MatchQuarters Comprehensive Archive

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Quick Resource Guides

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The Aranda Creeper System

An Introduction to the Saban Cover 7 Man-Match Defense

Learning the Vic Fangio Defense

Creeper and Simulated Pressure Catalog

Defending 12 Personnel Resources

Non-Traditional Tampa Catalog

Odd Stack and Three-High Archive

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Go deeper into defense with MQ’s Books:

• Cautious Aggression: Defending Modern Football

• Hybrids: The Making of a Modern Defense

• Match Quarters: A Modern Guide to Split-Field Coverage

• Breaking Down Your Offensive Opponent

• Anchor Points: Building a Defense from the Ground Up

• A Complete Guide to the Hybrid 4-2-5

» Get them today!

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Art of X Show (Pod)

1. Apple

2. Spotify

3. Audible

4. YouTube

5. Substack

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Essential Playlists (YouTube)

1. The Art of X Show Minis – Short breakdowns on particular plays

2. MQ DB 101 – Quick clinics on different DB techniques

3. MQ Quick Hits – Various clinics on major defensive schemes

4. MQ Chess Match – Coach A. takes a look at different matchups in the NFL

5. MQ Mini-Clinics – Various short clinics on a multitude of defensive schemes

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Off-Season FBS Study Guides

1. ‘22 Off-Season Study Guide

2. ‘23 Off-Season Study Guide

3. ‘24 Off-Season Study Guide

4. ‘25 Off-Season Study Guide

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CoachTube Courses

1. Designing Pressures from a Two-High Shell (Half-Field Zone Concept)

2. MatchQuarters Guide to the Belly-Key Technique for Linebackers

3. Breaking Down an Opponent eClinic with Kenny Simpson & Cody Alexander

4. Developing a Game Plan with Kenny Simpson & Cody Alexander

5. Teaching Quarters: 2-Read (Cloud/Palms)

6. Defending 21p from a 3-Safety Structure

7. Defending the Spread From a 3-Safety Structure

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Conversations with Coach A. (Covid Tapes ‘20)

1. Patrick Toney, DC, Louisiana

2. Warren Sharp, Sharp Football Analysis/NFL

3. Matthew Powledge, STC/Safeties Baylor

4. Doug Farrar, USA Today/Touchdown Wire

5. Randall Joyner, DL, SMU

6. Andrew Thacker, DC Georgia Tech

7. Ted Nguyen, The Athletic

8. Brian Vaughn, Blitzology

9. Seth Galina, PFF

10. Will Windham, Safeties Kent State

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MatchQuarters Annual Top-10 Lists

1. Top 10 articles from 2023

2. Top 10 articles from 2022

3. Top 10 articles from 2021

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2025 NFL Season Reviews

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Run-and-Hit: How Al Golden Burned the Playbook to Save the Bengals Defense

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‘Cool Clips’ Series

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1. Defending a Stack Mills concept (UCLA vs. Pitt ’22)

2. Defending “pause” bubbles

3. The Eagles’ “Quads” Zone vs. the 49ers (’23)

4. The Chiefs’ “return” motions in the Super Bowl (’23)

5. Tulane’s “Pyramid” Scheme (Travel)

6. The Colts ‘Center Read’ 6-man Blitz vs. the Browns (’23)

7. The Giants Double Mug Ni Pressure vs. the Eagles (‘23)

8. The Ravens ‘Tag’ Sim vs. the Lions (’23)

9. The Giants’ Brian Burns ‘Rip’ Stunts (‘24)

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Defending the Spread’s Run Game

1. Zone Scheme Run Fits & Run Down Pressures/Stunts

   1. Zero the Mike (Belly-Key)*

   2. Using Natural Gap Exchanges in Your Front Seven*

   3. Utilizing a HEAVY technique in the run game

   4.  Line Twists to Combat Heavy Zone Teams*

   5. Defending the Zone Read*

   6. Defending Split Zone*

   7. Attacking Zone Runs with 5-man Pressures (Raptors/Wobble)

   8. Colorado's A-gap Pressure vs. Y-Off Runs (‘24)

   9. Resetting the Line of Scrimmage in Light-Box Run Defenses (Seahawks/Indiana ‘25)

2. Exit Stunt (ET)

   1. Using an EXIT stunt to combat Zone-heavy offenses (Liberty vs Arkansas '22)

   2. Bowling Green’s Exit Stunt on Run Downs (‘24)

3. Gap Scheme Run Fits & Run Down Pressures

   1. Defending the Power Read*

   2. Defending 20p or Y-off Two-Back Power*

4. Defending the Spread Option

   1. 5 Tips for Defending Spread-Option Teams*

   2. Football is Back!!! (UCA vs. Austin Peay & defending the Flexbone)

   3. Thoughts on Defending the Pistol Spread

5. Defending QB-Specific Run Concepts

   1. Defending BAsh (“Back Away”) Concepts*

   2. Keeping it simple vs a running QB (’21 Bucs vs Eagles)

   3. Cleveland Browns: Defending Q-Counter Bash (vs. Ravens ‘24)

   4. How Oklahoma stifled the Alabama QB run game (‘24)

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Clinic Notes & Specific Coaches

1. Nick Saban (Alabama)

   1. Film Study: OU vs Alabama (2018 - 1st Half)*

   2. Saban's Rip/Liz (Match Cov. 3) & How it Applies to Quarters*

2. Kirby Smart (Georgia)

   1. THSCA -Kirby Smart's (HC, Georgia) Defensive Evolution ('18)*

   2. Georgia's Defensive Philosophy ('22)

   3. The Modern Bear Front (Georgia vs Notre Dame - 2017)*

   4. Georgia's Mint Front*

   5. Georgia Defense vs Texas A&M Offense (2019)

   6. Georgia’s A-gap Pressure Package (vs TCU ’23)

   7. Georgia’s “Big 12” pressure vs. TCU (Half-Field Zone)

   8. Georgia’s Early Down Philosophy & Run Down Stop Calls (‘23)

   9. Georgia’s Four-Down Front (vs. Texas CFP ‘24)

3. Dan Lannning (Oregon)

   1. Oregon’s Answer to the 12-Personnel Meta

   2. Oregon’s Odd Front Flush Concept

4. Pat Narduzzi (Michigan State/Pitt)

   1. "Read" Coverage (Narduzzi’s 20p Field Robber)*

   2. Master Class Pt. 1 - Michigan State's '18 (4-3 Quarters Defense)*

   3. Master Class Pt. 2 - Michigan State's '18 Coverages & Blitz Package*

   4. Pitt Defense vs UCF Offense (2019)

   5. Pitt’s SPECIAL Coverage (HOT)

   6. Aug. ’21 – Pitt’s Odd Cowboys Hot Blitz

   7. Spicing up your traditional Wick "Dog" (Will-to-C) pressure.

5. Vic Fangio System (Brandon Staley & the Rams tree)

   1. Fangio/Staley Philosophy:

      1. The Argument For A Light Box (Fangio System/LA Rams Defense)

      2. The Rams 'Miami' Creeper (Mike Sim/’21)

      3. Rodgers & LaFleur put on a clinic vs the Rams ('21 Divisional Round)

      4. The Fangio Tree's roots keep growing - Part 1 ('23)

      5. The Fangio Tree's roots keep growing - Part 2 ('23)

      6. The Fangio Tree's roots keep growing - Part 3 ('23)  

      7. Inside Brandon Staley’s Early-Down Solution to Heavy Personnel (Saints/’25)

   2. Coverage Systems:

      1. Unlocking the Fangio coverage system ('23)

      2. Where Single-High & Two-High Collide: 6-Cross

      3. Flipping the Script (Fangio's Cover 6 - HQQ)

      4. Explaining Fangio's Sub "Zeus" (Cover 8/HQQ)

      5. Amplifying 2-Man concepts: Fist, Finger, Pounder

      6. Three Coverages That Won the Super Bowl (vs. Chiefs, ‘24)

      7. The Fangio Evolution: How Quarters Coverage Was Critical to the Eagles' Dominant Defense (‘24)

   3. Penny Package (5-1):

      1. The Fangio System's Penny (5-1) Sam 8

      2. The Eat Front within the Penny Package (Broncos '22)

   4. Raheem Morris:

      1. Rams Defensive Primer Pt. 1 ('21)

      2. Rams Defensive Primer Pt. 2 ('21)

      3. The Rams’ Off-Ball ‘Read’ Sim (‘21)

      4. Has the Rams' defense gotten "soft"? ('22)

      5. Doubling Chase. How the Rams used target coverage to defend the Bengals' top WR. ('23)

      6. Stacking the Back (Saints vs. Rams ‘23)

      7. Anatomy of a Pressure: The Falcons' Hot Blitz (‘25)

   5. Ejiro Evero

      1. Panthers' Early Down Safety Pressure: Base Rain/Lightning (‘23)

      2. Using Static Two-High Shells to Erase Pre-Snap Tells (‘25)

   6. Chris Shula (Hybrid Phillips-Fangio)

      1. How Chris Shula’s Hybrid Defense Dismantled the Jaguars (‘25)

      2. Weaponizing Entropy: How the Rams “Broke” Sam Darnold (‘25)

      3. Unleashing the Assassin: Inside Chris Shula’s Aggressive Playoff Shift (‘26)

6. Baltimore Ravens/’Harbaugh’ Michigan System (Martindale/Macdonald/Minter/O’Leary):

   1. Running ‘Targeted’ Coverage from a Split-Field Structure

   2. Wink Martindale:

      1. Ravens Defense vs Browns Offense (W1 2020) [$]

      2. The Ravens’ “DOG” Scheme to Create Sim Pressures [$]

      3. Cool Clips: The Giants Double Mug Ni Pressure vs. the Eagles (‘23)

      4. Blitzing the Safety (Michigan Spring Game ‘24)

      5. Michigan’s Blitz Tape vs. Alabama (ReliaQuest Bowl ‘24)

   3. Mike Macdonald:

      1. Creating Simple Simulated Pressures (Ravens/’22)

      2. Cool Clips: The Ravens ‘Tag’ Sim vs. the Lions (’23)

      3. Inside Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks Defense: Philosophy, Play Calls, & His 3-Buzz Concept (‘24)

      4. Inside Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks Defense: Modern Concepts & How They Attacked the LA Rams (‘24)

      5. Less is More: How Mike Macdonald Wins With Surgical Pressure and Smarter Structure (‘25)

      6. Seattle Seahawks Pressure Efficiency (‘25)

      7. Resetting the Line of Scrimmage in Light-Box Run Defenses (Seahawks/Indiana ‘25)

   4. Jesse Minter:

      1. Changing the Coverage Contour Post-Snap (NTTs & Steal rotations - Michigan ‘22)

      2. Covering the Buckeyes (Michigan vs. Ohio State ‘23)

      3. Sacking the Tide (Alabama vs. Michigan ‘24 Rose Bowl)

      4. Attacking the Edge (Ni Pressure - ‘23)

      5. “The Gamble”: The Chargers Blueprint for Modern Defense (‘25)

   5. Dennard Wilson

      1. A 2025 Tennessee Titans Defensive Post-Mortem

   6. Chris O’Leary (W. Michigan/Chargers)

      1. Mastery Over Multiplicity: How to Strip Your Playbook for Defensive Pace

   7. Anthony Weaver (Dolphins)

      1. Solving Personnel Mismatches with Split-Field Coverage

7. Bill Belichick & Adjacent Schemes

   1. Many Faces of Bill Belichick ('23):

      1. Part 1 (Context)

      2. Part 2 (Film Review)

   2. The Patriots' Rain Check (Read Blitz)

   3. Chess Match: Patriots vs. Dolphins (Week 2 2023)

   4. Matt Patricia (Ohio State):

      1. Patricia's Masterclass: How a 'Coffeehouse' Blitz Grounded the Longhorns (‘25)

      2. Complex Looks, Simple Systems: A Technical Review of the 2025 Ohio State Defense

8. Jim Knowles (Ohio State/Oklahoma State)

   1. Jim Knowles & the search for the ultimate hybrid defense. (Oklahoma St. '21)

   2. Jim Knowles & the search for the ultimate hybrid defense... continues (Ohio State '22)

   3. Attacking Protections with 'the' Ohio State Buckeyes (Knowles/'24)

   4. Breaking Down Stubbie-4: Inside Jim Knowles' Continued Search for the Ultimate Hybrid Defense (2024)

   5. Anatomy of a Pressure: A Key Blitz in Jim Knowles' 3-High Defense (‘24)

9. Brian Flores (and Boyer)

   1. Bengal Hawk (Tag Blitz)

      1. The Dolphins’ “TAG” max pressure

      2. Miami’s 7-O look is more than just a “cool” pressure

   2. Mar. ’21 – Dolphins’ Odd Mug Stun (Newton) 1 Rat

   3. Blitzing the TE – The Dolphins’ Safety ‘Add’ Pressure (‘22)

   4. Nov. ’22 – The Dolphins’ NOT stunt to & from the boundary

   5. Miami Dolphins “Plug” Blitz (Boyer/’22)

   6. The Vikings Hot Coverages (‘23)

   7. The Anti-Shanahan Defense (‘24)

   8. Breaking Down the Vikings' 6-1 Scheme: How Brian Flores is Redefining Defense in the NFL (‘24)

   9. How Brian Flores Beat the Lions: A Deep Dive on Interior Pressure and “Plus-Two” Coverage (‘25)

   10. How Brian Flores used stunts to attack the Packers zone run game (‘25)

10. Don Brown (Michigan)

    1. Don Brown (Univ. of Michigan) Lone Star Clinic Notes (2017)*

    2. How Don Brown (DC - Michigan) Defends 11/20p 2-Back*

    3. Film Study: Michigan vs Minnesota ('20) - Defending RPO/Check Heavy Offenses

11. Dave Aranda (Baylor/LSU) & Ron Roberts (Auburn/Baylor)

    1. Dave Aranda (Baylor HC) Lone Star Clinic Notes (2020)*

    2. Ron Roberts puts on a Creeper Clinic (Auburn vs. Cal  & Texas A&M ’23)

12. Mike Elko (Texas A&M/Duke)

    1. Mike Elko (Texas A&M) Lone Star Clinic Notes (2019)*

    2. Mike Elko's Split Front (Blazers)

    3. Blitzing The Safety From A Two-High Shell (vs. Notre Dame, ‘24)

13. Jim Leonhard (Wisconsin)

    1. 3rd Down Study: Wisconsin vs Oregon (Rose Bowl '20)

    2. 3rd Down Study: 2020 Wisconsin

    3. Packaging Your Creepers & Sims (Leonhard/Wisconsin)

14. Steve Spagnuolo (Chiefs):

    1. Jan. ’22 BOTM – Chiefs’ Under BOAT 0 max blitz

    2. Trap Check! The Chiefs’ Trap Coverages vs. the Bills ('22)

    3. Attacking Protections (Chiefs vs. Dolphins Week 9 ’23)

    4. Attacking the B-gaps In Protection (Chiefs vs. Dolphins, Playoffs ‘23)

    5. The Chiefs' Spagnuolo still has Kyle Shanahan's number (‘24)

    6. The Magician (‘24)

    7. The Chiefs Odd Stack Package (‘24)

    8. Odd Front and Penny Package (‘25)

15. Dennis Allen (Saints, Bears):

    1. The Saints’ Nose-Will (Wham) Scheme vs. the Rams (’22)

    2. Saints' Under Front Adjustment vs. the Jaguars (‘23)

    3. Apex Versatility: Trading Linebacker Mass to Counter Modern Offensive Attacks (2025)

16. Todd Bowles (Buccaneers):

    1. Oct. ’20 – Tampa Bay’s [Ni] Over Cross (Manning)

    2. July ’20 – Tampa Bay’s Trap 2 5MPRS

    3. Tampa Bay’s X-Front (3-High) vs Kansas City (SB LV ’21)

    4. Oct. ’22 – The Buccaneers’ BOSS Mug Cross Trap 2 (5MPRS)

    5. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Safety Pressures versus the Lions (‘24)

17. Dan Quinn (Cowboys/Commanders):

    1. Commanders 'Mike' Simulated Pressure with a Non-Traditional Tampa (‘24)

    2. The Cowboys’ Micah Parsons as ‘The Joker’ (‘23)

    3. Cowboys vs. Cardinals (Week 3 / ’23)

    4. Teaching Trap Coverage (Trevon Diggs/Cowboys)

    5. Dallas Cowboys Tampa Rotations (NTTs)

    6. Dissecting The Commanders’ Defensive Game Plan vs. the Chargers’ Run Game (Week 5 / ‘25)

18. Jack Del Rio (Commanders):

    1. The evolution of Washington's Jack Del Rio ('23)

19. Robert Saleh & Jeff Ulrich (Jets / 49ers):

    1. Why the NFL is Pivoting to ‘Vision’ Safeties (49ers / ‘25)

    2. New York Jets Quarters Cut-up (‘24)

    3. The Jets Stubbie Tape vs. the Bills (‘23)

    4. The Jets' Stab tag in Quarters coverage ('22)

20. Greg Schiano (Rutgers):

    1. Fitting DUO from a TILT Front (Under) - Indiana vs Rutgers ('20)

    2. Attacking 12 pers. Pistol from a Tilt Front (Rutgers vs. Miami ‘23)

21. Trent Bray (Oregon State):

    1. Oregon State’s 3-thru-the-A pressure (Alamo)

    2. Oregon State’s MARS off-ball Sim (Marino/Mahomes)

    3. Oregon State’s 3rd Down Package vs. Utah (’23)

22. Austin Armstong (So. Miss/Florida):

    1. Examining the Florida Gators’ 3rd Down Package (‘23)

    2. Southern Miss’ Fluid Front & Trap Coverage

23. Todd Orlando (Texas/USC):

    1. How Offenses Attack the Tite Front (2017/2018 Texas Longhorns)*

    2. Bringing the Heat (USC '20 Pressures)

    3. Texas Defense vs LSU Offense (2019)

    4. Simulated Pressures from a “Positionless” Defense (Texas – Sugar Bowl ’19)*

24. Alex Grinch (Oklahoma):

    1. Sacking the Longhorns - OU vs Texas (2019)*

    2. Manipulating the Cover Down (OU vs Baylor 2019)*

25. Vince Kehres (Toledo):

    1. Toledo's EXIT Stunt (‘21)

    2. Toledo’s Hybrid 4-2-5 (Quarters/’23)

    3. Toledo vs. Mississippi State (‘24)

26. Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals):

    1. Arizona Cardinals Safety Pressure Cut-Up (‘24)

    2. Desert Deception: Inside the NFL's Most Unpredictable Defense (Preseason ‘25)

    3. Schematic Survival: Protecting an Overmatched Front with a Positionless Secondary (‘25)

27. Brent Venables Tree (Wes Goodwin):

    1. Clemson Defense vs Ohio State Offense (’19 Fiesta Bowl)*

    2. May ’22 – Clemson’s HOT pressure variations vs Wake Forest

    3. Clemson’s Red Zone Fire Zones (vs UNC ’22)

    4. Defending Unbalanced Counter: A Lesson From The Clemson Tigers (‘23)

    5. The Sooners’ Defense is Elite Again (OU vs. Auburn ‘25)

    6. Speed Over Mass: Using Interior Twists to Erase Heavy Run Schemes (‘25)

28. Vance Joseph (Broncos):

    1. The Denver Broncos Double Mug Series vs. the LA Chargers (‘23)

    2. Beyond the Blitz: Unpacking the Broncos’ Hybrid Defensive Evolution Under Vance Joseph in 2024

    3. Changing the Math: How the Broncos Generate Elite Pressure Without Blitzing (‘25)

    4. The Hufanga Effect (Blitzing the Safety | ‘25)

29. Anthony Campanile (Jaguars):

    1. How Anthony Campanile Is Blending Fangio Structures with Flores’s Chaos (‘25)

30. Demeco Ryans &Matt Burke (Texans):

    1. The “Anti-Defense”: How the 2025 Texans Dominate with Simplicity

31. Bryant Haines (Indiana):

    1. Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: Bryant Haines’ Masterclass vs. Miami (2026)

    2. Resetting the Line of Scrimmage in Light-Box Run Defenses (Seahawks/Indiana ‘25)

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Defensive Design & Front Structures

1. Creating a Defensive Nomenclature (Language)

2. Static Equals Death (Texans O vs. Browns D ‘24)

3. Welcome to the Golden Age of the Nickel Defender (Titans/McCreary, ‘23)

4. The ‘Big’ Nickel is back! (‘24)

5. Meet the Hybrids: A new breed of NFL LB (‘24)

6. The Lions’ defense is …back? (Base to Nickel, ‘24)

7. Spider-Man: The amazing abilities of the Bears’ Kyler Gordon (’24)

8. Welcome to the era of Total Football: Minnesota's Hybrid Odd Front (‘24)

9. The 12-Personnel “Nickel Tax”: Erasing the Return of Backside “Iso-Ball”

10. Positionless or Specialized? Utilizing ‘Down’ Safeties and Spill Mechanics to Stabilize the Box (Patriots ‘25)

11. 3-4 Defenses:

    1. Okie Front (5/Shade/4i)

       1. The Okie Front (Under)*

       2. Defending Modern Spread from Okie*

       3. Baylor vs Boise (2016) - How a hybrid 3-4 defends a multiple Pro Spread offense*

       4. Defending 11p from a 3-4*

    2. Tite Front/Mint Package (404)

       1. The Tite Front (303/404)*

       2. Tite Front Essentials (What you need in your toolbox)

       3. Building on the Tite Alignment: Shake 2

    3. East Coast 3-4

       1. App. State Defense (vs. UNC '19)*

       2. Nate Woody (Army): The best DC you’ve never heard of (‘24)

    4. Illinois Penny Package (5-1) vs. Michigan ('22)

12. 3-High/Odd Stack

    1. Iowa State Cyclones 3-3-5 (Heacock)

       1. Running a 3-Down/3-Safety Dime as Your Base (2017)*

       2. Running a 3-Down/3-Safety Dime as Your Base - The Front (2018)*

       3. Cyclone Pressure Package (2019)*

       4. Attacking the 3-High System: OU vs Iowa State (2021)

       5. Fitting the run from a 3-High defense (Iowa St. '22)

       6. The Three-High Evolution: How Big 12 Defenses Are Adapting to the Power Spread (2025)

    2. Baylor Bears 2019 3-3-3  (Phil Snow)

       1. Evolution of the Odd Dime Pt. 1 - Coverages (OU vs BU 2019)*

       2. Evolution of the Odd Dime Pt. 2 - Fronts & Fits (OU vs BU 2019)*

       3. Evolution of the Odd Dime Pt. 3 - Pressures (OU vs BU 2019)*

       4. The Multiplicity of the Panters' Defense ('21)

    3. Cincinnati Coaching Tree (Hybrid Stack)

       1. The Bearcat Stack (Cincinnati '20)

       2. Sept. ’20 – Cincinnati’s Dime Bluff Mex 2 SMPRS

       3. Film Study: Cincinnati's "Hybrid" Defense vs Notre Dame ('21)

    4. Tony White/John Butler (Nebraska)

       1. The Nebraska Stack (Tony White - '23)

       2. Nebraska’s Four-Down Three-High vs. Boston College (‘24)

    5. Other Iterations

       1. Auburn's 3-1-7 vs LSU (2019)*

       2. The Katy HS (TX) Hybrid 3-High*

       3. Blitzing from an Odd Stack vs a pro-style offense (Ole Miss vs Kentucky '22)

       4. Georgia’s 3-High Mint Package vs. Tennessee (‘23)

       5. UNLV’s Odd Stack vs. San Jose St. (‘24/Barry Odom)

       6. Louisiana Tech’s Blitz Cut-Up (‘24/Jeremiah Johnson)

13. 3rd Down & Dime Packages

    1. 3rd Down Calls From a 3-4*

    2. Attacking 3rd Down With Multiple Fronts*

    3. Flushing the QB (Flush Concepts)

    4. MQ’s Simple 3-Down Dime Package*

14. BOSS/Load Front

    1. The BOSS Front (Bigs On Same Side)

    2. Nov. ’21 – Denver’s BOSS CHIEFS (Field Not) “Go!” 5MPRS

    3. The 49ers BOSS Package (vs. the Seahawks '22)

    4. The 49ers’ (BOSS) Wrap Stunt

    5. The BLAZER Front

15. Misc./Specific Game Reviews

    1. Five Concepts from the National Championship Game (Georgia vs. Alabama ’22)

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Pedagogy, Install, & Back Seven Drill Tapes

1. Get the self-titled book Match Quarters

2. DB 101: Drill Work From Winter to Fall

3. Creating a Fall Camp Indy Schedule

4. MQ’s DB Resource Page*

5. Thoughts on creating a position manual.

6. Quit using a ball in pattern match drills early in Fall Camp. 

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Coverage Archive

1. Coverage 101 Series:

   1. Coverage 101: Poach vs. Solo Techniques

   2. Coverage 101: 2-Hole (NTT)

   3. Coverage 101: Cover 1 Tools - Rat, Lurk, Hole, Cross

2. Specific Split-Field Trips Coverages:

   1. Primer: Top Trips Coverages Explained*

   2. Stress (Quarters/Sky):

      1. Defending Trips with Stress Coverage*

      2. Learning Stress Coverage (Arizona St. 2017)*

      3. Defending Trips Into the Boundary (Stress)

   3. Stubbie/Special:

      1. Defending Trips with Special Coverage (Stubbie)*

      2. Defending Trips with Stump Coverage (Stress + Special)

      3. The Lions Stubbie/Special Cut-Up vs. the Chiefs (W1 '23)

   4. Solo/Poach Coverage

      1. Defending 3x1 Formations with Solo Coverage*

      2. Using a 'Clamp' tag in Quarters coverage (Poach/Solo)

3. Quarters Tags & Special Coverages

   1. Atlanta Falcons ‘Soft’ Bracket (‘23)

   2. Three Coverages Tags Every Quarters Team Needs*

   3. Three Coverages to Carry this Fall

   4. Locking the Mike in 3x1 Coverage - Taser

   5. The Patriots Quarters Solution (Vrabel | ‘25)

   6. Steal Coverage:

      1. Defending the Air Raid with "Steal" Coverage*

      2. Taking STEAL Coverage to the next level

      3. Troys's 2-Steal Tite Front Fire Zone (Spurs/Popovich)

4. Tampa 2, NTTs, & Trap Coverages

   1. Split-Field Post-Snap Rotations & Non-Traditional Tampas (NTTs):

      1. Changing the Picture: 2-Roll Coverage

      2. The Bengals' non-traditional Tampa Creeper (Brees)

      3. Washington Commanders Tampa 2 Rotations (NTTs)

      4. Disguising the Post with the Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Steelers '23)

      5. SMU’s 2-Hole Coverage vs. Tulane (‘23)

      6. Cleveland Browns' Inverted 2 vs. the Saints' Shanahan Style Offense (‘24)

5. Match-3 & Cover 3:

   1. Creating a simple way to run Match 3

   2. The "CHEAT" Technique for MOFC Schemes on Early Downs

   3. The importance of a good Vertical Hook player in Match-3 (Browns).

   4. Using a "Steal" or "Cross" tag in Skinny coverage (Packers/'22)

   5. Buzzing the Tower: The Raiders use 3-Buzz to defeat the Chiefs (‘23)

   6. Utilizing the Post Safety (Arizona ‘23)

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Pressure, Stunts, Blitz Designs, & Stop Calls

1. Stunts/‘Pick’ Pressures

   1. Jan. ’23 – San Diego State’s Torch Stunt from a Nic Front

   2. Tulane’s Tex-Mex (Chuy’s) “pick” pressure

2. Pressure/Blitz Design

   1. 5 Tips for Developing a Blitz*

   2. How to Packaging Blitz Calls*

   3. Building a Better Zone Blitz*

   4. Blitzing the Formation (BTF)*

   5. 5 Tips For Blitzing From The Secondary*

   6. HUG & SHARE Rush Concepts

   7. Storm Check - NFL’s favorite way to attack 12 & 21 pers. (‘24)

   8. Bills CB Blitzes—Christian Benford (2025)

3. Stop Calls/Situations

   1. Run Down Stop Calls*

   2. Sept. ’22 – Attacking the RB with a Cross-Dog Progression

   3. Attacking the Offense Away from the RB

   4. Attacking the Guard in Pass Protection

4. Creepers & Off-Ball Sims

   1. Building a Creeper Toolbox

   2. The Fire Zone isn’t Dead

   3. July ’22 – Troy Trojans Study & Using Sims to Create Natural Cross-Dogs

   4. Layering the Fit (Creepers, Sims, & Fluid Fronts)

   5. Favre/Panther/Newton Path (Ni Creeper):

      1. The FAVRE Path: Field Edge Creeper

      2. Attacking the Passing Strength (Favre Path/Baylor ’21)

      3. Attacking the edge of the box with a “pin-loop” Rodgers/Packers path (Broncos vs Chiefs ’22)

   6. Brady/Whip & Miami (sister) Paths:

      1. Jan. ’21 – LA Rams’ Over Weak Bomb 6 (Whip)

      2. Oct. ’21 – The “Brady” Path (Whip/Boundary Insert)

      3. The WHIP replacement pressure (Titans vs Bengals ’22)

      4. Do simple better. A lesson from the Titans. (Whip Creeper)

      5. Attacking Weak: The Fangio systems Ni Whip & Penny Whiskey 9

      6. The Seahawks’ strong side B-gap Creeper (Miami)

   7. Safety Creepers:

      1. Aug. ’20 – Boise State’s Fly (Weak Safety/Burrow) Mug SMPRS

      2. May ’22 – Browns Safety 5MPRS & Creeper

      3. March ’23 – Eagles Safety Simulated Pressure in the Divisional Round (Geno)

   8. Off-Ball Sims

      1. Mex/Allen path:

         1. The MEX (Allen) Path: An A-Gap Sim

         2. Creating an A-Gap Progression Series (Mex/Manning/Missouri)

         3. Raptors (Allen ‘Add’):

            1. Attacking the modern offense with an internal simulated pressure (Allen – USC vs. Notre Dame ’23)

            2. Attacking early downs with an A-gap 5-man pressure (Raptors)

      2. June ’22 – West Virginia’s MAC 3-Buzz Sim

   9. 3rd Down Sims

      1. Aug. ’22 – Louisiana’s BOSS Back Check Sim

      2. Attacking the Center (BELLY/MANNING)

      3. March ’22 – LA Rams’ Over “Read” Pressure [SIM]

      4. Tennessee Vols’ “Bears” Sim

5. Presentation Sims

   1. Feb. ’22 – Gophers’s Dbl A-gap pressure attacking the boundary (Bills)

   2. Feb. ’23 – Western Kentucky’s Mug Diner Tampa Sim

   3. The FALCONS Path (Saban NFL Sim)

6. 5-man Pressures

   1. Dog Check (Single-Dog Pressure)*

   2. July ’21 – San Diego State’s Odd Wolf Switch 1

   3. Designing an Odd Cross-Dog Blitz

   4. Bears ‘Add’ Path

      1. Dec. ’20 – Chicago’s BOSS Bears ‘Add’ C1 5MPRS

      2. May ’21 – Northwestern’s Odd Bears Ni Add FZ 3 

   5. CB + Will 5MPRS

      1. Feb. ’21 – Indiana’s Over Wick 1 Rat (CB + Will)

      2. June ’21 – North Dakota’s Odd Stay Lynx (CB + Will) 6 Safety

   6. Back Check

      1. Aug. ’22 – Louisiana’s BOSS Back Check Sim

7. Hot/Eyes/Max Blitzes

   1. Hot Blitzes

      1. April ’21 – 49ers Odd Mug “Back” HOT

      2. Dec. ’22 – Georgia’s “Pod” Alignment & EYES blitz.

   2. Nov. ’20 -Washington’s Jet Shoot C1

   3. Dec. ’21 – Tulsa’s Back SPURS “Add” 0 blitz

   4. “TAG” You’re it! (UCLA’s version of TAG)

   5. Creating a “Layered” Pressure (Texas vs. Bama ’22)

   6. Boston College’s Cross-Dog Blitz (Jeff Hafley ‘23)

   7. The NFL’s Favorite Double Mug Blitz (‘24)

8. Specific Fronts/Blitzes

   1. Alamo (3-thru-the-A)

      1. April ’22 – 49ers “ALAMO” Blitz (3-through-the-A)

   2. Double Mug

      1. Phil Snow’s (Panthers) Double A-Gap Series (W2 vs Saints ’21)

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Defending Offensive Systems/Formations

1. Air Raid Killers - Washington's Defense vs Wazzu*

2. Clemson Offense

   1. Defending the Morris/Clemson Offensive System*

   2. North Carolina Defense (Bateman) vs Clemson Offense (2019)

3. Art Briles System

   1. Running a 5-1 Bear Front vs 2-Back Spread ('21 - Georgia vs Tenn.)

   2. Defending the Briles System: Tennessee vs. Florida ('23)

4. RPO Dominant Systems

   1. RPO Stop Calls*

   2. Film Study: Notre Dame vs UNC ('20) - Defending an uber-RPO system

5. McVay-Shanahan-McDaniel Offense

   1. Solving the McVay Offense (Patriots-Rams Super Bowl LIII)*

   2. Defeating the Dolphins: Bills Edition ('23)

   3. Defeating the Dolphins: Eagles Edition ('23)

   4. How The Browns 'Solved' The 49ers Offense (‘23)

   5. The Steelers Weak Safety Blitz vs. the 49ers (‘23)

6. Kliff Kingsbury

   1. Desert Heat Pt. 1 – The Air Raid Invades the NFL (Kingsbury) – The Roster (’19)*

   2. Desert Heat Pt. 2 – The Air Raid Invades the NFL (Kingsbury) – The Scheme (’19)*

7. 2020 MQ Pressure Tape Series

   1. Virginia Defense vs Notre Dame Offense (2019)*

8. Formations

   1. Defending 10p 2x2 Pistol*

   2. Defending Quads Bunch Formations (Bills vs Chiefs '21)

   3. Defending Trips/Empty

      1. Why You Should Run an Under Front to 3x1 Sets*

      2. Defending Trips - Fitting the Run*

      3. Empty

         1. Attacking Empty (Tenn vs Indiana - 2019)*

         2. Attacking Empty/Quads*

   4. Defending 11 Personnel (Pro Spread)*

   5. Defending single-width or "nub" formations*

   6. 12 Personnel (Ace/Ace Trey)*

   7. Y-off or 20 pers. (H-back/Sniffer)

      1. 20 Personnel/Y-off - Over vs Under (Setting the Strength)*

      2. Keying the H-back/Sniffer (Alert/City vs. Y-off Formations)*

      3. Attacking Offset Pistol Formations (Troy vs. App. State ‘23)

   8. 21 Personnel (Defending Power Football From a Hybrid Defense)*

   9. 30 Personnel*

   10. Defending the Wing-T*

   11. Spread Unbalanced Formations

       1. Defending the Spread's Top Unbalanced Sets*

       2. Defending Two-Back Unbalanced Trips (Michigan St. - 2018)*

       3. How offenses take advantage of MOFC coverages with unbalanced sets

9. Motion

   1. Defending Jet Motion*

   2. Defending A-Behind and Flare Motion*

   3. Aaron Rodgers & Pre-Snap Motion

10. Red Zone

    1. 5 Things Defenses Hate in the Low Red Zone

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Analytics/Install/Opponent Breakdowns/Practice/Self-Scout

1. MQ’s Full-Length Opponent Breakdown Manual

2. Building a Hit Chart*

3. Four-Day Install Plan for a 4-2-5*

4. Weekly Schedule (Practice Plan)*

5. 5 Cut-ups to Improve Your Self-Scout*

6. Throw Out the Stats – “What really is a “good” defense?”*

7. Three questions to ask yourself after a clinic

8. 5 Reasons You Should Use Simple Efficiency Data This Offseason

9. Re-Examining Opponent Breakdowns (‘24)

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Special Projects

1. ‘Big Game’ Previews:

   1. MQ Previews the 2021 NFC Championship: Bucs vs Packers*

   2. Super Bowls:

      1. 2023 Super Bowl LVII (Chiefs vs. Eagles)

      2. 2024 Super Bowl LVIII (49ers vs. Chiefs)

      3. 2025 Super Bowl LIX (Chiefs vs. Eagles)

      4. 2026 Super Bowl LX (Patriots vs. Seahawks)

   3. National Championships:

      1. 2024 National Championship Preview (Michigan vs. Washington)

      2. 2025 National Championship Preview (Ohio State vs. Notre Dame)

      3. 2026 National Championship Preview (Miami vs. Indiana)

2. 2023 NFL Draft:

   1. Analyzing the ’22 AFC Coverage Matrices

   2. Analyzing the ’22 NFC Coverage Matrices

3. Trey Lance: A case study in the schism between coaching and fanhood

4. Where’s the offense in the NFL? (‘24)

5. The Packers Xavier McKinney is making Jeff Hafley's defense work (‘24)

6. The Parcells Test: Which 2026 College Quarterbacks Meet the Criteria?

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Annual Non-Football Post

1. Moving Away From Winning as a Metric (Win Rate & Bias) – ’21

2. If you are playing a Zero-Sum Game, you are losing – ’22

3. Embrace Your Story – ’23

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*Denotes an article from the original MatchQuarters.com; some links my be broken.

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© 2016-present MatchQuarters | Cody Alexander | All rights reserved.

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