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* Critique of outdated ‘toughness drills’ and the common disconnect in current football strength and conditioning practices.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

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

MatchQuarters is a reader-supported publication. So, make sure to subscribe, like, and share articles.

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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

—

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!

MatchQuarters is a reader-supported publication. So, make sure to subscribe, like, and share articles.

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© 2025 MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.