Ollie Connolly
@ollieconnolly.bsky.social
Newsletter-er: readoptional.substack.com | Writer: The Guardian | Previously: NFL/CFB Scout; recruiting analyst
Pinned
Ollie Connolly
@ollieconnolly.bsky.social
· Dec 12
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
www.readoptional.com
I wrote about Bill Belichick at North Carolina — a real sentence I just typed without blacking out.
Making the jump to college started with a book club, and ended with an unprecedented decision. On the why, how and what comes next.
www.readoptional.com/p/why-bill-b...
Making the jump to college started with a book club, and ended with an unprecedented decision. On the why, how and what comes next.
www.readoptional.com/p/why-bill-b...
Reposted by Ollie Connolly
From last year: why teams are upping their use of extra linemen and heavy personnel groupings. Alec Anderson walked so everyone can run (and hit chunky play-action shots)
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
The Bills are getting heavy — and crushing people
Joe Brady has built the league's most idiosyncratic offense by consistently putting an extra lineman on the field
www.readoptional.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
From last year: why teams are upping their use of extra linemen and heavy personnel groupings. Alec Anderson walked so everyone can run (and hit chunky play-action shots)
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
From last year: why teams are upping their use of extra linemen and heavy personnel groupings. Alec Anderson walked so everyone can run (and hit chunky play-action shots)
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
The Bills are getting heavy — and crushing people
Joe Brady has built the league's most idiosyncratic offense by consistently putting an extra lineman on the field
www.readoptional.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
From last year: why teams are upping their use of extra linemen and heavy personnel groupings. Alec Anderson walked so everyone can run (and hit chunky play-action shots)
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-bills-...
Reposted by Ollie Connolly
New pod! Previewing week 6 with @ollieconnolly.bsky.social
🎧: apple.co/3VX0Tfe
📺: youtu.be/y3GV4S_hJgQ?...
🎧: apple.co/3VX0Tfe
📺: youtu.be/y3GV4S_hJgQ?...
October 9, 2025 at 1:12 PM
New pod! Previewing week 6 with @ollieconnolly.bsky.social
🎧: apple.co/3VX0Tfe
📺: youtu.be/y3GV4S_hJgQ?...
🎧: apple.co/3VX0Tfe
📺: youtu.be/y3GV4S_hJgQ?...
Per sources: Bill Belichick has discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy. Belichick has signaled a willingness to trigger his own $1 million buyout if he can find a soft landing with another team or in media
October 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Per sources: Bill Belichick has discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy. Belichick has signaled a willingness to trigger his own $1 million buyout if he can find a soft landing with another team or in media
Reposted by Ollie Connolly
Not sure there is a single (non-superstar) as important to the structure and success of his team's defense than Indy's Nick Cross
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
The Adjustment Bureau: Is Lou Anarumo back?
Checking in on the Lou-issance in Indianapolis
www.readoptional.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Not sure there is a single (non-superstar) as important to the structure and success of his team's defense than Indy's Nick Cross
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
Not sure there is a single (non-superstar) as important to the structure and success of his team's defense than Indy's Nick Cross
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
The Adjustment Bureau: Is Lou Anarumo back?
Checking in on the Lou-issance in Indianapolis
www.readoptional.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Not sure there is a single (non-superstar) as important to the structure and success of his team's defense than Indy's Nick Cross
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
Reposted by Ollie Connolly
Monster Week 5 recap with QB Island looming
- Darnold and Baker’s Duel
- Daniel Jones’ 40-burger
- Drake Maye’s showcase
- A regime-changing L
With @willgav.bsky.social and @ollieconnolly.bsky.social from London:
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
📺: youtu.be/_nBSKULr9xo?...
- Darnold and Baker’s Duel
- Daniel Jones’ 40-burger
- Drake Maye’s showcase
- A regime-changing L
With @willgav.bsky.social and @ollieconnolly.bsky.social from London:
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
📺: youtu.be/_nBSKULr9xo?...
October 6, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Monster Week 5 recap with QB Island looming
- Darnold and Baker’s Duel
- Daniel Jones’ 40-burger
- Drake Maye’s showcase
- A regime-changing L
With @willgav.bsky.social and @ollieconnolly.bsky.social from London:
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
📺: youtu.be/_nBSKULr9xo?...
- Darnold and Baker’s Duel
- Daniel Jones’ 40-burger
- Drake Maye’s showcase
- A regime-changing L
With @willgav.bsky.social and @ollieconnolly.bsky.social from London:
🎧: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
📺: youtu.be/_nBSKULr9xo?...
This is bleak, bleak, bleak stuff for the Ravens. No pass-rush, limited in coverage without Hamilton.
October 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
This is bleak, bleak, bleak stuff for the Ravens. No pass-rush, limited in coverage without Hamilton.
Bryce Young is going to get benched before the half here
October 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Bryce Young is going to get benched before the half here
You knew North Carolina was fucked when Lombardi was sending desperation emails to boosters talking about a multi-year rebuild with a 73-year-old coach and openly admitting they stink
October 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM
You knew North Carolina was fucked when Lombardi was sending desperation emails to boosters talking about a multi-year rebuild with a 73-year-old coach and openly admitting they stink
This is as embarrassing as it gets for Belichick. But it's also a damning (and funny) indictment of Mike Lombardi. It's his roster -- and UNC looks like a bad FCS school compared to any FBS school
October 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This is as embarrassing as it gets for Belichick. But it's also a damning (and funny) indictment of Mike Lombardi. It's his roster -- and UNC looks like a bad FCS school compared to any FBS school
I wrote about the Lou-issance in Indianapolis. Is it real or a mirage?
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
The Adjustment Bureau: Is Lou Anarumo back?
Checking in on the Lou-issance in Indianapolis
www.readoptional.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I wrote about the Lou-issance in Indianapolis. Is it real or a mirage?
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...
Reposted by Ollie Connolly
I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off.
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
Do the Falcons have a Pistol problem?
Zac Robinson has given Atlanta an offensive identity. But does it make any sense?
www.readoptional.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off.
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
Reposted by Ollie Connolly
A bunch of teams sought out new ideas on offense this offseason. @ollieconnolly.bsky.social joined @robertmays.bsky.social on today's episode of The Athletic Football Show to talk about five of them...the Patriots, Bears, Jaguars, Seahawks and Cowboys. youtube.com/watch?v=DNAg...
youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A bunch of teams sought out new ideas on offense this offseason. @ollieconnolly.bsky.social joined @robertmays.bsky.social on today's episode of The Athletic Football Show to talk about five of them...the Patriots, Bears, Jaguars, Seahawks and Cowboys. youtube.com/watch?v=DNAg...
I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off.
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
Do the Falcons have a Pistol problem?
Zac Robinson has given Atlanta an offensive identity. But does it make any sense?
www.readoptional.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off.
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
www.readoptional.com/p/do-the-fal...
Colts had only 10 men on the field for the play. Such a dumb and sloppy way to lose a game to go along with AD Mitchell's mistakes
September 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Colts had only 10 men on the field for the play. Such a dumb and sloppy way to lose a game to go along with AD Mitchell's mistakes
Jared Verse with a running start on Tanor Bortolini hahahhahahaa
September 28, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Jared Verse with a running start on Tanor Bortolini hahahhahahaa
INT is a great example. Bolton isn't just flying into the line or working a greendog. He's timing up the rush in sequence with the first line of pressure hitting. Cruises through untouched. Always been Spags' go-to strategy against Lamar because he knows he wants to hold it and scan downfield
September 28, 2025 at 9:37 PM
INT is a great example. Bolton isn't just flying into the line or working a greendog. He's timing up the rush in sequence with the first line of pressure hitting. Cruises through untouched. Always been Spags' go-to strategy against Lamar because he knows he wants to hold it and scan downfield
The league really needs to give Al-Shaair an unprecedented suspension. I love me a violent linebacker. But every week he is intentionally trying to give QBs life-changing injuries with dirty hits
September 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The league really needs to give Al-Shaair an unprecedented suspension. I love me a violent linebacker. But every week he is intentionally trying to give QBs life-changing injuries with dirty hits
Spags is using his favored layered-rush style against Lamar. Sending waves of rushers from different depths as Lamar holds the ball -- often with some kind of flush element so that they force Lamar to a spot with a free runner from depth
September 28, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Spags is using his favored layered-rush style against Lamar. Sending waves of rushers from different depths as Lamar holds the ball -- often with some kind of flush element so that they force Lamar to a spot with a free runner from depth
Tony Romo's bronzer is completely out of control
September 28, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Tony Romo's bronzer is completely out of control
Drake Maye is stacking career-best performances. This was his most mature game against a lousy Panthers defense: took what was available in the structure, a couple of high-level throws down the field, and created when needed
September 28, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Drake Maye is stacking career-best performances. This was his most mature game against a lousy Panthers defense: took what was available in the structure, a couple of high-level throws down the field, and created when needed