Matt Bowen
@MattBowen41
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NFL writer/analyst @espn • Assistant Head Coach @ICCPFootball • 7-year NFL veteran • Iowa, DePaul, Glenbard West alum.
Elmhurst, IL
Joined September 2008
#Auburn DT Derrick Brown — Watch this clip. • Beats the guard off the jump .• Forces the ball to bounce . Now, stay with Brown throughout the play. This is awesome effort. Run to the ball. @NFLMatchup
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#Titans rookie DB Elijah Molden — . Made some plays last night vs. Tampa. Pressure scheme here. Urgency & effort to get home to the QB. @NFLMatchup
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NFL blitz rates… . 1. NYG — 40.3% .2. GB — 38.0% .3. AZ — 37.0% .4. MIA — 35.9% .5. LAC — 33.7% . 28. BUF — 16.6% .29. CHI — 16.3% .30. ATL — 15.3% .31. TEN — 14.6% .32. NYJ — 14.0%.
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Top QBR vs. Man Coverage in 2019. 1. Lamar Jackson — 91.0 .2. Deshaun Watson — 79.9 .3. Derek Carr — 78.8 .4. Drew Brees — 78.6 .5. Matthew Stafford — 78.5 . @NFLMatchup
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#Bucs LB Lavonte David. 12 years in the league. And he’s still cutting off the ball on the perimeter. Play recognition. No wasted movement. Pursuit angles.
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This is a good one from Sherman -- Locate the ball. And take away the back-shoulder throw. "Play the pocket."
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This is awesome.
Blaze Maye’s was born with Down syndrome and wanted nothing other than to play football. Today, he got to play in the state championship. This is why we love high school sports. (Via @FoxSportsWest)
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This is one of the best throws I’ve seen. ‘02 season. MNF vs. the Bears. We played this game at the University of Illinois. Brett Favre. Rolling to his left. Deep ball to Donald Driver. Go Pack Go
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Playing in the family Turkey Bowl tomorrow? I drew up four plays to get that W. From ESPN Mag --
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#Eagles . Cooper DeJean. 4th down. Matched up here vs. Ja’Marr Chase. Travel with your coverage (motion). And tackle.
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Kingsbury was the best play caller in the stadium tonight. And Jayden Daniels is a star.
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"High-Point the Ball." Every coach talks about it. Good example here. Watch Woodson take the ball away. Great play.
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Just started watching the tape on #Colorado CB Travis Hunter. Incredible coverage instincts, ball skills, body control. Playmaker.
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Caleb Williams played his best game as a pro today. Targeted all three levels of the field. Didn’t turn the ball over. Made the necessary second-reaction plays, too. Positive signs of development there.
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Panthers DE Brian Burns.
Who is the most underrated NFL player? 🧐🍿.
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#Bears . Looking at the tape on Justin Fields’ deep ball attempt — late in the game vs. DET.
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This is a good one for high school DBs. Don’t look back for the ball when trailing the route (hard habit to break). Instead, drive to the WR. And play the hands.
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Justin Fields threw a good ball on the vertical route to Tyler Scott. And that should’ve closed out the game. Scott has to track that ball — and use his separation speed — to finish the catch. Teaching moment for the rookie WR. #Bears.
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The penalty on Clay Matthews — Helmet to the side, shoulder contact, run through the tackle. Pretty much what is taught at the lower levels for proper tackling technique. And he tried to roll off the QB due to the new rule. This is putting pass rushers in a really tough spot.
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Old scheme to defend the Hail Mary pass…. #Bears were missing the “savior” on that one. Needed a defender to play the tipped ball.
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More Allen Robinson from ‘16 — Pivot route. That’s pretty nasty.
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#Jags CB Jalen Ramsey. Worked through an OPI call here. And still made a play on the ball. Technique.
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One of the best offensive concepts I saw in Week 9… . Lamar Jackson. Show QB Sweep here. And release TE Isaiah Likely on the corner route. #Ravens
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#Giants SS Landon Collins -- Goal line D. Gotta play fast. And believe what you see. Great play here.
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Watched the tape on Caleb Williams vs. AZ…. Wants to throw home runs — instead of taking the profit (open underneath targets). Anticipation on MOF concepts can improve. Voluntarily throwing off-platform leads to accuracy issues. Has to trust the pocket. #Bears.
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#SBLVII . More on CJ Gardner-Johnson (top of the screen). Run the alley. And deliver a physical strike on contact.
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The Bills have the most QB centric offense in the league. So, if the Bears did hire Daboll, we should expect a system designed around Fields.
@MattBowen41 How do you see Brian Daboll utilizing Justin Fields should Daboll be the #Bears HC in 2022?.
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QB Caleb Williams. Climb the pocket. Throw the 9 route (from the opposite hash).
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Tillman playing the fade route vs. Calvin Johnson. Find the ball. And punch it out. Good finish.
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#Commanders . DT Daron Payne. Disruptive on the tape vs. NYG. Two more sacks (up to 8.5 on the year). Will be one of the top free agent DTs this off-season.
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#Seahawks — End zone film on Russell Wilson’s TD to Tyler Lockett. Second-reaction play. Ridiculous throw & catch. @NFLMatchup @BradyHenderson
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#Bears . QB Caleb Williams. Hi-Lo concepts vs. JAX. Seeing it fast. And driving the ball. High RPM thrower.
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My notes on USC QB Caleb Williams. Based on tape study only.
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#Bills QB Josh Allen — Second-reaction play vs. slot pressure. Check out the throw here. @NFLMatchup @Marcel_LJ
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#Bears will need to develop a much stronger pass game to compete. Schemed throws for Justin Fields. RPOs. Deep balls. Explosive play opportunities.
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#Bears . QB Justin Fields vs. ATL. Aggressive/accurate at the 3rd level. Hit the crossers/MOF concepts. Found his outlets underneath. Worked the edges on PA/2nd reaction. Played with poise/confidence. Luke Getsy had answers for man-coverage, too.
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One of my favorite plays from the bowl season. #Iowa-#USC in the Holiday Bowl. Nate Stanley on the QB sneak — for eight yards. @NFLMatchup @HawkeyeFootball
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Free agent WR Allen Robinson. Route running. Smooth rep here from the ‘16 season. Sell the fade, win on the slant.
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#Bengals . The 3rd down throw from Burrow to close out the game…. Man-coverage underneath. Higgins on the slant route. Can see the ball location here.
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Saw this rep when studying RB Trey Sermon. Bends the ball to daylight here. Check the effort from QB Justin Fields. @NFLMatchup #OhioState
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#Bears-#Raiders. I liked the game plan from DC Sean Desai…. Mix of single-high/split safety. Disguised coverage & pressure from multiple fronts. Robbers/lurkers to limit MOF throws. And more pass rush production (Khalil Mack here). CHI leads the NFL in sacks. @NFLMatchup
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#Saints CB Eli Apple — Check the technique vs. the out route (top of the screen). Pedal with the shoulders square to the WR. Challenge the break, drive on the ball. @NFLMatchup
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#Bears . Mesh concept. Mooney on the MOF sit route. There’s pressure here. But the ball has to come out, too. Lot of corrections to make on this offensive tape — at multiple levels.
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#Colts-#Bills . QB Josh Allen made a lot of second-reaction plays yesterday. Saw the high-level movement skills there + the ability to throw from multiple platforms — with location. @NFLMatchup
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Checklist for new #Bears OC Thomas Brown…. 1. Get extra #’s in the box for run game. 2. Engineer WR separation. Picks, clear/replace, motion at the snap. 3. Incorporate max-protection. 4. Find 4 run plays that mirror PA/Have 3 screens ready. 5. Run one gadget play a week.
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#IowaState RB David Montgomery — 4th down run vs. WVU to close out the game. Have to beat the safety here. Check out the cut. Quick at 216 pounds. #NFL
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Went through the #Bears tape…. Pass protection was poor on the edges (as we saw yesterday). Fields missed some opportunities also. Example here on the Flood concept. Clear/replace. DJ Moore on the deep out. See it, throw it. Quick to take the underneath target.
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#Browns . CB Denzel Ward. Pedal-man. Shoulders square. Transition speed. On the ball production. This is an excellent rep.
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#Miami safety Kamren Kinchens. 6-foot, 205 (est). • True post range .• Ball skills/coverage ability.• Strong, wrap-up tackler .• Keys quick vs. run game .• Physical at POA .• Effort/pursuit
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Going through the #Raiders Week 1 tape. RB Josh Jacobs — 139 total yards, 3 TDs. Can see the receiving traits here on the angle route. Cross over the LB in coverage. Jacobs has the ability to play an efficient role in the pass game. @NFLMatchup
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Rose Bowl. Check out #Georgia LB Roquan Smith. Calls out the jet sweep pre-snap. Tracks the ball. And then finishes with a physical tackle.
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More on the #Bears defense… . Schemed pass rush stunt — out of Dime personnel. Run the twist/pick with the Dime back (Houston-Carson) & Khalil Mack. @NFLMatchup
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Went through Joe Burrow’s throws vs. pressure (‘22 tape). Pocket mobility/movement. Best in the league. #Bengals
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DT Larry Ogunjobi to the #Bears . Quicks off the ball — with heavy hands. Firm vs. the run. Interior pass rush ability. Disruptive traits as a 3-Technique in Matt Eberflus’ defense. @NFLMatchup
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OG James Daniels to the #Steelers . Athletic, interior mover. Positional blocker. Can climb/cut-off at the 2nd level. Versatility at G/C. Former Hawkeye is only 24 years old. No.68 in the clip below…. @NFLMatchup
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#Bears-#Steelers. This is a good tape for QB Justin Fields. Made some decisive throws to the 2nd/3rd level. Attacked the edges on boot. Showed his playmaking ability. Confident & composed late in the game, too. @NFLMatchup
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Our @NFLMatchup breakdown on #OhioState QB Justin Fields. Like the move by the #Bears here. Be aggressive. Fields has the high-level tools/traits. Can see the deep ball accuracy on tape. And he can play outside of structure. Scheme him up in Nagy’s offense.
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#Bills-#Cowboys — Going through Josh Allen’s throws. Check this one. 3rd & 10, backed-up on the 2-yard line. Climb/slide in the pocket & throw a laser to Beasley on the crossing route. @NFLMatchup
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Chase Claypool to the #Bears…. I think you’re betting on the physical profile/speed to upgrade the WR room. Can play as a boundary target for Fields — with inside flex. Just put together my Top 25 FA list for ESPN. Only one WR there (Meyers). CHI getting ahead of this? Maybe.
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More #Ravens/Jackson — 4th QTR, 3rd & 11. Slot fade to WR Marquise Brown. Look at the ball placement on the throw. That’s a dime. @NFLMatchup @jamisonhensley
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#Michigan CB Mike Sainristil. The overall play demeanor shows up on the tape — consistently. Urgent, tough, competitive. Slot ability. Run support. Pressures. Ball skills.
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#Arkansas WR Treylon Burks — . Really like the tape…. Ascending talent. Powerful frame at 6-foot-3, 225. Sudden mover. Long speed. Ability to attack defenses at multiple levels. Schemed touches — jet, screen, backfield carries. Can be deployed like Deebo Samuel. @NFLMatchup
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This is an older diagram, but it shows just how much space a Slot CB has to cover. Play both an inside & outside release, with no help from the boundary. @NFLMatchup
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Watched the #Titans-#Vikings tape last night. Strong move/technique here from OLB Jadeveon Clowney on this rep. Aligned inside (matchup vs. the guard). Stack/shed with power. @NFLMatchup
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North Dakota St. QB Power. Watch the combo on the 3 Tech.
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RB D’Andre Swift to the #Bears. Decisive with the ball. Downhill speed. Vision to find daylight. And the pass catching ability elevates the Chicago backfield.
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Moving forward with the #Bears…. Need a highlighted section of the game plan that reads: “Get DJ the ball.” . Concepts that fit his receiving traits + schemed touches. DJ Moore had two targets today.
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Caleb Williams was much more decisive with his decision making as a runner/thrower. New OC Thomas Brown added elements to the game plan with formation/movement. End of game situation = poor clock management. Settled for a long FG attempt. #Bears.
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Annual Thanksgiving re-post at ESPN — Four plays to dominate your Turkey Bowl. Deep ball throws, goal line pick routes, more.
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#IowaState RB David Montgomery to the #Bears. Contact balance at the point. And the shake to slip tackles. Solid in pass pro, with some receiving production on screens, swings. Watch the move here.
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#Colts S Julian Blackmon — . Attack open daylight on the pressure. Track the hip of the ball carrier. Make the play for a TFL. @NFLMatchup #NFL
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Caleb Williams tonight — Flashes of high-level playmaking ability + arm talent. Natural creator. Running/retreating into pressure. Timing issues in the pocket. The pass game lacked a sense of rhythm. #Bears.
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#Seahawks FS Earl Thomas. Watch the angle to the ball. Controlled pace here to track the RB. And then the hit.
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More QB numbers from ‘19. QBR vs. the blitz (5 or more rushers) . 1. Derek Carr — 95.9 .2. Lamar Jackson — 92.4 .3. Patrick Mahomes — 90.5 .4. Matthew Stafford — 87.4 .5. Kirk Cousins — 86.1 . Carr also ranked No.1 in Comp% (71.6) & YPA (11.11) vs. the blitz. @NFLMatchup
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Growing up, we used to play a family Turkey Bowl game down in Peoria, IL. Cousins, my old man running fade routes…. All 1-on-1 stuff. Throw it deep. And a bunch of trick plays. So, I drew up some plays here (from an old ESPN Mag piece). Call “Home Run.” It’s an easy score.
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#Colts DT DeForest Buckner showing up on the tape again. Length, power, lateral quicks. Disruptive ability. I see Buckner as the 2nd best interior defender in the league right now — behind Aaron Donald. @NFLMatchup
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The Bears have upgraded the pass game this week. • WR Keenan Allen — High-end route running. Ability to uncover, move the sticks. • RB D’Andre Swift — Backfield releases, screens, underneath matchups. • TE Gerald Everett — Alignment versatility. MOF throws. YAC.
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The run game impact with #Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson — Watch the finish here on the edge. Nasty stuff. @NFLMatchup
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More on the #Bengals secondary…. CB Eli Apple. Fills the running lane vs. Derrick Henry here.
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Reuben Foster film vs. USC -- Check out the speed to the ball. And the hit. Physical player.
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