Inside The Pylon Quick Kicks Podcast

As our countdown to the NFL Draft continues, we dig into one of the often-overlooked areas of projecting prospects - strength and conditioning and how to project injuries. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield are joined on the March 2 Quick Kicks Podcast by Brandon Thorn of The Football Educator to discuss what scouts can learn about a prospect based on how he walks and his actions during drills. Topics this show include: -Brandon's introduction to physiology and how he initially became interested, and his path towards learning more about the subject over the past several years (2:04) -What types of physical traits can be red flags of things that may lead to injury down the road, and how posture gives us a wealth of information about stress areas in the body and the potential for future breakdowns (3:35) -Structural aspects such as pelvic tilt and lack of ankle dorsiflexion and what they indicate about a prospect's overall athleticism and balance (8:27) -Common areas of strength and conditioning that are lacking i

As we enter into March, we continue to close in on the NFL Draft, with the first pick now just nine weeks away. Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda dig into two safeties from this year's draft class with the help of ITP writer Dave Archibald, who lends his expertise to an examination of Duke safety Jeremy Cash and William & Mary safety DeAndre Houston-Carson. Breaking down the differences between the two players, this week's show includes: -The run-stuffing and blitzing skill-set that Cash possesses and what his greatest strengths are on the football field (1:49) -Times that Cash was asked to drop into coverage, either in zone or man coverage, and whether or not he was able to be successful in the limited sample size we saw in those roles (4:29) -Where Cash would be a good value in this year's draft, and the types of pieces he needs around him to be successful early on in his NFL career (7:13) -Houston-Carson and the different traits he possesses and why he is a completely different player than Cash despite nomin

With awards season in full swing for film, Inside the Pylon consulted the best film connoisseurs of the Twitterverse for our First Annual Football Oscars. Hosts Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda take you through nine categories that mark excellence in football cinema, from classics such as North Dallas Forty to recent productions such as Friday Night Lights. This year, we awarded nine trophies for the best performances in various categories. Topics this show include: -The competition for "Best Non-Football Character", eventually won by Mama Boucher from The Waterboy in somewhat of a runaway performance (2:12) -"Best Backup", featuring a tight race between Willie Beamon from Any Given Sunday and Bobby Boucher from The Waterboy (5:21) -The comeback victory in "Best Specialist" for Nigel Gruff from The Replacements, despite Gruff trailing Vince Papale from Invincible who lost his early lead (6:54) -The stacked category of "Best Defender" and how Julius Campbell of Remember the Titans pulled out a win over Alvin Ma

The NFL Scouting Combine is upon us and although we are not in Indianapolis watching the Underwear Olympics, we have out eyes trained on the midwest as the event unfolds. The February 26 Quick Kicks Podcast features hosts Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda attempting to turn the Combine from the butt of many Twitter jokes to an event that can actually provide meaningful data for NFL teams. To do this, they recommend several changes to the current format. Topics this show include: -Replacing the bench press with the hang clean or power clean as a better measure of overall functional strength (3:49) -Utilizing the squat in addition to a clean test as a way to gauge a prospect's lower-body strength in a functional movement (5:54) -Requiring events aside from lifting to be done in full pads in order to better simulate game conditions (6:45) -The inclusion of pass skeleton as a way to see more from quarterbacks than simply throwing individual routes (8:27) -Additional timed position-specific drills for linebackers an

Having cleared Hump Day, we now turn our eyes to the weekend as we head into the Thursday edition of our podcast. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield are joined by Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot as they examine the positives and negatives for the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers team, and discuss potential plans for the offseason of one of the NFL's most storied franchises. Topics this show include: -Recapping the 2015 season from the Steelers and areas where they were able to exceed expectations, as well as the places where there were continued struggles and needs to address heading into 2016 (1:39) -Looking at some of the potential safeties that Pittsburgh could look to invest in during the draft as they look to shore up a potential lack of depth heading into next season (4:39) -The retirement of Heath Miller and whether Pittsburgh will attempt to address this hole in-house, through free agency, or through the draft (7:39) -Where Pittsburgh needs to bolster their defensive line, and whether they are looking for a year-o

Every week, we get one week closer to the NFL Draft. It might be hard to believe, but that is one of the indisputable laws of nature. Also indisputable is the fact that Emory Hunt of Football Gameplan provides some of the best analysis of the game at the college and pro levels. We're happy to have Emory join us for ITP The Podcast Volume 1.24, as he sits down with Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda to discuss his thoughts on the upcoming draft. Topics this show include: -Emory's top-rated quarterback, Cardale Jones and the skills he possesses that project well to the NFL level, as well as how his leadership skills will immediately translate to the pro game (2:22) -Dartmouth QB Dalyn Williams and why he jumps above some of the more hyped names out there, as well as the traits that show up on tape for the young signal-caller (4:39) -Trevone Boykin and why he should be left at quarterback to continue to develop the skills he has shown over the last two seasons (7:41) -The reasons for Emory's lower ranking of Carson

Inside the Pylon is proud to celebrate our 50th podcast episode as we introduce you to our sister site covering baseball, Sons of Sam Horn. The February 23 Quick Kicks Podcast features Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield hosting Justin Gorman of SoSH discussing the site's plans for the upcoming baseball season. Topics this show include: -Key content areas that are going to be a focus over the next few weeks as spring training picks up (2:58) -Whether the baseball community sees quite the same type of fever for prospects as football does, including recent trends that have led to increased interest in prospects in recent years (4:11) -Key storylines the staff is focusing on early on in spring training and other big topics that are likely to come up over the course of the season (6:48) -The crowded Red Sox outfield and whether the level of play seen over the second half of the season reflects the true talent of that group, and whether it will be able to realize the potential seen throughout the unit (9:13) -The uniq

Welcome in to another new week, as the February 22 Quick Kicks Podcast is here to make Monday pass a little faster than it would otherwise. Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda are joined by Josh Wye from the Woot and Wye Podcast, as the three of them chat on what it's like being an NFL fan in Australia and several subjects relating to this year's draft class. Topics this show include: -The current state of NFL football in Australia, as well as the rapid growth in interest in recent years, partly due to players such as Jarryd Hayne and a number of Australian punters and kickers (1:39) -The accessibility of NFL content in Australia, both in terms of watching live games as well as how sites such as DraftBreakdown.com have allowed viewers to have access they previously wouldn't have (3:38) -This year's Australian specialists who have a chance to be drafted in the upcoming NFL Draft, including Utah P Tom Hackett, Sam Houston State P Lachlan Edwards, LSU P Jamie Keehn, and Maryland K Brad Craddock (6:59) -The reasons f

Our final podcast of the week has hosts Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield digging into the story of a top specialist prospect who saw himself out of the league within four years. The February 19 Quick Kicks Podcast takes a look at kicker Alex Henery, who starred at Nebraska, but found himself out of the NFL after a disastrous stint with the Detroit Lions in 2014. Topics this show include: -Mark's history with Nebraska football and how he found himself at the game in which Henery made a 58-yard field goal against the University of Colorado (1:46) -Henery's college technique and how he wound up having the NCAA record for field goal accuracy upon his graduation from Nebraska (3:08) -The struggles of the Detroit kickers in the first half of the 2014 season and whether or not the rest of the battery was an issue as well (5:17) -The 52-yard field goal against the New York Jets in the 2014 and the key issue that caused the miss, as well as how there might have been some red flags on earlier misses from Henery (6:40) -

The NFL Draft continues to inch closer, and we start to dig into some greater depth on potential picks as we head towards draft day. Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda take an extended look at Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg in the February 18 Quick Kicks Podcast, giving listeners a chance to see the evolution of the young signal-caller over the course of his career in Happy Valley. Topics this show include: -The major reasons for the shift in Hackenberg's production over the course of his career and the key areas in which he regressed (1:15) -The areas in which Hackenberg appears least comfortable and the types of issues that have cropped up in the last two years (3:03) -Whether or not there are any current or recent NFL quarterbacks who saw a similar regression at the college ranks and still were able to become productive quarterbacks at the pro level (5:22) -The inevitable rumors tying Hackenberg to Bill O'Brien in Houston and whether or not there is any merit to the stories that continue to pop up (8:05)

The 23rd installment of our flagship 40-minute podcast is here, with host Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield continuing our offseason analysis. ITP The Podcast Volume 1.23 features our two regular hosts, along with Jon Ledyard of The Draft Wire at USAToday as they take you through this week's big events that are shaping the NFL Draft. Topics this show include: -The ITP Glossary term "Hitch Step" as a timing mechanism and means for a quarterback to begin his throw after taking his drop (2:07) -Jon's current projects and where he stands in his draft preparation as he looks to build out scouting reports with just nine weeks until the NFL Draft (7:14) -Players Jon is interested in seeing at the NFL Combine in two weeks and the events in which he is most focused on (8:17) -Jon's rankings along the defensive line, which is widely acknowledge to be one of the strongest areas of this year's draft (11:44) -Where teams can find help at offensive tackle once the top two OT prospects are off the board and whether there is a

The February 16 Quick Kicks Podcast continues to delve into offseason issues as teams plan for several big dates that are drawing closer on the calendar. One of those dates is March 9, which is the official opening of free agency. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield dig into some of the questions surrounding this time of year, looking at some of the prospective players that are likely to be available as roster construction begins. Topics this episode include: -Dwight Freeney and the role of the situational pass-rusher and how this can be a difference-making position for a team that needs a small boost at a low cost (2:24) -Travis Benjamin and how he may be an upgrade after a quiet start to his career but a big 2015 despite instability at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns (3:33) -Darrius Hayward-Bay and his ability to fill a role as a third receiver on a contending team despite his inability to be a star on his own (6:27) -James Starks and whether Green Bay ends up locking him up as their feature back or whethe

With the Super Bowl now firmly planted in the past, Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda take the February 15 Quick Kicks Podcast into draft mode as our 2016 NFL Draft coverage continues. NFL teams continue to gather more information on prospects for this year's draft, and Mark and Chuck are here to bring you up to speed on the latest happenings for this year's prospects. Topics this show include: -The top snubs for this year's NFL Scouting Combine, including Alabama QB Jake Coker, Baylor WR Jay Lee, Middle Tennessee State S Kevin Byard, and Duke K Ross Martin (1:50) -The purpose of the regional scouting combines that occur prior to the main event in Indianapolis at the end of the month, including what we saw from Akron LB Jatavis Brown earlier this week at one of those regional events (4:54) -Chuck and Mark make their nominations to fill the now-vacant seat on the Supreme Court, each submitting two picks from people currently associated with the NFL in some fashion (9:25) -The Twitter Question of the Day, "Who ar

With the Super Bowl now fading into our rearview mirror, the February 12 Quick Kicks Podcast begins to tackle the offseason with a look at some of the key issues that are in play for teams as we had towards free agency. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield delve into the sudden retirements of Calvin Johnson and Marshawn Lynch and how these moves may send ripples throughout the NFL in the offseason. Topics include: -Whether potential early retirements have to be something for NFL teams to prepare for after the moves from these two superstars and other players in recent years such as the San Francisco 49ers' Chris Borland last offseason (2:48) -Other early retirements in the history of the NFL including Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, and Ricky Williams, and whether NFL teams need to do additional due diligence in figuring out the place football has in a player's life (5:22) -Which of these two teams will have the bigger challenge replacing Lynch and Johnson, and whether the roles in which these players were currently use

With the Super Bowl over, the thoughts of football fans once again turn to the NFL Draft. With draft day only ten weeks away, Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda sit down for the February 11 Quick Kicks Podcast with guest Bryan Perez, co-owner of DraftBreakdown.com to get his thoughts on this year's draft class as we start to learn more about the prospects. Topics this show include: -The noHuddle Remote from DraftBreakdown and how it interacts with the videos on the site to provide a cleaner viewing experience for game film connoisseurs (1:11) -Players who stood out to Bryan down in Mobile and the players who saw the biggest jump in their draft stock due to their performance over the course of the week (4:36) -Skill position talent at the Senior Bowl and who was able to distinguish themselves in a relatively thin group this year, as well as looking at Braxton Miller and his development path as a former quarterback converting to wide receiver (7:35) -San Jose State RB Tyler Ervin and his place in the NFL despite l

Our 40-miunte Wednesday podcast is back as ITP The Podcast Volume 1.22 helps to get you through your post-Super Bowl lull. Now firmly planted in three weeks of Sports Hell, Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield dig into some final thoughts on Super Bowl 50, along with some help from Brandon Thorn of The Football Educator. Topics this episode include: -Britton Colquitt and the case for him to be the first punter to win Super Bowl MVP, and whether this is a reflection of the weakness of other candidates or the strength of Colquitt's game in a critical phase of the game (2:05) -An early discussion of the Schofield Big Board of Draft Quarterbacks, as well as a breakdown of the relative value of picking quarterbacks in various rounds, and whether second tier quarterbacks are worth it on the risk/reward scale as far as salary and production are concerned (9:29) -Brandon breaking down the keys to the Denver Broncos' victory and how they were able to employ various pressure schemes to both contain Cam Newton and prevent hi

The Denver Broncos are world champions, defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda have recovered from their post-Super Bowl hangover and are here to give you the ins and outs of how the Broncos took down the favored Panthers. Topics this show include: -The struggles of Cam Newton and how the relentless and well-executed Denver pass rush was able to disrupt the rhythm of Newton even when not sacking the talented quarterback (2:02) -Newton's inability to minimize mistakes in the passing game and how the turnovers this game turned out to be one of the key points deciding the eventual outcome (3:49) -Special teams miscues from the Panthers in both the punt game and on field goals and how these critical errors became massive in a closely-contested game (6:46) -Newton's performance and how he has become a mirror for modern sports fans to see whatever they choose to see, when in reality, the picture is much more complex than simply being good or bad (10:55) -Peyton Manning and

With two days until the Super Bowl, Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda wrap up their week of coverage with a look at the matchup on special teams in the February 5 Quick Kicks Podcast. With a number of contests this postseason having come down to critical special teams plays, there is an increased scrutiny on kicks, punters, and returners as we inch closer to Sunday. Topics this show include: -Chuck and Mark singing Aerosmith's "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" in honor of the late Harry Stamper (0:00) -The battle on kickoffs between Carolina and Denver, two teams that have struggled to put together consistent returns during the year and likely are not major threats (3:36) -Brad Nortman and the massive distance he can produce, as well as in the inconsistency that shows up on his kicks from his own zone occasionally (4:24) -Whether or not there is any common factor in Nortman's weaker kicks that Denver may be able to exploit (6:30) -Britton Colquitt's recent hot streak and how his outstanding directional ability may a k

The second part of our Super Bowl preview continues with a look at the Carolina Panthers offense and the Denver Broncos defense on the February 4 Quick Kicks Podcast. Chuck Zodda and Mark Schofield are joined by fellow writer Ted Nguyen, who has produced a series of articles previewing the big game. Topics from this show include: -Carolina's run-pass option and how they utilize it in unique ways that could pose a challenge to a normally-stout Denver defense (1:59) -Whether the Broncos will need to drop extra defenders into coverage in order to deal with the Carolina passing game or if they can continue to stack seven men in the box throughout the game (4:56) -Ted's ideal gameplay for Carolina and how he would utilize the weapons available on the Panthers offense (7:11) -The use of play-action by Carolina and the types of route combinations they use off this action (9:33) -The types of things the Panthers need to show early in the game in order to demonstrate they can move the ball consistently against Denver

Every Wednesday, Mark Schofield and Chuck Zodda strap it up for an extended 45-minute podcast to discuss some of the key stories happening in the NFL and college football. This week they are joined by Jeff Risdon of RealGM.com and DraftBreakdown.com to help make sense of the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Topics this show include: -Cardale Jones and the dangers of boxscore scouting, as something that appears as simple as an interception can actually be due to a number of factors, and a quarterback throwing a pick may have actually done a number of things right on the play that don't show up on paper (2:04) -Whether Carolina Panthers punter Brad Nortman can overcome some late season inconsistency and unleash the big leg he is known for, or whether his sporadic struggles could be an issue in the field position game during the Super Bowl (8:15) -Jeff discussing a number of the big prospects who made waves in Mobile, Alabama during the Senior Bowl, including Carson Wentz, Austin Johnson, Vernon Butler, Dan V