized by these teams and how they represented a change from the conservative play-calling that was typically present in college football at the time (5:25) -The three critical fourth quarter plays from Florida that changed the tenor of the game up to that point, dramatically shifting momentum (8:50) -Georgia's tepid initial response on the following drive, going three-and-out before getting the ball back after Florida works a significant amount of time off the clock (10:41) -"Run, Lindsay, run!" (11:40) -The future of these programs in the aftermath of this game and how it led to Georgia's first championship at the conclusion of the 1980 season (16:15)

There are a number of important traits for defensive linemen. Strength, quickness, technique, and intelligence are some of the key areas of focus for scouts. Digging deeper, we find that within those broad categories, there are a several critical concepts that go into the larger trait. The July 20 Quick Kicks Podcast features host Mark Schofield joined by ITP writer Sal Conti, as they examine the concept of "upfield burst" as it relates to defensive linemen. Topics this episode include: -The definition of upfield burst and why it is important for defensive linemen as it relates to their impact on opposing offensive linemen (2:17) -Myles Garrett and and how the combination of his intelligence and athleticism allows him to demonstrate outstanding upfield burst (4:42) -How the context of what is happening in a play sequence and a player's reaction time gives insight into a player's mental processing as it relates to the consistency of his burst (6:26) -The keys that defensive linemen focus on as they are trying to read offensive linemen and process the situation correctly (8:32) -Understanding the roles of defensive players in different situations and being able to interpret their responsibilities so as to evaluate properly (10:51) -The importance of examining different games and environments to gain and understanding of where a player's advantages and disadvantages come from (14:26) -Standout features of high-level and low-level upfield burst and areas of focus for scouts (17:15)

The tight end class for the 2016 NFL Draft lacked star power, with no standout prospects that appear to be game-changers at the next level. Fortunately for NFL teams, the upcoming class looks to be much stronger, with a number of players who project to have strong traits for the NFL game. The July 19 Quick Kicks Podcast delves into the 2017 tight end class, with host Chuck Zodda joined by fellow ITP writer Jon Ledyard to break down some of the key names to watch in the upcoming season from his 30-player watchlist. Topics this show include: -The relative weakness of recent draft classes as far as tight end prospects, and the reasons for the lack of top-end talent at the position in the past several years (3:11) -The types of tight ends present in this year's class, and whether this is a class that is heavier in pass-catching prospects, traditional in-line blockers, or hybrid H-back players (5:49) -The varied roles for tight ends in the modern NFL passing game, and which prospects are best suited for the different types of passing attacks (8:48) -Players outside of Power 5 conferences that Jon is keeping an eye on during the fall season and have the potential to rise up draft boards (11:47) -Clemson TE Jordan Leggett and what he has to do to make his case as the top tight end in this year's class (14:28) -Other key prospects to watch in the fall who may be under the radar, but capable of making a move due to their natural abilities (16:58)

Watching film can be a difficult endeavor, even for experienced scouts. Offenses and defenses in the modern game are experts in the art of disguise, making it challenging to identify coverages and schemes. The July 18 Quick Kicks Podcast has hosts Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield joined by fellow Pyloneer Dave Archibald, as they look to identify keys to reading defenses for both fans and players. Dave's recent article on the topic was the genesis of this episode, and features and in-depth look at several critical focus areas. Topics this show include: -The number of deep safeties and their alignment, and how this provides a clue towards the type of coverage employed (2:03) -Disguised coverages and the mechanics of how teams look to show one look and roll into another post-snap (3:11) -Use of motion by an offense to get a defense to tip its hand as to whether it is aligned in man or zone coverage (4:34) -Outside cornerbacks and the two types of turns utilized by them in coverage, and how these turns reveal information about the defensive scheme (5:55) -The decline of the Tampa 2 system and other similar schemes, and the key reasons for this drop-off (8:19) -Understanding zone positioning and how identifying the proper location of a zone helps to clarify the scheme in use (11:10) -The challenge presented to quarterbacks to identify all of this information in real-time and still make the correct read (13:04) -How combining a number of different keys helps to give clarity to the scheme being used, as certain concepts on their own can exist in multiple coverages (14:29)

Football continues to grow its global platform, with an increased number of games played at international sites, and the NFL partnering with new media outlets to provide streaming options for fans located in distant locations. The July 14 Quick Kicks Podcast has hosts Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda joined by Justin Twell, one of ITP's newest writers, and one of our two international writers. Growing up in England and now living in Australia, Justin has a unique perspective on the game that he brings to his writing, primarily focusing on the NFC North. Topics this show include: -Justin's introduction to NFL football as a child, and how he became interested in a sport that had a minimal following in his community (1:55) -The experience of watching NFL games at Wembley Stadium and trying to build a group of fans in an international market (4:44) -The resources available to international NFL fans in the 1980s and 1990s for learning about football prior to the advent of the internet (6:50) -The Chicago Bears and the draft fits of their 2016 class, and who may be able to make an impact early in the 2016 season (9:27) -The NFC North and whether the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions have any chance to break through into the upper half of the division this year (11:56) -Key positional battles for the Lions and who may unexpectedly end up playing a big role during the upcoming season (14:29)

Media week is here for the SEC, and that means that football is just around the corner. The June 13 Quick Kicks Podcast features hosts Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield joined by fellow ITP writer Shane Alexander, as the three examine key storylines in the SEC heading into the 2016 season. With some significant turnover and a number of programs being watched closely, it is likely to be an exciting year for the best conference in college football, and this episode will help get you up to speed on all of the stories you should be following in the upcoming season. Topics this show include: -Shane's top stories to watch during training camp and at the start of the season (2:18) -The outlook for Alabama coming off another National Championship for Nick Saban, and whether the Crimson Tide are poised for another title run (3:50) -Competiton for Alabama in the SEC West and who poses the greatest threat to them (5:58) -Whether any teams that have struggled in recent years are set to make a jump to the next level (7:39) -Can Tennessee break through in the SEC East (9:15) -The Georgia Bulldogs and how a strong defense should be able to make them competitive in the fall, and whether Nick Chubb will be back to his old self (10:13) -The strength of the conference and how close the SEC is to seeing balance between two divisions that have seen the balance of power heavily tilted towards the West in recent years (12:21) -Shane's top quarterbacks in the SEC for 2016 (13:59)