The Read Optional | Oliver Connolly | Substack

2026 NFL Draft

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Thoughts on the strengths, concerns, usage/role, grades and projection for Ohio State S/Nickel Caleb Downs

Feb 16 • Oliver Connolly

2:39:01

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Linebackers -- Part II

Breaking down Josiah Trotter, Keyshaun Elliott and a deep class of linebackers

Feb 12 • Oliver Connolly

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Thoughts on the strengths, concerns, usage/role, grades and projection for Ohio State LB Arvell Reese

Feb 12 • Oliver Connolly

2026 NFL Draft Headquarters: Scouting Reports, Position Rankings, Big Boards

Welcome to Draft Season

Feb 12 • Oliver Connolly

2025 NFL Season

1:47:28

Recapping the Super Bowl

How the Seahawks broke the Patriots -- and what comes next for both teams

Feb 9 • Oliver Connolly

1:45:48

A mega Super Bowl preview

Plus: Answering listener questions on the coaching cycle

Feb 4 • Oliver Connolly

1:08:53

Wrapping up the coaching carousel

Plus: Kwesi is out in Minnesota

Feb 2 • Oliver Connolly

2:15:21

The mega coaching update

Digging through all the coaching hiring and firings across the league

Jan 27 • Oliver Connolly

Why Bill Belichick is heading to college — and what comes next

It started with a book club and ended with the greatest to ever do agreeing to an unprecedented move

Dec 12, 2024 • Oliver Connolly

Why the Pistol will be back en vogue

What's old is new again

Aug 2, 2022 • Oliver Connolly

The Book of Fangio

The 'Fangio Defense' has taken over the NFL. Shawn Syed breaks down Fangio's philosophy, core concepts, and the nuances of a scheme that has altered the…

Jan 11, 2023 • Shawn Syed

How NFL defenses are evolving to stop the boot-action explosion

In the era of McVay, Shanahan, Stefanski and LaFleur, the keeper is king. What are defenses doing to stop it?

Sep 23, 2021 • Oliver Connolly

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Thoughts on the strengths, concerns, usage/role, grades and projection for Ohio State S/Nickel Caleb Downs

Feb 16 • Oliver Connolly

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Linebackers -- Part II

Breaking down Josiah Trotter, Keyshaun Elliott and a deep class of linebackers

Feb 12 • Oliver Connolly

2:39:01

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Thoughts on the strengths, concerns, usage/role, grades and projection for Ohio State LB Arvell Reese

Feb 12 • Oliver Connolly

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Linebackers -- Part I

It's draft season! Let's talk prospects, skills, scheme fits and more

Feb 11 • Oliver Connolly

1:53:41

Recapping the Super Bowl

How the Seahawks broke the Patriots -- and what comes next for both teams

Feb 9 • Oliver Connolly

1:47:28

A mega Super Bowl preview

Plus: Answering listener questions on the coaching cycle

Feb 4 • Oliver Connolly

1:45:48

Wrapping up the coaching carousel

Plus: Kwesi is out in Minnesota

Feb 2 • Oliver Connolly

1:08:53

The mega coaching update

Digging through all the coaching hiring and firings across the league

Jan 27 • Oliver Connolly

2:15:21

Recommendations

MatchQuarters by Cody Alexander

Cody Alexander

Tyler Dunne

Audibles & Analytics

Jon Ledyard

Brandon Thorn

Melissa Jacobs

Podcasts

The Read Optional NFL Podcast

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Linebackers -- Part II

The Read Optional

The Read Optional

Smart Football. Explaining Why. NFL Newsletter and Podcast.

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