Ari SQRD
A podcast about NFL football hosted by two guys named Ari
Ari SQRD
We Ranked NFL Tackles, Broke Down Coverages, and Probably Angered Every 49ers Fan
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We gave some much needed love to the big men up front, unveiling our Top 10 NFL Tackles while breaking down the film room details that separate the good from the elite, including footwork, mirroring, hand placement, and the art of winning in both pass protection and the run game. From there, we put on our coaching hats and simplified one of football's most misunderstood topics by explaining the differences between zone and man coverage, base and non base defenses, and why modern coordinators are constantly mixing and matching looks to confuse quarterbacks. We then continued our division breakdown series with the NFC West, debating whether the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, or Cardinals have the clearest path to a division title and which bold predictions could end up looking brilliant or completely ridiculous by season's end. As always, we wrapped things up with another competitive round of Guess That Number, proving once again that remembering NFL history is much harder when there's a microphone in front of you.
Welcome back to Ari Squared. We are your hosts, Ari Liv and Ari Berkowitz coming to you on Wednesday. We are so excited to be recording another episode for you. We've got another awesome, fun, and hopefully intriguing episode for you guys with some of your favorite segments. We've been loving the feedback that we've been getting from you guys. And so, guys, please go ahead and follow us on social media. Go give us a subscribe on YouTube. You can find us on RESquared on YouTube, on Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, you name it, we're there. Please leave us a five-star review, leave us comments, and guys, keep your feedback coming. We love it. Now, already know this is a football podcast, but given the fact that we do have the NBA finals going on, and you are a huge Knicks fan, let's give you your first 30 seconds to give us your thoughts on game three that the Spurs ultimately won. And do you think that the officiating was fair, or should Wemby have received a technical for literally shoving Brunson to the floor? Sorry, 30 second NBA Rand go.
SPEAKER_01So I just want to say that it's a very exciting time for sports in general, that it's the finals and Stanley Cup, and it's about to be the World Cup. Um, it's it's nuts time for sports. Obviously, baseball is happening as well. That's why we decided to talk about football. With regard to the Knicks, okay, I mean, game three is one of the most important games, in my opinion. It was way closer than what people want to make it out to be, and a few things going in each way uh would have changed that, as opposed to the way the Knicks played in San Antonio, which I think was pretty convincing. We shall see. It's going to be a fun series, uh, regardless, and we'll see if Wembenyama has it in him. Uh, the Knicks have some serious blockades that they've put in front of him. The Spurs decided to pivot, and I think every single one of their guards had at least five rebounds because of how they were using Wembinyama outside of the paint. We'll see how long that they that can uh uh keep going. That's with regards to that. With regards to the flagrant possibility, I can't tell you. I'm a Knicks fan. You know, you know what I'm gonna say about it. I can't be objective about it. To me, it's clear, but you know, I'm not an official and I'm a huge Knicks fan. So, you know, that's all that's what I'm gonna leave it with. Ari, if you have anything else to add, uh be my guest.
SPEAKER_00Well, I'm just gonna say, as a non-Knicks fan, I think that was bullshit. And that was uh Wemby should have gotten like a technical for that.
SPEAKER_01Um, I get how it's not a technical, it would have been a flagrant. And because it was a multiple flagrant in the playoffs, he would have been suspended for a game.
SPEAKER_00So I think he should have gotten it. I don't like the thought of him having to miss a game because that doesn't benefit anyone when all said and done. But you can't be acting that way. Um, I get why he's you know kind of you know making his physical presence um, you know, noticed. But with that being said, I think that was bullshit. And after review, the refs agreed that he, you know, he should have gotten something there. Um, but let's change gears and let's switch back to the our favorite topic, which is the NFL. Sounds sounds good, all right. But I will say this Nixon six.
SPEAKER_01Or should I do yeah, so so yeah, so basically, uh we wanted to get started today with uh our tackles uh ratings, and basically after a lot of discussions over the course of the week, uh in which we we've had two separate lists for our rankings up until this point, we decided to pivot because there's just a lot of consensus with regard to I'd say the top six or maybe even seven tackles, please don't meme me um for saying that. But but there really there really is uh a lot of consensus and there wouldn't have been uh so much difference. And so, in order to make this a little bit more structured and uh more engaging, we just decided to do a consensus list. With that being said, number 10 on our list is Brian O'Neal, the right tackle for the Vikings, who we're gonna do a little bit more of an in-depth view of in a bit. Um, and he he he slots in at number 10. Ari, do you have anything to add on Brian O'Neal?
SPEAKER_00No, not specifically on him. Um, I do want to say, though, in overall for our listeners about these lists, you guys have seen, you know, we're gonna continue doing these top 10 lists like we've already done with QBs, like we've done with defense events, like we're doing today with the O-line. And you guys tell us what you prefer. Do you prefer that we each have separate lists that we don't each know about? Or what are your thoughts on the consensus list? Just specifically about uh, you know, Brian from the Vikings, when all said and done, they have and usually have a very strong O-line, and we know that the place where that all starts is at the tackle position. And I feel that if we really look at his overall body of play, I would rank him number 10 above the other people that I would say are ranked 11 to 15. There wasn't really somebody kind of else vying for his number 10 spot, and that's why he's consensusly at number 10.
SPEAKER_01Consensusly, I don't believe, is a word. Well, it is now, it is now, and and yeah, so I I mean I think Brian O'Neill is just you know, he's like one of these classic lunch pale guys in the NFL that he just never gets enough recognition, and he's been a top 10 or borderline top 10 tackle in the NFL for years. His technique, especially in pass protection, is phenomenal. And I just really wanted to make sure that he was highlighted, and that's why we included him at top 10. Moving on to number nine, we have Abraham Lucas, another right tackle for the Seattle Seahawks coming in. Uh, Abraham Lucas was not as high profile as who the Seahawks drafted that year uh in the first round, Charles Cross, but for all intents and purposes, has played uh better than Charles Cross and does things that really make me excited, not only about where he is now, but also about his growth. Ari, what do you what do you think about uh Abraham Lucas as our number nine guy?
SPEAKER_00So I like him there and I agree, you know, especially, you know, yeah, Charles Cross, first round, Abraham Lucas, I believe was the fourth round, right? Third round.
SPEAKER_01I think he I think he was early third or late second, I can't remember, but he was in like that a hundred a hundredth pick uh range.
SPEAKER_00And the fact that he was able to, and remember, that was a there was a lot of tackles that had been selected that year, and he was almost going through, you know, you go through the draft process, he was almost like he was like an afterthought, nobody was really talking about him, and to be able to come in and play at the level that he's played, and I agree, he is outplaying Charles Cross. And what's important to mention as well, you know, especially since we've started with two right tackles, is affected, you know, it used to be back in the day there was so much more importance on having an elite left tackle. But if you had a good, decent right tackle, you can get by. But given the versatility of defenses these days, given the versatility of how whether it's defensive ends or outside linebackers are mixing it up, coming from different sides, switching up the importance of having a strong and you know, elite right tackle is all the more so. And that's why, again, I absolutely agree with you know the selection of having him and Super Bowl winner. Let's not forget that.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely, and uh, no one was talking about Abraham Lucas before the draft except for me. I I loved him, I wanted the Jets to take him that year in the second round. Um, moving on to number eight, we have our first uh veteran presence, and that is uh in the form of Laramie Tunsil. Laramie Tunsil, as we all know, was uh unceremoniously traded twice. Uh very strangely, as like, you know, I think that left tackle, like franchise left tackles are are some of the fewest, uh like least moving players in in the NFL. Um, and he's he was traded twice, two times for huge packages. Um, you know, he's just been that consistent veteran who's still elite, but he's definitely on the decline. Yeah, and you can definitely see it uh in the run game more than in the past game, where his technique really separates him from anyone else.
SPEAKER_00My only concern with him, and I think this is why, again, you know, he's lowered down on our list, is the fact that, yeah, A, I agree with you, he's on the decline, and B, I I I I feel like his decline is also gonna be pretty rapid. Like, I don't think you know, like sometimes you see, okay, they're not at the elite level that they were at their peak, but like they're still really, really, really good. I think his decline is going to be, you know, more cliff-like. Maybe I'm wrong, but uh, I think he's had a significant step backwards. And I'm already willing to venture and say that he will probably after this season fall out of the consensus top 10 tackles list.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that that that could very well be, especially toward the end of the season. We we saw uh a significant increase in pressures uh on Tunsil, which is definitely, you know, it could be also a testament of who the commanders had at quarterback and and how that statistic is exactly is exactly measured. But for all intents and purposes, Tunsil, who's been a consensus top five tackle uh for the better half of close to a decade, uh, is definitely, you know, on on the cusp of uh of exiting stage left, if you will. Uh bringing us to someone who's at the exact opposite end of the spectrum, which at number seven and the final tackle in tier three is Bernard Ryman, who out of the draft was a project to put it lightly. I watched him, and you know, his his body type was there, and obviously the athleticism was off the charts. But the his basically every year he's gotten more and more polished, and his footwork, which was once terrible, like literally had me thinking he is a fifth round to seventh round draft pick, is now borderline elite. And he is very young and extremely athletic, and he is a guy that I think can be and may be a top five tackle in the NFL for many years to come. What what do you think about Bernard Oriman at number seven?
SPEAKER_00So I think he's that classic example, and and and this is what I think people have have kind of forgotten. You used to see back in the day, even first round tackles when they came into the league, you really didn't know if they were gonna be great till year two, and generally even year three. Yet somehow that's kind of been a forgot uh forgotten, and there's this expectation that if I pick you as an you know as a tackle in the first round, you're gonna come in and be game-changing. Now, while we see a lot of examples where that is true, we have to remember that that's not how it's always been. And I think he is a prime example of just give him a minute and he will deliver. And yeah, I agree with you. I think that he's going to boost himself up this list and be in a higher position next year.
SPEAKER_01And and and how much of a testament is it to you know what what people always say about coaching and how how well the cults, especially offensive line, but their entire coaching staff, uh, how well they did with someone like Ryman, who was such a developmental prospect, albeit as a first round pick, to get him to this pretty much borderline, if not elite status, um, a couple of years later. You know, it's it's it's if you know how to coach the right guys, you you you win a lot of football games. That's that's basically the bottom line. Um moving on to tier two, we got your boy, uh Andrew Thomas, who had uh by all by all means uh top five tackle season this past year. Uh the way that he played was talking about early first round picks and uh deservedly so. He just, you know, he he's a mauler, he can, you know, mirror uh he has the hand strength, he has the footwork. There's nothing that he doesn't have. He finally showed everything and stayed healthy the whole year. And what a treat you guys are in for seeing, you know, Andrew Thomas and now and now uh uh you know uh Ricard and uh Scataboo and Jackson Dart behind. I it it's an exciting run game action that you guys got going on. Ari, I know you want to speak more about Andrew Thomas. Please go ahead.
SPEAKER_00So, first of all, I would throw in there not just those guys, but CeCe Malvanoa as well, depending on if he runs left, runs right, is just gonna be insane. So, watch out. And I am excited for our bully ball. Getting back to Andrew Thomas. The reason why he and if we focus specifically on his play, he can be in discussion for not only top five, he could also be in discussion for top three left tackles in the NFL. Sadly, though, what has plagued him is the dude cannot stay on the field for all 17 games. I know you said he was healthy for the full year last year, but if memory serves me correctly, he missed if it was at least two, if not three games. And so we're coming to the point now of where we we as Giants fans know that we're gonna need to have a swing tackle that's good enough because most likely he is going to miss two to three games. We drafted Marcus Bo last year, who, despite coming from a lower round, absolutely showed that he can play and be a good and eventually get to a really good, if not elite tackle in this league. We know that he can step in there. And the good news is that while Thomas is elite, the drop-off to Bo isn't falling off a cliff like we've had in the past. Um, but we need him to stay healthy. If he's healthy and can actually stay healthy the entire year, top three. Not not no questioning.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. And and I don't think there's uh there are many people that would uh disagree with that. Yeah, you're correct. He he missed, I think, a couple games to start the year with uh a lower leg issue, maybe an ankle. Um, and he just went in and was dominant. And it's a great place to talk about you know, two tackles who would otherwise be on this list, which are uh Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, both of the Chargers, who I mean, they're they're just not healthy. It's affecting either, you know, Ray Sean Slater missed the whole year, or Joe Alt, it was clearly affecting him while he was on the field. So as much as we wanted them in this top 10, there are a lot of guys, and this is again another reason why Tunsell may not be there next year, is because there are the Joe Alt's, there are Sean Slater's, uh the Jets, two tackles, you know, all of this very interesting crop of young tackles up and coming, like you said, that are expected from day one to contribute now in the NFL. It's a it's a great, it's a great problem to have for us making these top 10 lists. So with that, uh we can move on to number five, where we I we have uh Jordan Mailada, the left tackle of the Eagles. He um, by all, you know, uh, based off of pressures and uh penalties, he was not as elite as Andrew Thomas was this year. But the track record speaks for itself. Um, as a now looking like perennial top five tackle, I think that he's allowed one year where he's top seven and not top five, and still managed to stay in the top five. But uh I know that it hurt you to have the Eagles left tackle right before uh the Giants left tackle. And thank you for letting me, you know, have my druthers on this Ari.
SPEAKER_00Well, listen, as much as he is, it does he does play for the Wretched Eagles. With that being said, I have a lot of respect for the guy. Firstly, to come over as a converted rugby player, never actually having played football, coming as a seventh rounder and to be able to play to the elite level of left tackle that he has throughout his career. I got a lot of props with the guy. He also happens to be a true mensch off the field as well. Hell of a singer. I love the fact that he does a lot of work within the community as well. Um, and the dude, by the way, if he wants to post playing in the NFL, if that dude wanted to go into singing for a living, he absolutely could. Uh, he and some of the other Eagles linemen do have their Christmas albums, including Jason Kelsey as well, uh, which are fun and they do it to raise uh money for charity. So, you know, props to them. To me, what will be interesting to see is how does Jordan Mylotta for the first time, how does he fare without having Stout, who is arguably, or actually, since he's out of the NFL this year, was probably top three, if not number one O-line coach in the NFL. It's gonna be this it's gonna be interesting to see. Does his level play fall off a little bit, or does he find himself in more of a precarious spot because it's no longer stout um coaching the O-line in uh in in Philly? So that'll be interesting to see. Um, but by all means, hell of a left tackle. And it didn't hurt me nearly as much to rank him above Andrew Thomas as one may think, despite him being from the Eagles.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and that's a concern, frankly, for the entirety of the Eagles' offensive line. Um, they've been drafting specific guys to fit the Jeff Stoutland mold that he then molds into, you know, the Cam Jurgenses and the Landon Dickersons and the Tyler Steens and you know, all of those guys. We shall see. We shall see. But we all know that there is a a flagrant level of combustibility with the with the Philadelphia Eagles this year. Um, they removed, you know, like the AJ Brown trade kind of feels like uh the removal of of the band-aid on on a very large burn. So so we'll see how that all plays out. You know, I I can see Siriani making it to the Super Bowl again, and I could also see him getting fired. So it's a pretty it's a pretty wild uh situation there. So agree. Last player to conclude our tier two, uh coming in at number four is Trent Williams. I mean, the ageless wonder. Uh, he is just so damn good, and he's still so damn good, and it's shocking to watch how the guy at 37 years old is moving like 39 years old. Really? Okay, so so so what whatever his age is, if it's 39 or if it's 93, it is just such a treat to watch him um out and about on the field looking as spry as ever, and just you know, playing to, you know, he's a definition of what you want in every single sense of the word of a tackle, whether it's playing to the whistle, finishing blocks, technique for days, the long arms, the athleticism. It's just unbelievable that he is still at it. And um, just because of his age and how much longer he's expected to do this, and I I know the Niners share the same same concerns. Um, that's the only reason why he was the first guy in tier two as opposed to the last guy in tier one. And uh moving on to tier one, uh, starting off, we have uh Garrett Bowles, the left tackle for the Denver Broncos. Ari, I know that you like yourself some Bo Nicks and Sean Payton. What do you what did you what jumped out to you about Garrett Bowles and his playstyle? I mean, he is just a beast, like he's a wall.
SPEAKER_00He's there's there, yeah. I don't think you can find any flaws in his game. I think whether it's in pass pro or in run pro, the dude is just so consistent, and you know, he is very much keeping Bonex upright. You know, we see, especially in the AFC West, when you don't have your tackles there and what that looks like, no matter how good you are as a QB, and he's a difference maker, and he is definitely a key piece to keeping Bonex upright and giving Bonex the time and the ability to do what he's been doing as an extension of Sean. Payton on the field. So yeah, the world looks very, very different for Bonex and Sean Payton if Garrett Bowles is not on the field.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, agreed. And it's still so early in his career, and somehow he looks like he's on a Hall of Fame track already. Oh, yeah, he's ascending for sure. Yeah, it's it's wild. It's wild how just he he reminds me of like a Joe Thomas, Jake Long type tackle that's just like just set it and forget it for the next decade on the left side for Denver. And it's and it's phenomenal to see both in the run game and in the past game. Talking about someone who is absolutely bonkers in the run game and the pass game, that's our number two guys, a guy in Tristan Wirfs, who suffered some injuries and um, you know, overall is getting a little bit you know on the older side, but when he plays and he still plays pretty often, he is just on a on a different level. Just just like Garrett Bowles, and just like our number one guy, he is just a force to reckon with. Ari, what do you make of Tristan Wirce?
SPEAKER_00So Tristan Wirce, you know, I I go back to and you know, he's kind of married in a way to Andrew Thomas because that way they were came out in the same draft, and there was that debate leading up to the draft. How were the chips gonna fall? Who was going to be the first tackle off the board? Ultimately, it was Tris Tristan Worse at number four, and then no, at number three. What no, Andrew Thomas went number four. Wait, right, sorry. Andrew Thomas went first, correct. And then there was that debate, especially since Tristan Wirst came in and played really well from the beginning, and Andrew Thomas kind of struggled in his first year. They were the Giants were taking a lot of heat of all you messed it up. Look at that, you took the wrong one. Um, and ultimately, I mean, he's a hell of a left tackle and plays really, really, really well. I hope for him. I do believe he can continue doing it at a high level. That's why ultimately he did come in as number two. And I do believe that he'll get over the injuries from last year, go back to his usual self, and continue to show why he was ultimately, even though he wasn't selected first that year amongst the offensive tackles that came out, he'll resolidify his place back of the top um of the of that draft class for sure.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, agreed. And and that draft class, it's kind of hilarious in the way that it worked out because after year one, it was Mikai Becton, Kristen Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, and then Andrew Thomas. Those are the guys that were all picked between four and I think 15 or 16. Yes, I forgot. And uh four years later, and Becton is either out of the league or like trying to compete as a backup.
SPEAKER_00Jedrick Wills Makai Becton was with, if I'm not mistaken, the Eagles.
SPEAKER_01That was two years ago, and last year he was with the Chargers, but they literally called him off the street um after their entire offensive line got hurt to come in. I don't think he has a contract for this year, and I'm not sure Jederick Wills has a contract for this year.
SPEAKER_00I don't believe he does.
SPEAKER_01His first year he was great, second year he was very good, got hurt, and hasn't ever like fully recovered from that. So it's just wild the way that tackles work out. But five years later, the Giants definitely did well. And the Buccaneers who bucked the trend there and went with the right tackle, um, which was the real reason why Wirfs was not as highly ranked as some of the other guys because he was a right tackle. And and look at look at how that turned out. Talking about guys that were drafted right tackles, okay.
SPEAKER_00Ari, you want you want to take it here? I'll take it here. Coming in at number one, and I mean, he was just such a consensus. If there were people on this list where, you know, we went a little bit of back and forth on maybe they should have been higher, maybe they should have been lower. When it came to number one, you know, as we started putting together this list, we both immediately like, who's your number one? Oh, yeah. Obviously, it's Panasul. I mean, wow, what a tackle. He very likely, so long as his career continues as it has until now, and there's no reason to think that it won't, he ultimately will go down, probably as one of the greatest tackles to ever play the game. I mean, he is just so dominant, he is just from minute one that he came into the league. And I remember at the time that the Lions took a little bit of flack for going, they took him as opposed to Ray Sean Slater. Sorry, Ray Sean Slater, correct. And they were taking a lot of flack for that. Like, oh wow, what are you doing? How can you take him? He's a right tackle, he's not a left tackle, and he has just proven how right the Lions were and just how much they got that pick absolutely spot on and right. And yeah, he is the consensus number one, and just well done to him. And he is going to continue keeping whether it's Jared Goff or whoever they end up selecting to succeed to succeed him whenever the time may come, he's gonna keep them upright for a very, very, very long time to come. And I just want to say, as kind of a final note on the offensive tackles linemen in general, I really like that for the first time last year, they finally started getting some recognition. Because if you think about tackles, this is true to O-line in general, but if you think about tackles in the NFL, the best ones, their names are never said because they're not giving up sacks, they're not giving up pressures, and they're just playing really, really well. They're not getting offside penalties, so you never actually hear their name calls. I love the fact that the NFL has gone ahead and created the Protector of the Year award. I love the fact that um the people who are on the um the judges for it are Jason Kelsey, arguably the best center to ever play the game, um, and Joe Thomas. I forget who else is on that list as well of the judges, but every one of them deserves their spot as judges for the protector of the year. And I thoroughly enjoy that they are now the people whose names are generally called the least, even when they're playing the lead. I love the fact that they finally got some recognition and well done to them.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's it's it's great. And and just I just want to you know add in one differentiator for Panay Sewell. Um, is that I feel like what you're saying is correct about offensive linemen, but then like once in a generation, there's that one offensive lineman that even though they're in the background, you just can't stop seeing him in the plays all the time. And I I remember this from Larry Allen on the Cowboys, and I feel like Panay Sewell brings that same kind of oomph where it's just you just end up seeing him because of his size, because of his dominance. He's just always noticeable, which he's the only offensive lineman, in my opinion, that that that does that, and and the only one in a generation, really, since Larry Allen, the early 2000s. So unbelievable. And um, do you have anything else to add on left tackles before we move move into a little bit of film?
SPEAKER_00No, no. Um, I think that ties up our segment, our top 10 segment about uh in this week it was tackles. So we will be doing, we will be following up with another top 10 list. Guys, let us know who you would like us to do next. We have our order, but we are happy if you guys want to throw some positions in the hat, by all means toss them our way, and we'll be happy to prioritize them above others. Which moves us on to a little bit of film study brought to you by Ari Berkowitz. Yes, and take it away.
SPEAKER_01Yes, and I I will, and I just want to go and say that the impetus for this is really uh based on the fact that I I don't think many people really know what makes uh tackles um, you know, what makes them good and and why why we have some of these guys on our list in positions that otherwise you know wouldn't necessarily uh be there. And and just overall, something like you said before, people just don't usually follow what offensive linemen do. And that's the reason why I just wanted to give a little bit of insight. This is uh Brian O'Neal, obviously from a few years ago. He's been, like I said, doing this for years, and this was an easily accessible clip of just uh Brian O'Neill. So I just wanted to go ahead and play this real quick and point out just a number of things that come to mind with Brian O'Neill. So here we go. Let's go. That's so Cousins' QB, right? Cousins is QB, and he's facing off against Hassan Redick in his prime years. And so just just one first thing that I wanted to make note of is is look at that. Before Hassan Redick has even gotten off, all right. Um, O'Neal's already three yards back from where he was, and his stance and his shoulder length are equal, and he's completely square to Hassan Redick. Okay, that's that that's very, very important for positioning in Pass Pro. All right. Now a little bit forward. Now you see Redick is starting to engage, and Brian O'Neil's deciding here. You know what? I'm just gonna let Hassan Redick make the first move. Like I'm just playing it casually. I'm gonna see where he's going to mess up, and then I'm going to make my move off of that. So now you see, now you get the bull rush. Okay, and basically what's happening here is Brian O'Neil is almost textbook. All right. So I say almost textbook because usually you want your elbows a little bit further in, and you want to have a stance that is completely planted. But Hassan Reddick is notorious or was back then for his ability to generate uh unbelievable amount of power from his speed move. And that's basically what's going on here. So I'm gonna play a second frame, and now you can see that Brian O'Neal has gotten one elbow in, his base is better, and he's completely minimizing the amount of movement that Hassan Redick is putting forward. Another screen, and you can say he gave him a half a step. Kirk Cousins, like, I'm just, you know, scanning the field, I don't have to worry about Hassan Redick. I'm good to go. I got Brian O'Neal finally right there. He makes the throw, he's completely thwarted, stopped in his track the entire time, keeping his base wider than his shoulders and keeping Hassan Redick completely in front of him. That is just a little bit of film to explain what makes you an elite tackle in the NFO.
SPEAKER_00And yeah, I think the thing that stands out most is you just see how poised and calm Kirk Cousins is. He's not even glancing over in that direction, he's going through his progressions, lining up what's going to be his best throw. It's quite amazing to see.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's it's uh it's something else, and and I strongly suggest anyone who hasn't taken the time to just take a peek at um what exactly tackles and for the most part, offensive linemen do over the course of a game and see some guys are sloppy, some guys get the job done, and then some guys are just downright nasty in the way they go about their business.
SPEAKER_00Alrighty. So, all right, do you want to talk to us about the coverages?
SPEAKER_01Oh, it is that time of the month. So, no, so so just briefly, uh, this was accidentally skipped um in last week's uh podcast. We just had way too much to cover, no pun intended, um, with uh AJ Brown and the Miles Garrett moves. So basically, just briefly, and and and I just wanted to go over this so we can again get further in depth and down the line about everything that defenses are doing today in the modern game, which it's really gotten complex to the extent that the best teams in the NFL don't necessarily have the best coverages. The best teams in the NFL have the best people at communicating those coverages to their players. That is something, for example, that Vic Fangio is and Nick Saban have been probably the two best at it in the last the last decade at least. So last time we broke down um covers one through four. Now we're going to talk a little bit about zone versus man and base versus non-base coverages. So basically, to put uh simple, is on defense there are 11 guys uh in coverage, quote unquote. And on offense, there'll be a maximum of 10 guys that they have to match up with because the quarterback uh obviously um is going to be staying behind the line of scrimmage. Obviously, the offensive linemen do as well, and that that's where all the complexities come in. But for the most part, it is 11 on 10 plus the quarterback, and therefore there's always an extra player on defense, and they have to the teams have to decide what are we going to do with that extra player? Okay, so that is why for the most part NFL is a zone game. Um, even though there are some coaches that are notorious, Bill Belichick is one of them, Rex Ryan was another, Aaron Glenn is is is another one that they love their man coverage, they love their big cornerbacks, they love blanket, uh, you know, the Cromartis, the Darrell Revises, the Tylaws, and that's basically how they run it. They run man coverage and then they do a bunch of crazy things in the middle of their defense, starting with their linebackers all the way through to their safeties. Ari, and what do you what do you what do you think about the differences in zone and man coverage and um you know Bill Belichick system versus you know, say the the uh uh speed carroll system?
SPEAKER_00Well, I would say is is that nowadays there you really gotta go with kind of a mix because yes, obviously you have your base defense, and you know, there are defensive coordinators out there that prefer zone, there are others that prefer man-to-man, but if you look at the modern NFL today, more and more of it is becoming hybrid, more and more of it is disguise coverages that way. You know, if you look, let's say like uh Brian Flores's defense in with with the Vikings, there's so much everybody comes up, there's nobody's really, you know, only very few people have their hand in the dirt. You don't know who's coming, you don't know who's dropping, you don't know who's going, and everything like that. And if you look a lot of, you know, today you have yes, classically the cornerbacks, you're gonna go with one of two methodologies. Most likely, you're either gonna be zone or you're gonna be pressed man. Um, but even within that, so many people are, you know, they start out in, you know, in in dime or nickel, but it's so hybrid nowadays that I can't really say that there's a preference towards one or the other. I think that because of how just how much better the talent is getting across the board, there's a need and how the game is becoming more offense friendly as time goes on. There's a lot more of a need for the hybrid defense where you're not stuck on one or the other, but have the ability to adapt. And I think if I if you're really gonna, you know, push me into a corner or pay me into a corner on it, I still do think that the Bill Belichick um methodology of where we install our base defense, but we will from week to week, we will adjust our personnel and not only adjust our personnel, but uh adjust the type of coverages we're gonna play based on matchup. Now you need the right players who can adapt like that, who can from week to week change what they're doing. If done correctly, watch out. If not run correctly, you're gonna be in for a long season.
SPEAKER_01That that's that's very well said. And since you mentioned mentioned base coverages, I'll just go on the record as saying there are really only three kinds of base coverages in the NFL historically. Um, there's the 4-3 defense, which means four defensive linemen with their hands in the dirt. That's what it's about. The defensive line with their hands in the dirt, and three linebackers, the three-four defense, which is three three defensive line with their hands in the dirt, and four linebackers, usually two edges, so it gets a little bit blurred. And then finally, the defense that uh I'd say has completely fallen out of vogue in the last 15 years. Um, and really in the last 35 years, the only two guys to run it were Rob Ryan and Rex Ryan, as their daddy made it, which is called the 46th defense, which involved a strong safety. That'd a cool name for it. Um, and he would be basically a fourth linebacker, so it would be a 4-4. Um, but it was the original attempt at the NFL having a guy lining up on the line of scrimmage that did not have his hand in the dirt. That's I think the guy's name was Plank, but I know he wore the number 46, and that's why the defense is called 46. So those those are our base coverages, and basically you can just go ahead and throw all of that out today because no one runs base coverages anymore. And to answer your, you know, to add on to not answer you, but to add on to what you were saying before, Ari, which is uh the rise in zone coverages, it's just taken over the NFL to such an extent. I wanted to add two other things that I'd like to hear what you think about them some more. Number one is the fact that today there are just a million receivers on the field, and obviously it's the same side of the it's a different side of the same coin, is that the running game is just not that dominant anymore, and it's all about passing. So, so what do you think about those two as uh catalysts as well as the points that you brought up for much more zone today?
SPEAKER_00Well, the thing it's exactly that is that is that, and you know what? It's not just the fact that there's a million wide receivers on the field, it's the fact that you've got, you know, think of how much 12 personnel is being played, where you have two wide receivers and two tight ends, throw in the fact that you've got you know, which running back these days can't catch out of the backfield as well. Um, and so now you've gotta you've gotta account for all those, not to mention most QBs nowadays, if not, and as soon as it'll be all the QBs are dual threats to take off and run. So you've got to go ahead and be able to adapt to that because otherwise you're gonna, you know, there's just gonna be busted coverages, and so that's why, because of the fact that there's a million possibilities of where QBs can throw the ball today, you've it's really difficult to actually cover all of them because especially if you think about it, okay. So you've got corners on your wide receivers, great. Who's covering the tight ends, right? Especially the like the Travis Kelsey type ends of the world, the Isaiah likely tight ends of the world that are glorified big wide receivers who aren't necessarily even blocking tight ends. And what are you gonna do? Put a linebacker on them, put a safety on them. There's no matchup there, so you've got to find a way to kind of compensate for that, which is just, and again, this comes back to also the fact that the rules of the game are being shaded towards the offense. Like, think about it back in the day. If there was a an offensive player in the middle of the field, you could legit rip his head off, and it wouldn't be, you know, there'd be no penalty nowadays. It's like you need to lay him down softly on the ground, and if he's not even like, and if he's not fully looking in your direction, there are certain ways you can tackle him. And now I'm all for player safety, I'm all for players not literally dying on the field. But with that being said, to answer your question, that's why you have to shift more, and there's that more leading towards zoning again, playing disguised defense as opposed to your classic line them up. My number one corner is gonna follow your number one wide receiver around the field. We're seeing we're heavily shifting away from that just because, again, sheer talent of just how many of those 11 people can catch the ball. And let's not forget, you've got the Andy Reeds of the world who are mixing in big man TDs where all of a sudden you're taking one of your eligible linemen, and they're the ones catching the pass, especially in the red zone. So that's why, in my opinion, we're shifting in that direction.
SPEAKER_01Well well said, Ari. And I think that this is actually a great pivot to. Our next segment, which we wanted to discuss the NFC West, because specifically the 49ers, and when it comes to defensive shifts in methodology, they're going from Robert Sala's 4-3, like strict cover four defense to the Raheem Morris, you know, with a little bit of Mike Zimmer in there and a little bit of uh uh what's his name? Uh, you know, the the when the middle line Tampa 2 defense in there and running a lot of three, four, like really three, three, five sets with the nickel. Um, what do you make of that whole transition? And do you think that there's going to be some kind of lag, or do you think the personnel that the Niners have actually will fit Morris better?
SPEAKER_00That's a great question. I do anticipate that there's going to be a bit of a drop-off there. They also need to see overall, you know, the Niners definitely need to see, like again, hats off, and we've discussed this in other in other you know episodes as well. Hats off what they were able to do, but despite being decimated, especially on defense, um with all the injuries, what they were able to achieve in the playoff run that they were able to do. Um, I don't think I do anticipate a bit of a drop-off, but then again, the way we saw all the depth really step up last year. When you now get back their perennial, you know, all pro defensive players at certain positions, you get them back. Is that shift really gonna make that much of a difference? I don't know. I guess time will tell, but I I I think that you know, if there's one team that you can trust on, you know, year in, year out, that is gonna field a at worst, a very competitive team, which will most likely make for the playoffs. Yeah, the Niners are gonna field that kind of team season in, season out, so long as you've got Shanahan and John Lynch, which all sides are pointing, are gonna be for many years to come.
SPEAKER_01And and correct me if I'm wrong, I it this just dawned on me now. Raheem Morris was the Falcons' head coach last last season, correct? He was. So he hired Jeff Ulbrick to be his defensive coordinator, who was Sala's defensive coordinator with the Jets. I did not realize that overlap until now. That that's that's that's a very interesting one. But I'll I'll ask you this uh interesting notes aside. Now that it seems like the Rams are not only the class of in their own in the NFC West, but uh in the NFC and maybe even in the NFL, do you view the 49ers as the second or the third best team in the division?
SPEAKER_00I'm still gonna slot them in at number three behind the Seahawks. Like, there's no question. Yeah, Rams are consensus number one in the NFC West. Consensus probably in the NFL. They were already favorites to be the Super Bowl winners before the Miles Garrett trade. Since the Miles Garrett trade, they've only become even more favorites, and I am very confident that Aaron Donald is gonna come out of retirement. It might not be to start the season, but there's gonna be a point in there, if it's not for the beginning of the season, where he's gonna be like, hell yeah, I'm in, let's go on a run. The Super Bowl's in so fine anyway, and let's just, you know, let's let let's put let's get that jersey back on and off we go. I strongly anticipate that happening. So to answer your questions, as much as the Seahawks did lose a lot, and I do think it's gonna be difficult for them to get back to the you know to the ball next year, not because of Super Bowl hangover. I believe in McDonald that he's not gonna let his team suffer from a Super Bowl hangover, but I just think that they lost too much, and I don't think they're gonna be able to unseat the Rams. With that being said, do I think that they're a better team and will finish above the 49ers? Yes, I do believe the Niners will be the number three team in the NFC West.
SPEAKER_01So, my question to you about the the Rams, you know, if there's if there's one area to kind of like pick uh pick at them, it's uh receiver a little bit, um, where they definitely aren't as stacked as some other. I mean, you look at some of their position, you know, their offensive line is nuts. They're defensive, like some of these are just not fair. Like, anyone who doesn't know who Nate Landman is, like, know who that guy is. Um, and so like what do you think about, you know, fine. You have Puka Nakua who has had those, you know, the the character issues. We don't yet know if that's going to affect him in any way. Um, and then you have Devontae Adams, who's who's elderly um in NFL. Uh, do you think that they did enough uh to address their receiving game for next year? And do you think that that would could be a mitigating factor to their otherwise you know phenomenal look uh outlook for their season?
SPEAKER_00No, I don't I don't think it's gonna it's gonna play an effect, and I'll tell you why. Number one, so long as Puka can stop biting people and being anti-Semitic, he'll be fine and on the field and playing to his usual Puka level. Puka also has like if there was ever a season for him to get his head in the game or back in the game, it would be this one because he wants a contract and he needs to go ahead and do that. Um, I do believe that, right? He has not yet signed a big extension, or am I wrong about that?
SPEAKER_01I I wouldn't, I don't follow contract.
SPEAKER_00I don't believe that he has signed a big contract yet, so he definitely wants to play himself into that. Devontae Adams, as much as he might be getting up there in years, I would not discount his ability to play at a high level. And let's not forget about their run game, okay, which is very important to mention. You've got Stafford coming off of an MVP season, no reason for him not to play to that level again. And let's also not forget with the defense that they are fielding, they're probably going to be able to win games with field goals, and I maybe even just a field goal. So I I have I'm not worried about their wide receiver game. I do believe in McVeigh and in Sneed that if they felt that they needed to shore up the um the wide receiver core, they would. You know, they always seem to manage much like they've done with Puka and Cooper Cup and many others. They pick these later in the draft wide receivers who end up being fantastic. So to answer your question, already no, I'm not worried about their wide receiver core, I'm not worried about any aspect of the game. And again, with a defense like that and a QB like Stafford and the run game they have, good luck.
SPEAKER_01That's awesome because you know their defense doesn't just look like something you make on Madden. If you bring back Aaron Donald, it looks like one of those Madden legacy teams where you could just add, you know, I'm adding Aaron Donald and Miles Garrett and Trent McDuffie this offseason. It's like, how is this even freaking real? Like, it doesn't make any sense to me. Um, and if CJ Daniels, their sixth-round pick, receiver uh out of Miami goes off, uh, you know, uh it's just it's the end of the NFL. Like that that's it. Like, I'm sorry. They're they're going undefeated um through the Super Bowl. Like, I have not been as confident in one team's talent level that I am right now at the Rams since since the Patriots had Randy Moss, uh Wes Welker, Tom Brady, and a ridiculous defense. And um, it's just crazy, it's just wild what's happened with the Rams.
SPEAKER_00A proposed Madden and the Miles Garrett trade, somebody simulated that the trade that actually went through in Madden, and Madden rejected it.
SPEAKER_01I mean, yeah, how could you trade Miles Garrett? It just does there's a certain caliber of player in the NFL that it just never makes sense to trade because you will never get that amount of value in return. And Miles Garrett is 100% uh that kind of player. So, Ari, with that, unless you have something else to add about the Arizona Cardinals, because I don't really want to.
SPEAKER_00Um I think that the Arizona Cardinals, and this is the one thing I would have to say about them, I do believe that they are going to lead the NFC West in one thing, most likely to fire their first year head coach after one season.
SPEAKER_01Nice, nice it is uh it is quite hilarious. Although Joe Jacoby Brissett did finally uh show up to camp. What a what a messed up situation they got going on in the desert.
SPEAKER_00So hey, they drafted Jeremiah Love, so they have a good run game, except if everybody knows that the only thing you can do is run, guess what you do? You stack the box, and I don't care how good love is, they're gonna struggle.
SPEAKER_01And and I don't even think their offensive line is good enough to maintain like uh a that solid of a run game. Just don't forget that Jeremiah Love is a ridiculous threat in the past game as well. Oh, 100%. And you know, between him and Marvin Harrison, like there isn't that much they have to do. And here we are talking about the cargo. Uh uh there isn't that much efforts not to. It's it's crazy because they basically just have to be like a little bit competent, and and you know, they they have some interesting pieces, especially on offense. Um, but like you want to be competent and you're hiring Nathaniel Hackett. Like, I'm just I'm sorry. I'm just sorry. That's that's not what you do. Nathaniel Hackett will always be the 33rd best offensive coordinator in the in the NFL anytime he is the offensive coordinator in the NFL.
SPEAKER_00Truer words have never been spoken. All right, Ari, let's move on over to our fan favorite guest, that number. So, as you guys know, we go ahead and like to choose um numbers. Um, each one of us does not know, we know the number that we picked. Um, Ari is a copycat, so he chose number 99 after I chose number 99 last week. And since I had gone with the highest number possible in the NFL last week with number 99, I went with zero, which by the way, there is a certain limit on who this could be, just given the fact that the number zero was not even allowed to be worn in the NFL up until just a few years ago. So, Ari, would you like to go first with your number 99? Or should I go first with my zero?
SPEAKER_01Uh be my guest, Ari. You can you can uh start us off here.
SPEAKER_00Okay, all right. So, again, not that many people, only because you've only been allowed to wear the number zero in the NFL since 2023. I wanted to go with somebody who would be a little bit more difficult for you to figure out. So before I tell before I start giving hints, any clue who my player is?
SPEAKER_01Keon Coleman. God damn it. Are you serious? No way, no way, that is wild.
SPEAKER_00I wanted to go with the least, like like the worst of the crop, because like you know, Ray Kron Smith, Brian Burns, who would be the obvious one because he plays for the Giants, Christian Gonzalez, Jameer Gibbs, or Calvin Ridley. I felt like I'll go with Keenan Comb because he's really the worst of the bunch, and there's some like funny, like, like, like, you know, hints I could have given. Like, um, if you had asked me for a hint, I would have been like, he was excited to find out during his opening press conference that the snacks there were free and he could take as much as he likes. True story, but you went ahead and got it ahead of time. So nicely done, Ari. Yes, of the people who wear zero, it was indeed Keenan Coleman. Nicely done.
SPEAKER_01So there you go. So it's just, you know, it's it's such a small pool of guys, and I was wondering if you were gonna do something really obscure, like Braylon Allen. Um, he's he's the Jets obscure zero. So I was just like, out of the you know, guys who are slightly less noteworthy, anyways. So Keon Coleman, that's a good one. Um, but there's such a small pool, and it's just such a hard number to get. So I'm glad that after last week I almost didn't get Jason Taylor. That this week I immediately got uh Keon Coleman. Shows where shows you where my head is at. So nicely done, Ari. Thank you. With that being said, I want to uh, you know, night number 99. Um, he's he's not in the NFL um currently. Do you want to uh guess?
SPEAKER_00Well, if I had to go with um with my first guess, and it's just because they were both so legendary to wear it, or even I would say all three were so legendary to wear it, would be either Aaron Donald, JJ Watt, or Warren Sapp. Those would have to be my top three guesses just off the bat of who it would be. If I had to guess of the three, I would go with Warren Sapp just because he is most long retired out of the three of those guys.
SPEAKER_01So, so it's no one that is legendary or frankly that close to that status. I will give you my first hint. He was a fourth round pick in the 2005 draft to the Dallas Cowboys. No, did Marcus Ware? No, no, Ware didn't wear number 99. He was on that team with this player.
SPEAKER_00Number 99. Hmm. That's a good question. Number 99 played with the Marcus Ware.
SPEAKER_01Yes, he uh at the same time. They were on the Cowboys uh the same time. Uh let me know if if anything Well, wait a minute, did he also play for the Giants? This player? There we go. My second hint was going to be Chris Candy, baby. There we go. I knew you were gonna get it, and for whatever reason, when you said 99 last week, I had like every I just had Chris Canti's crazy ass face mask pictured in my head, and I just couldn't get over that, and it was just blocking me from thinking about anything else beside for his face mask. So I'm like, next week, you know what I'm gonna do? Chris Canti. There you go, Ari. My my second clue is gonna be he played for both the Giants and John Harbaugh. So I was excited about that clue.
SPEAKER_00Nicely done. Okay, all right, Ari, select a number for next week. I got number 76. Okay, and I am gonna go with number 69.
SPEAKER_01Nice, nice. I was about to pick 69. I'm just telling you, because Jared Allen was really in my mind. So if this is Jared Allen, it's a time to pick another number.
SPEAKER_00No, no, not per se. I haven't I haven't per se locked in on who it's gonna be, but um 69. All right, and you said 77.
SPEAKER_01I have it's a specific player, I always pick the player first, and and I'm definitely trying to do like good players from like our our time as football fans, but may have not have you know, they're the kind of guys that when we were watching, they're like, This guy's a really good football player uh player, and then 10 years later, everyone forgets about him. So that that those are kind of the guys that I want to be using.
SPEAKER_00All right, excellent. All right, and with that, that wraps up another edition of Ari Squared. Please go ahead, guys, follow us, subscribe rather on YouTube, follow us on Instagram, leave us a five-star review on all your favorite podcast platforms, share it, like it, tell your friends about it, keep giving us your feedback. It's what makes this even more fun. And Ari, any closing words before we say goodbye?
SPEAKER_01Uh, I just I love your throwback jersey, and I love that you're bringing on you know all this stuff every every week now. It's it rock. My boy Eni. It rocks, and I gotta obviously step up my game in the thread business uh as well. So there we go.
SPEAKER_00All right, yeah. I mean, I I understand why you would not proudly want to wear Jets gear. I get it. I understand why you would be ashamed to don a Jets jersey, but I'm super pumped, as our listeners know, about the upcoming season for the Giants, and therefore I will proudly wear my throwback giants gear each and every week. So, on that note, everyone, peace. We out.