The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL League-altering moves, GMing an expansion team, the end of bad quarterbacks, and more from the TAFS mailbag
Jun 11, 2025
Delve into the most impactful league-altering moves in the NFL over the past decade. Explore the quarterback conundrum and the shifting dynamics of team performance related to coaching. Can we imagine a future devoid of struggling quarterbacks? Discover insights on evaluating standout talents like Bo Nix and the complexities of building an expansion team. The hosts also share memorable moments that capture the emotional essence of the sport, blending football with advanced analytics and AI for enhanced decision-making.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Value of EPA and DVOA Metrics
- Offensive efficiency stats like EPA and DVOA provide clear context for evaluating teams and players.
- Coaches value these metrics to identify strengths, weaknesses, and hidden efficiencies in the game.
Bad Quarterbacks Persist in NFL
- The presence of truly bad quarterbacks remains due to young players starting by default and injuries.
- The overall quality distribution of quarterbacks is stable despite recent optimism about incoming talent.
Quarterback Quality Impacts Coaching Careers
- Many head coaches' careers are heavily influenced by the quality of their quarterbacks.
- Coaches like Lovie Smith and Rex Ryan likely would have been viewed much more favorably with better quarterback play.