In depth 2013: Detroit Lions

by | Feb 26, 2013 | 2012 season, 2013 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

After years of futility, the Detroit Lions appeared to be on the right track in 2011. Expectations were high heading into 2012, coming off the team’s first playoff appearance since 1999. But right out of the gate things started going wrong.

Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s single-season receiving yardage record in week 15, but that was really one of the only things that went right for Detroit all season long. The Jim Schwartz-led team fell back to 4-12 and into last place in the NFC North.

So, will the real Detroit Lions please stand up? It’s hard to say whether the Lions of 2013 will more closely resemble the 2011 or 2012 version.  Zac Snyder, editor of the SideLion Report, knows there’s a lot the team must do before it can expect to be competitive in 2013 and beyond, as well. He joined Zoneblitz to share some thoughts.

Zoneblitz: What happened to drop the Lions from the playoffs to 4-12? (more…)

In depth 2013: Philadelphia Eagles

by | Feb 23, 2013 | 2012 season, 2013 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

Few teams are going through the changes the Philadelphia Eagles are heading into the 2013 season. Gone is Andy Reid, who patrolled the sidelines in Philly for 14 years, taking the team to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl during that span.

Owner Jeffrey Lurie replaced Reid with Chip Kelly, who will try to adapt to the professional game after building a dominant team at the University of Oregon through a potent spread offense and some occasionally unpredictable coaching decisions. How his style works in the NFL is one of the most interesting open questions out there as the 2013 season gets underway.

Eliot Shorr-Parks, a long-time Eagles reporter and an editor at Bleeding Green Nation, acknowledges that it’s too early to say what the answers will be to some of the questions. Quarterback position? At this point, who knows who calls the signals for Philadelphia in 2013. The new 3-4 defense? The look of that alignment is still up in the air, as well.

Shorr-Parks joined us to share his early observations on what is sure to be an interesting 2013 for the Eagles.

Zoneblitz: Was moving on from Andy Reid the obvious move at the end of 2012 and what are your reflections on his years running the Eagles? (more…)

Are Birk, Saturday Hall of Famers

by | Feb 22, 2013 | Hall of Fame

Jeff Saturday & Matt Birk

Jeff Saturday & Matt Birk

Matt Birk announced his retirement today meaning that the 2012 season was the last for two of the NFL’s most prominent centers over the last decade and change.

Birk joins Jeff Saturday in hanging up his cleats. The Vikings and Ravens center goes out on top, having helped Baltimore to its second Super Bowl championship. It was his only ring despite having played for 15 years.

In addition to winning the Super Bowl once, Birk finishes his career with six Pro Bowl appearances. Saturday leaves the league after a 14 year career that was primarily spent in Indianapolis. He made six Pro Bowl appearances, though the last one this season (with Green Bay) was earned despite his having been benched toward the end of the season. Saturday adds two appearances on the Associated Press NFL All Pro First Team.

So, where do these two greats fall on the all-time list of NFL centers? Both of them were very good to great players but I’m uncertain whether they belong in the Hall of Fame. Using Pro Bowls as a comparative stat has its shortcomings because of fan involvement and all the guys these days who are getting appearances due to superior players pulling out of the game. But offensive linemen are particularly difficult to judge, so comparing their postseason profiles with respect to Pro Bowls and AP All Pro appearances with counterparts who were on the last three NFL All-Decade teams seems a logical place to start. (more…)

In depth 2013: Oakland Raiders

by | Feb 21, 2013 | 2012 season, 2013 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

The first year of the post Al Davis–era in Oakland ended much the same way as much of the previous decade – with the Raiders on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. After a promising 2011 saw Oakland hit the .500 mark, salary cap issues and a lack of draft picks caused the Silver and Black to take a large step back in 2012.

Those same issues continue to plague the Raiders heading into 2013, as does a roster full of injury prone (Darren McFadden) and head case (Rolando McClain) athletes. So what can coach Dennis Allen and General Manager Reggie McKenzie do to get this team on the right track? And how long will it take?

Chris Shellcroft, editor of Just Blog Baby, tells Zoneblitz it could be a couple years or more before better times return to the Bay Area.

Zoneblitz: The Raiders dropped to 4-12 in 2012. What went wrong with the season and how did the results compare with your expectations heading into the year? (more…)

Where is Tebow destined to end up in 2013?

by | Feb 19, 2013 | 2013 season, NFL Random Thoughts

Okay, the Tim Tebow frenzy always drives me crazy. It got particularly overblown this last season while he played the role of benchwarmer in the league’s largest media market. And he has started all of 14 games at quarterback during his three-year tenure in the NFL.

But he is a phenomenon and, now that the season is over and a new league year is on the brink of beginning, his believers will soon start wondering where he’ll land for season number four of his career.

For the record, I like Tebow as a person. I think he’s a decent man with a lot to offer the world. I also agree with those who say he is severely lacking as a passer. He works incredibly hard and he’s someone I’d like to see do well, but I’m not convinced he’s ever going to be much more than he was in Denver — a guy who, when teamed with a strong defense, a great running game and a kicker who can hit clutch, late field goals to tie and win games, can succeed.

But since we’re about to start hitting the time of year when people hunger for the latest on the NFL – whether it is tremendously newsworthy or not – we, too, will temporarily join the “Where will Tebow end up in 2013” fray.

Here are a few options: (more…)