The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
The Athletic
The trends that NFL coaches see emerging around the league
57 minutes Posted Aug 19, 2025 at 7:00 am.
Vikings-style pressure looks15:17 Three high safeties20:56 Even more motion on offense31:12 The designed QB run game36:34 The return of under center straight dropbacks44:13 Packers-style backfield actions in the run game52:49 The "escort screen"56:15 How 4th down aggressiveness affects 3rd down play callingHost: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @davehelman_Theme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Show notes
After visiting 23 teams in person over the last month, Robert Mays is finally back home. While he was out on the road, he asked the 50 or so NFL coaches he spoke to about the trends they see starting to take root across the league. That's great information for Robert to have, and it's also fun information to share with our audience. From three-high-safety looks on defense to more under center straight dropbacks on offense, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into the trends coaches in the league are watching on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.Rundown (timestamps are approximate)7:41 Vikings-style pressure looks15:17 Three high safeties20:56 Even more motion on offense31:12 The designed QB run game36:34 The return of under center straight dropbacks44:13 Packers-style backfield actions in the run game52:49 The "escort screen"56:15 How 4th down aggressiveness affects 3rd down play callingHost: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show⁠Apple⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠YouTube⁠Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.socialFollow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.socialFollow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.socialFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassFollow Dave on X: @davehelman_Theme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.