A deep dive into Todd Bowles' blitz-heavy scheme and the players poised to make the Bucs a defensive powerhouse.

We put the Bucs' defense under the microscope, exploring the evolution of Todd Bowles' scheme, the impact of adding pass-rusher Haason Reddick, and how young players like Calijah Kancey, YaYa Diaby, and Zyon McCollum are poised to take the next step.

Can this defense become a top-10 unit and carry Tampa Bay deep into the postseason?

In this episode, we talk about:

* How Head Coach Todd Bowles is evolving his blitz-heavy defensive scheme for the upcoming season.

* The massive impact new edge rusher Haason Reddick will have on the entire defensive line.

* The young, ascending talent in the secondary, including Zyon McCollum and rookie Benjamin Morrison.

* The critical veteran leadership of foundational pieces like Vita Vea and Lavonte David.

* Whether the Buccaneers have the firepower and depth to become a legitimate top-10 defense in the NFL.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro: The Famous Creamsicle Uniforms

1:28 - The Todd Bowles Philosophy: A Deep Dive into the Bucs' Defensive Scheme

4:47 - Defensive Line: How Haason Reddick's Arrival Unlocks Everyone Else

7:15 - Analyzing the Interior Threats: Calijah Kancey, Logan Hall & Vita Vea

10:20 - Linebackers: The Critical Role of Veteran Lavonte David

15:15 - Secondary Breakdown: Can the Young Talent Step Up?

17:50 - The New-Look Nickel Position with Tykee Smith & Jacob Parish

22:05 - Strengths vs. Weaknesses: Why Pass Rush Stats Didn't Equal Success Last Year

24:30 - The Biggest Concern for the Bucs' Defense This Season

26:55 - Final Verdict: Can This Defense Make Tampa Bay a True Contender?

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» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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In this episode, we talk about:

* Explain why the 4-time champ Bucs could win 11-12 games with a top-10 QB (?) Baker Mayfield.

* The consensus second-place Falcons have a great offense, but their success hinges on the development of their weak pass rush.

* Carolina is rebuilding around QB Bryce Young with big-potential targets, but will their defense improve with offseason spending?

* On to 2026? The Saints are in a complete rebuild with a new coach, an aging roster, and a rookie quarterback.

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Timestamps:

00:08 Welcome To A Division No One Wants to Win

00:21 The Buccaneers' Four-Year Reign

03:25 Analyzing the Falcons' High-Powered Offense

09:55 The Kyle Pitts Conundrum

14:47 Atlanta's Biggest Weakness: The Pass Rush

18:03 Can the Carolina Panthers Surprise Everyone?

18:53 Breaking Down the Panthers' Defensive Spending Spree

23:00 How Carolina is Building Around Bryce Young

27:44 New Orleans Saints: Entering a Full Rebuild

28:43 The Saints' Quarterback Situation & Future

29:13 Can the Saints' Roster Fit a New Defensive Scheme?

37:32 Deep Dive: Are the Buccaneers a 12-Win Team?

41:41 How Tampa Bay's Offense Evolves After Coaching Changes

46:49 The Value of Veteran Coaches: The Tom Moore Story

51:17 Why Experience Still Matters in the Modern NFL

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» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

A deep dive into Ben Johnson's plan for Caleb Williams, the Lions' chances to repeat, Jordan Love's pivotal year, and Brian Flores' revolutionary Vikings defense.

In this episode, we talk about:

* Why the Chicago Bears hired coach Ben Johnson to develop rookie QB Caleb Williams and how they surrounded him with a rebuilt interior offensive line.

* Can Detroit survive the ‘brain drain’? The Detroit Lions face questions about their offense and QB Jared Goff's ability to sustain his performance after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

* Analyze the Green Bay Packers’ need for quarterback Jordan Love to ascend to an elite level, but the team's success may be hindered by weaknesses on the defensive line and at cornerback.

* Why the Minnesota Vikings' season depends on the development of rookie QB J.J. McCarthy and the sustainability of Brian Flores's high-blitz, high-risk defensive scheme.

* Explain why the NFC North is considered the most compelling division to watch due to its young, innovative head coaches.

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro: NFC North Preview

0:09 Chicago Bears: Can Ben Johnson Refine Caleb Williams?

6:21 Step Two For The Bears: Rebuilding the Interior Offensive Line

11:24 Chicago's Defense: Hiring Dennis Allen as DC

17:41 Is This a Top 10 Defense & Are the Bears a Surprise Team?

19:25 Detroit Lions: The Impact of "Brain Drain"

24:47 Will Jared Goff Take a Step Back Without Ben Johnson?

25:59 Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love or Bust?

32:43 Packers' Glaring Defensive Issues: D-Line & Cornerbacks

37:46 Minnesota Vikings: The Challenge for Kevin O'Connell

39:03 The Plan for Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy

41:56 A Deep Dive into Brian Flores's Revolutionary Defense

47:04 The Vikings' Biggest Weakness: The Secondary

52:25 Is the NFC North the Best-Coached Division in the NFL?

58:05 Final Predictions: Who Wins the NFC North?

—

» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

A deep dive into the Texas Longhorns' title chances and a breakdown of the top contenders across the country.

In this episode:

* Debate whether the Texas Longhorns are legitimate national championship contenders or just a product of preseason hype surrounding quarterback Arch Manning.

* Identify the Longhorns' biggest concern as a new offensive line breaking in four starters, which faces an immediate test against Ohio State in week one.

* Analyze the Texas defense: With its NFL-caliber players, the unit is a major strength that is considered one of the best in the country and is expected to carry the team early in the season.

* Explain why there is deep skepticism about Ohio State's coaching changes after losing top coordinators.

* Detail Penn State as a potential "sleeper" team that could win the national title.

* Predictions are made!

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Is Texas the De Facto National Champion?

0:50 - Are the Longhorns Legitimate Contenders?

1:36 - Biggest Concern: The New Offensive Line

2:39 - The Importance of O-Line Camaraderie

3:38 - How Texas's Schedule Could Help Them Develop

5:25 - The Case for Preseason Scrimmages in College Football

9:10 - Arch Manning's X-Factor: The Running Threat

10:00 - Question Mark #2: The Receiving Corps

11:06 - Offensive Scheme Comparison: Lions & Dolphins

14:04 - Pivoting to the 'Loaded' Texas Defense

14:22 - Defensive Breakdown: The Secondary

16:09 - Defensive Breakdown: D-Line & Scheme

17:43 - Spotlight on Anthony Hill Jr., a Top LB

18:03 - Final Verdict on Texas's Chances

19:25 - Deep Dive: What's Wrong with Ohio State?

21:37 - Critiquing the Hartline & Patricia Hires

24:30 - The Sleeper Team: Why Penn State Could Win it All

27:21 - Is it a Bounce-Back Year for Georgia?

29:40 - Analyzing Notre Dame & Marcus Freeman

33:08 - Buy or Sell: Clemson

34:10 - Buy or Sell: Oregon

36:15 - Buy or Sell: Alabama Post-Saban

37:42 - Buy or Sell: LSU

39:34 - Final Predictions: Who Wins the National Championship?

41:39 - Outro

—

» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

In this episode, we talk about:

* Dallas Cowboys: Can the Cowboys' offense overcome its offensive line issues, and can their defense, under Matt Eberflus, elevate to an elite status despite concerns in the secondary and run defense?

* New York Giants: What is the New York Giants' quarterback strategy with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jackson Dart, and how will their strong defensive front compensate for their struggling secondary?

* Washington Commanders: Will the addition of left tackle Laremy Tunsil significantly elevate the Washington Commanders' offense?

* Philadelphia Eagles: With an elite receiving duo in A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, how will the Philadelphia Eagles' offense perform and impact their standing in the NFC East?

* NFC East Overview: How do the contrasting strengths and weaknesses of the NFC East teams, particularly the Cowboys' potentially elite offense and the Giants' solid defense with quarterback uncertainty, set the stage for the division?

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & Cowboys Offseason Buzz

01:20 - Cowboys Offensive Line & George Pickens Impact

03:00 - C.D. Lamb's Contract Situation

05:00 - Cowboys Defensive Coaching Changes: Zimmer & Eberflus

07:00 - Dallas Cowboys Defensive Weaknesses: Run Defense & Secondary

10:00 - Micah Parsons and the Cowboys Defense

13:00 - Linebacker Play & DVOA Analysis

16:00 - New York Giants Quarterback Battle: Wilson, Winston & Dart

20:00 - Giants Offensive Weapons & Coordinator Outlook

24:00 - Giants Defensive Front: Strength Up The Middle

27:00 - New York Giants Secondary Concerns

31:05 - Philadelphia Eagles: Elite Receivers & Offensive Impact

34:30 - Washington Commanders: Tunsil, Receivers, and Offensive Outlook

37:00 - Concluding Thoughts on the NFC East Dynamics

—

» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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Joined by ESPN's Nate Taylor, this discussion covers every team's strengths and weaknesses for the upcoming season:

* Kansas City Chiefs: An in-depth look at the ‘efficiency monster’ and their biggest concerns, including the left tackle position, the offense managing without Rasheed Rice, and if the defense can continue its dominant play.

* Denver Broncos: Exploring if their elite defense is enough to carry them. The offense is a primary concern, with a focus on how new additions like J.K. Dobbins and Evan Ingram can help rookie quarterback Bo Nix succeed.

* Los Angeles Chargers: With Jim Harbaugh implementing a ‘punch you in the mouth’ offensive style, can Justin Herbert and a rebuilt roster overcome defensive question marks to make a playoff push?

* Las Vegas Raiders: Under new head coach Pete Carroll, the Raiders look ‘competent.’ An analysis of how quarterback Geno Smith and rookie tight end Brock Bowers will perform and whether the team has a hard ceiling due to its secondary.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:52 Denver Broncos: A Look at the Offense

10:00 Denver Broncos: Defensive Potential

17:35 Las Vegas Raiders: New Era with Pete Carroll

27:55 Los Angeles Chargers: Offensive Power, Defensive Questions

34:28 Kansas City Chiefs: Offensive Concerns

43:05 Kansas City Chiefs: Analyzing the Defense

53:24 Outro

—

» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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In this episode, we talk about:

* Critique of outdated ‘toughness drills’ and the common disconnect in current football strength and conditioning practices.

* Emphasis on purposeful, game-specific training methods designed for optimal player performance and sustained effort.

* The importance of recovery and building a robust conditioning base lies in moving beyond purely sprint-focused or excessively hard workouts.

* Insights on simplifying training programs to amplify results, encouraging coaches to avoid social media trends and focus on effective, fundamental principles.

* The necessity of training methods directly translates to improved game-day performance, focusing on sustained effort, speed, and recovery throughout a football match.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - The Nebraska Influence on Early Training

00:33 - Coach A’s Experience in Texas High School Football

01:45 - What Does Modern Football Conditioning Look Like?

04:20 - Replicating Game-Like Asymmetry in Conditioning

07:45 - The Problem with ‘Toughness’ Drills and Over-Distance Training

09:03 - The Importance of Purposeful and Engaging Training

12:05 - The Dangers of Overtraining Before Explosive Work

14:16 - Balancing Sprint-Based Movements with Overall Conditioning

20:41 - The Most Misunderstood Position Group: The ‘Bigs’

25:06 - How to Build a Quality Program Without a Certification

29:56 - Structuring a Year-Long High School Training Program

35:04 - Integrating Football Drills and Phasing Out Mechanical Work

36:10 - Key Data Points for High School Coaches to Track

39:20 - Structuring Practice for Optimal Learning and Recovery

45:33 - Outro/How to Connect with Terrence Kennel

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Follow Coach Kennell on X

12-Week Training Template

8-Week Conditioning Protocols

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» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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*Please follow us on YouTube, subscribe, rate, and review us on Apple and Spotify.

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In this episode, we talk about:

* Houston Texans Overall Outlook: Can the offense match the defense?

* Indianapolis Colts' Defensive Revamp and QB Questions

* Jacksonville Jaguars' Offensive Strategy Under Liam Coen

* Tennessee Titans' Rookie Quarterback and Tough Schedule

* Evolving NFL Schemes: Shift from Wide Zone to gap and the growing trend of Quarters five-man pressures

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: Is the AFC South the Texans' Division to Lose?

00:34 - What Went Wrong for the Texans' Offense in 2024?

02:12 - Why New OC Nick Caley is the Answer for CJ Stroud

05:09 - Coaching Trees: The Shanahan vs. McVay Philosophies

06:18 - X's and O's: How Caley Will Evolve the Texans' Run Game

11:06 - Do the Texans Have the Best Secondary in the NFL?

13:38 - Houston's Biggest Weakness: The Offensive Line

17:22 - Colts Preview: Lou Anarumo's Defensive Revolution

19:03 - Why Cam Bynum is a Crucial Signing for the Colts' Defense

22:35 - How J.T. Tuimoloau Becomes a "Force Multiplier"

24:12 - The Colts' Massive QB Problem: Richardson vs. Jones

27:17 - A Wild Theory: Are the Colts Playing the Long Game for Arch Manning?

29:12 - Jaguars Preview: Liam Coen's Split-Back Offense

31:33 - The Travis Hunter Experiment: How Will Jacksonville Use Its Two-Way Star?

36:44 - Can Liam Coen Get Trevor Lawrence Back on Track?

41:18 - Titans Preview: A Defense Overly Reliant on Jeffery Simmons

45:32 - Introducing #1 Overall Pick Cam Ward

49:24 - A Brutal Welcome: Cam Ward's Incredibly Tough Schedule

54:10 - Outro: Where to Find Guest Brett Kollmann

—

Follow Brett on X

Subscribe to Brett’s YouTube Channel

Follow the Bootleg Football Podcast

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» Join Felix and me each Wednesday as we dive deep into the game we love!

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.