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Ollie Connolly

@ollieconnolly.bsky.social

33K followers 160 following 370 posts

Newsletter-er: readoptional.substack.com | Writer: The Guardian | Previously: NFL/CFB Scout; recruiting analyst

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · Dec 12

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...

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

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 5h

From one UNC defensive assistant: "What we've done to these kids is fucked up."

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 5h

Belichick's communication with his staff in the past two weeks has been described as "weird" and "distant" by multiple members of UNC's coaching staff. Multiple coaches were unable to get hold of him during UNC's bye week

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 5h

Using recruit violations to knock down a coach's buyout has become a standard practice. If Belichick cannot find a landing spot to trigger his own buyout, he’s expected to accept a greatly reduced, compromised rate

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 5h

Reports of serious recruiting violations remain under investigation at UNC. Recruiting and practice violations have already been proven by the school, according to multiple sources

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 5h

Members of Belichick’s coaching staff have already spoken to other schools that are expected to be in CFB Playoff about taking on roles during the postseason. From one coach: “the rats are leaving the ship”.

Some staffers believe a change will come within two weeks

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 5h

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

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Reposted by Ollie Connolly

Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 1d

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...

The Adjustment Bureau: Is Lou Anarumo back?

Checking in on the Lou-issance in Indianapolis

www.readoptional.com

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 1d

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...

The Adjustment Bureau: Is Lou Anarumo back?

Checking in on the Lou-issance in Indianapolis

www.readoptional.com

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 1d

🤔

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Reposted by Ollie Connolly

Gregg Rosenthal @greggrosenthal.bsky.social · 2d

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?...

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 3d

This is bleak, bleak, bleak stuff for the Ravens. No pass-rush, limited in coverage without Hamilton.

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 3d

NOT SO FAST!!! Seed from Bryce Young

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 3d

Bryce Young is going to get benched before the half here

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 4d

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

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 4d

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

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 5d

I wrote about the Lou-issance in Indianapolis. Is it real or a mirage?

www.readoptional.com/p/the-adjust...

The Adjustment Bureau: Is Lou Anarumo back?

Checking in on the Lou-issance in Indianapolis

www.readoptional.com

Reposted by Ollie Connolly

Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 7d

I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off.

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

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Reposted by Ollie Connolly

Michael Beller @mbeller.bsky.social · 6d

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

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 7d

I wrote about the Falcons offense, which has a clear identity but just feels... off.

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

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 10d

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

Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell.com · 10d

88-yard touchdown for Tutu Atwell!

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 10d

Woof.

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 10d

Jared Verse with a running start on Tanor Bortolini hahahhahahaa

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 10d

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

Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 10d

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

rivers mccown @riversmccown.bsky.social · 10d

Cam Ward gets popped in the head with no call

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Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 10d

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

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