Kevin Smith

@Greg1287_TLT Agree. The fact he’s doing it from all of these 12 and 13-personnel sets makes it even more effective.

@KTSmithFootball Sean Mcvay is typically ahead of the NFL as far as offensive schemes go. 1000% agree with you that he’s going get copied. Also think the rams are going be in for another elite offensive season if they stay healthy

The Rams boasted a whopping passing EPA of +73.2 on 1st downs last season, meaning they scored 73 points over expectation for their 1st down situations. The NFL average was +18.3. What was the catalyst? Play-action. I'm expecting more teams to follow LA's lead on this in '26.

SCHEME OF THE DAY: Rice running an interesting counter-option from a tackles-over formation. Dive action holds the backside LB. Pulling guard logs the spiller to get the QB to the edge, and they pitch off of the corner. Nice design!

Give me a big slot with fast feet all day…

On this week’s “Here We Go” pod, the topic is the depth and talent Mike McCarthy has assembled on his coaching staff ⬇️. open.spotify.com/episode/06SuO7… One hire I really like is former OL coach Ramon Chinyoung coaching PIT’s RBs. Why an OL guy coaching RBs? Here are some thoughts:

Here were PIT’s two best 1st-down snaps of their playoff loss to HOU. 17-yard gain to Metcalf where Rodgers ✅s to a perimeter screen because HOU has 7-vs-6 in the box. 25-yard gain to Metcalf on a well-designed boot off of play-action. Give Rodgers more freedom. Use more PAP.

One area where PIT needs to improve on offense in 2026 is on 1st downs. They were 24th in 1D EPA last year. In their playoff loss to HOU, 14 of their 21 1D snaps gained 1 yard or less. Lots of plays like these that were DOA at the snap. Need better design and execution on 1D.

My latest @SteelCNetwork article looks at one key number for some of the Steelers "dudes" on offense this season... steelcurtainnetwork.com/one-important-…

Parked behind this guy the other day. Now that’s a great use of truck space…

Definitely a contender for my favorite Steelers-related tweet of the summer. DK Metcalf rocking a suit with a cowboy hat on a dude ranch in Wyoming is priceless...

On today's Call Sheet pod, we go Inside the Numbers to examine how 1st-down success translates to winning in the NFL. Whether on offense or defense, how do some of the league's best teams win 1st down? Tune in ⬇️: open.spotify.com/episode/0N52K5… podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ins…

The more film I watch, the more convinced I am of the importance of winning 1st down. Best offenses in 1st down EPA, 2025: 1. LAR 2. CHI 3. NE 4. KC 5. DEN 6. BUF 7. DET 8. SEA All among the NFL's best overall. Win 1st down, keep the playbook open, slow down the defense.

@tschnelli Start with blocking schemes and defensive fronts. The game is moving towards the perimeter but it still develops from the inside-out.

@KTSmithFootball Any tips for breaking down film and drawing up the play?

SCHEME OF THE DAY: Colorado running Dart to the TE side of a Nub set vs a 3-3 Tite from Iowa St. ISU kicks its secondary and plays four-over-three to the trips, leaving a soft edge to the Nub. Perfect play call vs that look from the Buffs.

You can’t play from behind the chains in the playoffs. If you average one yard per carry on 1st down runs, and rush for 76 yards overall, you’re probably in trouble. That was a great SF defense btw. No sin in losing to them. But DAL did not play their best game on O.

Broke down the 49ers/DAL playoff game from 2022, a 19-12 SF win. Wanted to see how SF shut down a M. McCarthy off that avg 27.5 ppg that season. The answers? Nothing sexy. Great run D (Fred Warner was incredible), wins on 1st down and pressure w/ four. Notes in the comments ⬇️

The Cowboys just played poorly. On this INT, WR Michael Gallup pulls up on his dropout and fails to come back for the ball, allowing Deommodore Lenoir to pick it off. DAL played tentatively and failed to dictate the terms of the game on offense.

3. SF gave plenty of mug looks where they either ran a SIM or brought five. Either way, Dak checked to quick throws against these looks which amounted to short gains because SF was too fast on D for the Cowboys to make YAC.

2. The Niners got pressure on Dak Prescott by rushing just four. They only had one sack but they were in Prescott’s fave all game. This led to throws that were often late or rushed. Dak never seemed comfortable.

1. SF owned 1st down, particularly when DAL ran the ball. On 7 designed 1st-down runs, the Cowboys gained 8 total yards. This put them in 2nd-and-long and allowed SF to dictate the possession. Warner finished with 9 tackles, an INT and a TFL. He was the best player on the field.

@CoachHallback Push-crack on the safety. Looks like he just got out-muscled. You know they don't pay those WRs to block, Coach!

@KTSmithFootball All I want to know as a coach what was zero responsibility. I love my WRs but gosh they mess up touchdowns.

SCHEME OF THE DAY: Vanderbilt running an H-back slip screen to Eagles draft pick Eli Stowers off of jet motion. Nice way to exploit a defense that rocks its safeties to the jet.