In depth 2013: Green Bay Packers

by | Apr 16, 2013 | 2012 season, 2013 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

The Green Bay Packers are 66-30 with five playoff appearances spanning the last six seasons, one of which ended with the team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

But the last two seasons have ended with bad playoff losses, including a 2012 debacle in which second-year San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick shredded the Green and Gold both on the ground and through the air.

So, despite being the strongest team in the NFC North over the last several years, there are questions heading into the draft and into offseason training sessions. Can the Packers solve problems with the offensive line, the running game and the leaky defense? Raymond T. Rivard, editor of LombardiAve.Com, says doing so could again make Green Bay one of the top teams in the NFL.

Zoneblitz: The Packers won the NFC North and have been the class of the division the last few years, but have now lost badly in the playoffs the past two seasons. How would you assess 2012 and what do the Packers have to do to get back to the Super Bowl? (more…)

Zoneblitz Team Blogger Mock Draft 2013

by | Apr 15, 2013 | 2013 season, NFL Draft

The first few years Zoneblitz existed, we would put together a mock draft, just like everyone else in America. We found it was a difficult task. We try to follow every team to some extent, but it’s hard to have a total sense of the needs and wants of 32 organizations when there are just a couple of us in the “office.”

So for the last couple years we’ve been trying to make some connections in the blogosphere with writers who cover all 32 teams. We just concluded our second annual In Depth series of interviews with bloggers from each team about how they played in 2012 and how they look heading into 2013.

And here is our second annual Zoneblitz Team Blogger Mock Draft. Given the trade rumblings and movements already underway I’m sure we won’t be any more accurate than anyone else. But we gave it a shot and we appreciate the efforts of the bloggers who worked with us.

Now, without further ado, the picks: (more…)

In depth 2013: Seattle Seahawks

by | Apr 9, 2013 | 2012 season, 2013 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

Division rival San Francisco went to the Super Bowl in 2012, but Seattle scored more points, allowed fewer and, in the process, found a likely future star to be the team’s signal caller in the process.

Russell Wilson arrived on the scene via a third round draft pick. He surprised most experts by beating out Matt Flynn for the starting job and he improved all season, earning a Pro Bowl berth and being named Pepsi Max NFL Rookie of the Year.

Heading into 2013, the team not only has the more-experienced Wilson, but also Percy Harvin to add to a mix of weapons that still includes Marshawn Lynch and Sidney Rice. So how far can this team go? Just a half-game behind the 49ers in the division standings last year, a good start alone could propel Seattle to the top of the NFC West and deep into the playoffs, says Keith Myers, editor and lead writer for 12th Man Rising.

Zoneblitz: Russell Wilson’s development happened faster than most expected. How surprised were you about his 2012 season and how good can he be going forward? (more…)

In depth 2013: Indianapolis Colts

by | Apr 7, 2013 | 2012 season, 2013 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

Peyton Manning gave the Colts 13 fantastic seasons before an injury forced him to sit out the 2011 season. His absence may have turned into a blessing in disguise, as it led to a 2-14 season that brought Andrew Luck to town.

Based on his rookie year in 2012, Luck is likely to ensure at least another decade of solid play at the helm. Luck, head coach Chuck Pagano; General Manager Ryan Grigson and a new cast of characters led to a dramatic nine game single-season turnaround and a return to the playoffs.

So how good can Luck be? There are still a lot of holes to be filled on this Colts roster. But Kyle Rodriguez, assistant editor of  Colts Authority and a featured columnist at Bleacher Report, says last year’s run is quite likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Here’s what he had to say.

Zoneblitz: Indianapolis made it back to the playoffs much more quickly than expected. To what do you attribute the 2012 playoff run? (more…)

Hanson was great, but probably not Hall of Fame great

by | Apr 7, 2013 | Hall of Fame

Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson retired last week and, I’m embarrassed to say, I initially didn’t even think of doing a post on his chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But Colts blogger and occasional Zoneblitz contributor Andrew Aziz posted the question to our Twitter account and it made me curious. It’s an interesting question. My initial thought was that Hanson was a very good kicker in the NFL for two decades but not one who will be rewarded with a spot in the Hall of Fame. Here’s why.

First, he faces the same dilemma guys like Ray Guy, Mark Moseley and other good to great kickers and punters face – just not many special teams guys get any love from voters. A look at finalists from recent years shows that the last time a punter or kicker made it that far was Guy in 2008. Guy has been a finalist seven times and is the only kicker/punter to get that far in the 2000s, but he has never gotten over the threshold, leaving Jan Stenerud remains the only pure kicker enshrined in Canton. (more…)