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

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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

—

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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

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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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12-Week Training Template

8-Week Conditioning Protocols

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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

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In this episode, we talk about:

* Baltimore Ravens: An analysis of Lamar Jackson and their receiving corps, plus how their revamped defense plans to counter the Bengals' high-flying offense.

* Cincinnati Bengals: A close look at Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, addressing their offensive line concerns and the critical importance of developing a consistent run game.

* AFC North Rivalry: Why the Ravens-Bengals matchup is becoming one of the best rivalries in football.

* NFL Trends: The broader discussion on the value of running the ball in today's pass-happy league.

* Plus coverage on the Steelers and Browns situations heading into the 2025 season.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & The Allure of the AFC North

0:48 - Baltimore Ravens: Question Marks at Wide Receiver?

2:15 - Lamar Jackson's Development & Supporting Cast

4:49 - Ravens' Secondary Reinforcements & Defensive Strategy

6:30 - Containing Burrow, Chase & Higgins: Ravens' Defensive Plan

9:25 - Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive Line & Run Game Concerns

11:00 - Bengals' Coaching Philosophy on the Run Game

13:32 - Bengals' Historical Physicality & Scheme Adaptation

14:50 - Joe Burrow's Preferences & The Shotgun Dilemma

16:07 - Why the Run Game Still Matters in a Passing League

16:56 - The Intense Ravens-Bengals Rivalry

17:38 - Bengals' Defensive Challenges & Al Golden's Role

19:03 - Evolution of Bengals' Defense After Lou Anarumo

22:55 - Outlook for Bengals' Secondary & Defensive Line

25:17 - Lessons from the Kansas City Chiefs' Roster Building

26:05 - Cleveland Browns Defense: Concerns & Adjustments

31:08 - The Cleveland Browns' Quarterback Conundrum

33:18 - Evaluating Kevin Stefanski's Coaching Legacy

36:26 - Pittsburgh Steelers Offense: QB & Coordinator Outlook

39:10 - Justin Fields' Fit with Steelers

41:20 - AFC North Power Rankings & Playoff Projections

44:13 - Concluding Remarks & Where to Find Joe Goodberry

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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:

* An in-depth preview of the AFC East division.

* Analyze the Buffalo Bills, discussing their defense and the pivotal role of Josh Allen.

* The Miami Dolphins are evaluated, highlighting their offense, defense, and coaching concerns.

* A detailed look at the New England Patriots covers Mike Vrabel's impact, Drake May's development, and the team's offensive and defensive outlook.

* Discuss the New York Jets, focusing on their strong offensive line, run game, and potential to be a surprise team in the division.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & AFC East Overview

00:15 - Buffalo Bills Analysis: Defense and Josh Allen's Impact

10:50 - Miami Dolphins Deep Dive: Offense, Defense & Coaching Concerns

18:00 - New England Patriots: Vrabel's Influence, Drake May & Roster Outlook

30:00 - New York Jets: Offensive Line, Run Game & Surprise Potential

41:20 - Conclusion

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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In this episode, we talk about:

* Importance of "soul" and effective analogies in sports analysis, moving beyond mere numbers.

* Debate on the role of running the ball in modern football, contrasting traditional views on physicality with analytics-driven efficiency.

* Discuss the evolving nature of quarterback play and the balance between passing and running in offensive strategies.

* Highlight the significance of coaching and discuss how good coaches simplify complex ideas and develop schemes to maximize player versatility.

* Explore the concept of a "coach tree" and the essential traits of effective teaching in football.

Timestamps:

00:08 - Introduction: The Soul of Sports Analysis and Analogies

00:38 - The Running Game: Physicality vs. Efficiency in Modern Football

01:05 - Quantifying Football: Analytics, Fantasy, and Detachment from Numbers

03:03 - Why We Watch: Gambling's Influence and Cultivating Curiosity

09:38 - The Evolution of Scheme: When the "Machine" Wins in the NFL

11:15 - Quarterback Dominance: Elite QBs and the Path to Super Bowl Wins

20:45 - Player Versatility: Spreading Value Across the Offense and Defense

23:51 - Coaching as Teaching: Schematic Fluidity and "Spatial Darwinism"

27:08 - The Modern Athlete: Versatility and Learning the "Why"

39:09 - Conclusion

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.