MatchQuarters $5 / month

MatchQuarters is a Substack focused on modern football tactics, emphasizing defensive strategies across college and NFL teams. It explores defensive schemes like Georgia's philosophy, the 3-3-5 defense, handling the spread offense, and specific coverage techniques. It also examines team-specific defensive adjustments and the impact of coaching strategies on defense effectiveness.

Defensive Strategies Coaching Philosophies NFL and College Football Tactics Scheme Adaptations and Innovations Team-specific Defensive Analysis Coverage Techniques Defensive Scheme Analysis

The hottest Substack posts of MatchQuarters

And their main takeaways

Re-Examining Opponent Breakdowns

452 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Data Analysis
  1. Defensive coordinators should approach game planning holistically instead of solely relying on numbers.
  2. Offenses aim to create space, while defenses work to constrain it.
  3. Simplify the process of breaking down opponents by focusing on key formations, movements, and plays to develop a comprehensive game plan.

Attacking 12 pers. Pistol from a Tilt Front

353 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football Trends Athletes
  1. Defenses in football tend to adjust to offensive trends over time.
  2. As offenses shift towards bigger packages, defenses must react by getting lighter and adjusting their strategies.
  3. The use of spread formations in college football emphasizes getting elite athletes in open space and has led to defensive innovations like the 3-Safety system.

Stacking the Back: A lesson from the Rams.

334 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football Coaching Defense NFL
  1. The Los Angeles Rams improved their defense by diversifying their defensive coverages.
  2. The Rams' focus on developing talent internally rather than making high draft picks has paid off.
  3. Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris made impactful strategic decisions that helped the Rams shut down opponents' key offensive weapons.

Sacking the Tide

314 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football College Defense Coaching Pressure
  1. Alabama's weak offensive line struggled with sacks in multiple games
  2. Michigan's defensive strategy heavily relied on pressure against Alabama's weak O-line
  3. Defensive coordinators like Minter adapt schemes to create attacking concepts that are simple for players
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

MatchQuarters' Super Bowl Preview

176 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Football Analysis Coaching Strategy Preview
  1. In the Super Bowl preview, the 49ers defense faces the Chiefs offense in a matchup of opposites.
  2. The 49ers have a conservative approach to blitzing, focusing more on matchups with their deep roster.
  3. The Chiefs may target the outside flat area and use motion to amplify their offensive concepts against the 49ers' defenses.

2024 National Championship Preview

294 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football College Preview Analysis
  1. Washington Huskies have a strong offense with NFL-caliber wide receivers and quarterback.
  2. Michigan Wolverines have an impressive defense, ranking 5th in Dropback EPA.
  3. Washington Huskies need to improve their run game and defense for a good chance against Michigan Wolverines in the championship.

MatchQuarters ICYMI - Week of 1/8/23

275 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football
  1. Exciting NFL matchups to watch this weekend includes Browns vs. Texans, Dolphins vs. Chiefs, and Steelers vs. Bills.
  2. The importance of strong LB play in pass coverage and its impact on the game.
  3. Teams like the Lions, Rams, and Buccaneers are showing strong performances heading into the playoffs.

MatchQuarters ICYMI - Week of 1/15/24

235 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NFL Game analysis
  1. NFL Division Round Previews include exciting matchups like Texans vs. Ravens and Chiefs vs. Bills.
  2. Utilizing motion and shifts is essential in both offense and defense to stay ahead in football strategy.
  3. Static defenses in the NFL can be easily predictable, making adaptability crucial for success.

MatchQuarters ICYMI - Week of 1/22/24

117 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Football Coaching Analysis
  1. The NFL Championship preview highlights the matchup between the Chiefs and Ravens featuring strong defenses.
  2. The Lions face the 49ers with the offense being a key focus in the game.
  3. Evaluation caution is advised, reflecting on players like Isaiah Simmons and Kyle Hamilton in the draft season.

Trap Check

255 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Football Analysis Defense NFL Strategy
  1. The Chiefs' success formula in the modern game includes having a great QB, elite offense, and a middle-of-the-road defense that produces timely turnovers.
  2. The Chiefs have drafted strategically, with over half of their starters and eight of their 11 defensive starters drafted within the past three years.
  3. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been successful in creating a defense that leverages talent and uses MOFO coverages to play a bend-don't-break style.

The Nebraska Stack

216 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🎾 Sports College Football
  1. Baylor improved defensively by switching to a 3-3-5 scheme
  2. Nebraska hired Tony White to bring back the 'Blackshirts' defense to respectability
  3. The 3-3-5 defense allows smaller, quicker players to play fast and confuse the offense

MatchQuarters ICYMI - Week of 2/5/24

39 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Football Coaching Analysis Training
  1. Teaching off-ball techniques to defensive backs in addition to on-ball skills is crucial for their advancement in football. Press coverage is important but players should be trained in various coverages.
  2. Having a varied toolkit of defensive techniques is essential for success in football, especially as talent levels even out. Coaches should focus on teaching multiple strategies beyond just press coverage.
  3. In the NFL, the use of DBs in pressure situations and unique defensive schemes, like split-field coverages, can create a competitive edge. Understanding how to utilize defensive backs effectively is key for a strong defense.

Thoughts on Defending the Pistol Spread

196 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Strategies Defense Coaching Tactics
  1. High school football shifted from power football to spread offenses like the Air Raid to accommodate smaller athletes.
  2. Defensive strategies needed to adapt to the spread offenses that maximize space and create lag in defensive scheme reactions.
  3. Modern defenses had to adjust to the changing offensive landscape with concepts like Zone Read and defending against Air Raid schemes.

The Lions' Stubbie/Special Cut-up from Week 1

157 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Football Defense Team Strategy Film analysis
  1. The Detroit Lions used a popular Trips coverage called Stubbie to surprise the Chiefs in Week 1.
  2. Stubbie, while having Cover 2 elements, is more related to Quarters than Cover 2 due to the locked CB on #1 WR.
  3. The Lions' decision to switch to Quarters as their base coverage in Week 1 paid off, with the use of Stubbie helping them effectively defend against the Chiefs.

Georgia's Defensive Philosophy

314 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Football Defense Coaching Analysis Philosophy
  1. Georgia's defensive philosophy focuses on controlling the line of scrimmage with elite talent and coaching.
  2. Despite losing key players to the NFL Draft, Georgia's defense remained strong and dominant in the 2022 season.
  3. Smart's defensive strategy emphasizes stopping the run with minimal defenders to achieve efficiency and success on the field.

Rain Check!

157 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🎾 Sports Coaching Football Pressure Defense
  1. MatchQuarters analyzes Bill Belichick's favorite pressure
  2. Combining pressure with a base look can amplify its effectiveness
  3. Read pressure utilizes the offense's protection scheme against them

The Eat Front within the Penny Package (5-1)

176 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
  1. The Denver Broncos' defense performed well despite a lackluster offense in the 2022 season.
  2. The secondary and interior D-line were key strengths of the Broncos' defense.
  3. Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero implemented a successful Penny package defense scheme.