Cody and Felix analyze schematic failures and technical execution in the NFL’s worst-performing defenses from the 2025 season, focusing on why these systems struggled. This defensive film study examines coaching transitions for units like the Cowboys, Bengals, and Titans to provide a data-driven outlook for the 2026 season.
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In this episode:
Examine the league’s bottom-tier defenses, which struggled to execute complex, positionless systems they did not fundamentally understand.
Why the blueprint of the Pete Carroll defensive system has officially reached its end as a winning model in 2026.
Explain the Dallas Cowboys pivot to Christian Parker’s 3-4 base Fangio scheme that utilizes 4-3 spacing and shades.
How the Cincinnati Bengals stabilized their season by shifting toward five-man pressures and multiple fronts after the bye week.
Dissect how the New York Jets reached a historical low by failing to record a single turnover despite employing a defensive head coach.
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Timestamps:
00:01 Introduction: NFL Defensive Dumpsters
01:31 Dallas Cowboys: The End of the Carroll System
10:33 Washington Commanders: Restructuring and Outliers
15:15 Cincinnati Bengals: A Tale of Two Halves
26:08 New York Jets: The Improbable Turnover Drought
34:49 Tennessee Titans: Robert Saleh’s Wide-Nine
39:33 San Francisco 49ers: Personnel Struggles and Transition
43:37 New York Giants: Recreating the Ravens Model
54:02 Chicago Bears: Volatility and Secondary Decisions
55:02 Conclusion: Offseason Outlook
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