(Image courtesy of Matt Slocum/AP) By Michael Vallee -Deja Vu All Over Again:  Like no other sport, football is about the game within the game.  Every week coaches scour through hours of game film studying every detail of their opponent trying to locate any trend or tendency to give their own team an edge. It is this process that is at the heart of the weekly chess match that plays…

By John Sarianides 1.Super Bowl 51 will have plenty of story lines but I think we all agree that the number one story line involves Roger Goodell and Tom Brady. Brady would love nothing more than to win his fifth Super Bowl title and shove it up Goodell’s you know what. 2. Will the Patriots give the Falcons offense the Rams treatment? I think they will. Look for New England…

By John Sarianides The Indianapolis Colts surprised the football world on Saturday when they unexpectedly fired general manager Ryan Grigson.  In a press conference, Colts owner Robert Irsay cited several reasons why he decided to part ways with the embattled general manager. Here’s why I think he fired him. 1. He Was a Jerk: Ryan Grigson is considered one of the biggest jerks in the NFL. People around the league…

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) By John Sarianides Game Rewind: Tom Brady and the Patriots took control early and never looked back on route to a 36-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots will be going to their record ninth Super Bowl when they battle Matt Ryan and Atlanta Falcons on February 5th in Houston. Here are five thoughts from the game. 1. Brady the Magnificent: Tom Brady was once again…

By John Sarianides The Pittsburgh Steelers run a variety of counter trap plays designed to take advantage of LeVeon Bell patient running style. Here are four examples of how the Steelers use counter plays out of compressed formations as staples of their running game. Tackle Wrap With a Built in RPO: The Steelers are big, strong and athletic along the offensive line. The tackle wrap play is a staple spread…

Feature image courtesy of Jim Rogash/ Getty Images By Michael Vallee -Send In the Clowns:  It was supposed to be easy.  A laugher.  A joke.  Another gift from the AFC South.  The NFL equivalent of the proverbial walk in the park.  A mere tuneup before the real playoffs begin next Sunday.  In a week when most of the talk centered around such questions as, “How much will New England win…

Game Rewind: After sleep walking through a lackluster first half, the Patriots pulled away in the second half and beat the Texans 34-16 to advance to their sixth straight AFC championship game. Here are five thoughts from the game. 1. Sloppy Performance: The Patriots came out uncharacteristically flat last night. It was as if they knew they were going to win so it didn’t really matter how they played. It is…

The Buffalo Bills did a complete 180 in hiring Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott instead of former interim head coach Anthony Lynn. Here’s how they compare.  By John Sarianides 3 Thoughts on Sean McDermott 1. Experienced and Proven Coach: Sean McDermott has been one of the top defensive coaches in the NFL for years. McDermott learned at the feet of the late Jimmie Johnson in Philadelphia as a position…

The Denver Broncos named Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as their new head coach yesterday.  By John Sarianides O.K kiddos, I am not messing around. Here are three reasons why I like the Vance Joseph hire for the Broncos and three reasons why I don’t like the hire. 3 Positives 1.Has Connections to the Organization: Joseph has crazy connections to the Broncos organization going all the way back to his…

Normally I would be giddy about Tom Brady and the Rock smack talking each other but I am not because all they are doing is peddling pajamas (Brady) and a movie based on a really bad T.V show (Baywatch, The Rock) As much as I like and respect both men, I get annoyed with them when they do stuff like this. Stop peddling your bullshit products and just play football…