The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Who's winning—and losing—the trenches this NFL season?
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Oct 30, 2025 Brandon Thorn, an insightful offensive line analyst and author of the Trench Warfare Substack, joins the discussion to unveil the secrets of NFL trenches. He highlights the Indianapolis Colts' surprising success, the Seattle Seahawks' offensive transformation, and the underwhelming performance of the Tennessee Titans' line. Thorn also spotlights standout players, including top tackles and guards, along with unexpected rookie contributions. Tune in for his keen analysis on OL coaches making waves and how offensive line dynamics drive team success!
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Offensive Lines Drive Team Outcomes
- Offensive-line quality is a primary driver of team over- or under-performance relative to expectations.
- Brandon Thorn argues trenches play explains why some offenses outperform preseason projections.
Colts: Scheme Plus Unexpected Talent
- Colts' offensive surge mixes strong personnel and an OL-friendly scheme led by run emphasis and play-action.
- Brandon Thorn credits both Bordellini/Gonsalves' play and scheme design for their top-five unit status.
Scheme Reduces Pass Exposure
- Reducing true dropback reps via run, RPO and condensed formations materially helps OL performance.
- Colts, Seahawks and Patriots lead the league in base-dropback rates, aiding their OLs.