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The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Matthew Bowen picks the best play designers in the NFL and an Indianapolis Colts Team Visit with Stephen Holder and Zak Keefer

The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

The Athletic

Nfl Draft, Nfl, Football, Football,, Sports, Robert Mays

4.63.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2020

⏱️ 94 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

First up, Robert welcomes ESPN’s Matthew Bowen to the show to give his thoughts on the best play designers and play callers in the NFL this season, including perennial favorites like Kyle Shanahan, Andy Reid, and Bill Belichick, as well as some under the radar coaches who deserve some credit. =

Plus, The Athletic’s Stephen Holder and Zak Keefer stop by for an Indianapolis Colts Team Visit to discuss the team’s potential to win the AFC South, the job Matt Eberflus has done with the defense, Frank Reich’s faith in Philip Rivers at quarterback, how far they could go in the playoffs this season, who might be the team’s starting QB next season and beyond, and much more.

And, from now through December 31, you can get an annual subscription to The Athletic and give one free when you visit theathletic.com/footballshow


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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is the athletic football show.

0:14.3

Welcome to the athletic football show.

0:16.7

Great show for you guys.

0:18.0

Stephen Holder and Zach Kiefer are going to be joining us later in the show through our

0:21.4

Colts team visit.

0:22.7

Had a great time with both of those guys.

0:24.8

Before we do that, though, I am thrilled to welcome ESPN Analyst, co-host of NFL

0:30.8

matchup, eight-year NFL safety, somebody who I consistently ask about the nuts and bolts

0:36.9

of football, Mr. Matt Bowen.

0:38.4

Matt, thank you so much for doing this.

0:41.0

Hey, appreciate you having me on, Robert.

0:43.8

You're somebody I ask football questions to all of the time.

0:47.2

You have been a present resource for me for a while, which I sincerely appreciate.

0:52.1

You also host a show or on a show about play design.

0:57.4

If you haven't watched NFL matchup, you absolutely should. It's on an ungodly hours of the

1:02.1

morning, but that's why DVR exists. And I felt like this was the perfect way to use your knowledge

1:09.6

base of play design by asking you to go through, in your opinion,

1:14.0

the best play designers and play callers in the NFL this season. Yeah, we had good conversations

1:18.4

setting it up. And it would look, like you were talking about pre-show, I sent you probably too many

1:22.2

names, but that's what you get into. When you start watching all this tape, you start to gravitate

1:27.1

towards schemes you like on both sides of the football, obviously. But it's hard, man. You ask for the top four on offense. I probably could give you eight or nine just from this season. Because I think this season, especially offensive football this season, has been really, really good in national football league. That's why you're a man after my own heart. I asked you to give me four offense and two defense, and you gave me eight offense and four defense, which that's exactly how I would respond to that question. So I appreciate you. Let's get going here because, again, we have a lot to get to. Let's start off with the guy you sent me at the top of your list on the

2:01.3

offensive play callers in the league. And that is a man who I think has had the throne for a while

...

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