Cowboys-Giants reaction

by | Sep 5, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

I always get excited and overreact to what I see during the first game of the season. Tonight was no different.

My first reactions to the Dallas-New York opener:

1) Mostly boring. Neither team really seemed to have it going on tonight. There were very few big, downfield plays, long run plays, etc. Both defenses were good. Both offenses need work.

2) Dallas might be better than expected: The defensive backfield, powered by rookie corner draftee Morris Claiborne and free agent cornerback signee Brandon Carr, is much improved. Last year Eli Manning threw for something like 1500 yards in two games against Dallas. Tonight he was well under 300, in part because his two key receivers — Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz — could not get open. The offensive line is still abysmal. Tony Romo was getting crushed all over the place. But overall I was much more impressed with Dallas than I expected.

3) Giants might be less than expected: Last year was a tale of two seasons. Through 14 games New York was 7-7. That unspectacular stretch was followed by a spectacular run to the Super Bowl. That’s the last thing people remember. So expectations may have been inflated by that. Tonight’s team looked nothing like the Super Bowl winner. Granted, it’s one game. But it was a key divisional game on national television opening the season. And the results were underwhelming. I’m not judging an entire season by it, but I am muting my opinion on the Giants. They are still in the mix as a favorite, but they’ve allowed a division rival to get a leg up on them in a game they should have won at home.

4) Replacement refs played minor role: Sure, there may have been a missed call here and an overblown call there, but tonight I saw little difference between the replacements and the “real” refs. The flow of the game was never interrupted. The missed calls were not of any major variety. And I don’t believe any team can claim they were cost a victory from what went on tonight. As stated in my notebook earlier today, both teams have to live with them and in most cases bad calls even out. Tonight the replacements acquitted themselves well.

Rip away in the comments section if you’d like. But welcome to the 2012 football season.

ZB Notebook 09-05-12

by | Sep 5, 2012 | American Football League, NFL Random Thoughts

We’re putting in something new this year. We’ve generally got a bunch of ideas for little things that would make for borderline stand-alone posts. Now on a (hopefully) weekly basis, we plan to empty our brains and paper scraps of those items in a “Zoneblitz Notebook.”

This will give us an opportunity to feature not only a few more of our own blurbs, but also a chance to feature other works from around the Internet that we find interesting. We’re still tinkering with the format, but in general we’ll pick two or three main topics and several other items with links to supporting source materials. If you run across something that might be an interesting addition to the notebook, please feel free to drop us a line or a link in the comments section below. In the meantime, here’s the first installment of the Zoneblitz Notebook.

Replacement refs overblown: It’s not all that often that I agree with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, whose team has been more or less irrelevant since he ran out Jimmy Johnson. But he’s right in his observations regarding the league’s referees, who will be locked out through at least the first week of the regular season.

He noted last week on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas (which was picked up by ProFootballTalk.com) that he isn’t terribly concerned about winning or losing games because of referees in part because the mistakes generally even out and that the permanent refs make mistakes too.

“As long as it’s consistent, then how it affects the games may not be as much,” Jones told the radio station, according to PFT.
I think the rancor surrounding replacement referees is a little blown out of proportion. Yes, the replacements looked goofy several times during the preseason. Sure, during the preseason, they made some embarrassing and obvious gaffes, particularly with respect to spotting the ball, calling pass interference penalties and other mess-ups.

But I think this is just an issue on which the NFL teams are going to have to suck it up. Both teams have to deal with them. In all likelihood, they won’t be around for long. And if they are, their performance is likely going to improve as they get accustomed to the game.

It’s not like the officiating from week to week with the permanent refs is spotless. And I also find it unlikely that the replacement refs are going to miss something so blatant that it is going to cause a major injury, as has been speculated in some places.

Don’t get me wrong, I hope permanent referees do ultimately get a deal done soon. The game is definitely smoother when they are in there. But if the lockout results in at least some of the permanent officials becoming full-time refs, then I think it’s a stance worth taking for the league.
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AFC South prediction 2012

by | Sep 5, 2012 | 2012 season

AFC South

I think this will be one of the earlier decided divisions, as the South consists of Houston and everyone else. The biggest question I see is how far the Texans can go in the playoffs. With a little luck on the health front, this could be as good a team as anyone else in the league.

Houston Texans: As long as the big three offensive playmakers stay healthy the Texans are as big a challenger for the Super Bowl as any team in the AFC. Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson are fantastic but injury prone. The defense is top-notch as well, even with the loss of oft-injured Mario Williams. Again, the health issue is key, but this team could force a changing of the guard this season.

Tennessee Titans: This team was a quiet 9-7 in 2011 and four of those losses were by a touchdown or less. Chris Johnson is back and will have a much better year. Jake Locker is the question mark. If he plays well, the Titans could compete for a wild card berth in the playoffs.

Indianapolis Colts: Third place is a tossup. I like Andrew Luck, but there is a dearth of talent on this team with the exodus of Peyton Manning and much of the nucleus of the team that was so competitive throughout the 2000s. I think they’ll be fun to watch, but they’re not going to challenge for many wins until 2013.

Jacksonville Jaguars: If Blaine Gabbert performs up to his draft status, it’ll help the Jaguars immensely. This is a team that to me just seems stuck. It wouldn’t surprise me if they are able to jump up to third place but I don’t see them doing much more.

AFC North prediction 2012

by | Sep 4, 2012 | 2012 season

AFC North

This is one of the most interesting divisions in the league as there are two established super-teams and two upstarts that are coming on with fair amounts of young talent. I’m not sure the changing of the guard happens this season, but the North could be flipped upside down over the next couple years.

Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco is playing for a contract. The Ravens came one dropped pass from the Super Bowl last year. Could there be a hangover? Sure. Could a couple of aging components of a still-solid defense break down? Sure. Is this team probably the best in the division for at least one more year? I think so.

Pittsburgh Steelers: I think even the team’s own front office expected to take a step back this season due to salary cap issues and age. The Steelers gambled and won in tendering Mike Wallace at just a first round level heading into free agency. His return ensures a solid downfield passing game. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman not only ensure a decent run threat, but they may be better than starter Rashard Mendenhall anyway. And the defense is still good enough to win.

Cincinnati Bengals: I don’t think Cincy catches Baltimore this year, but the Bengals could flip spots with the Steelers. I like Andy Dalton and AJ Green. The nucleus is getting better. Tough schedule at the start. If they come out of the gate hot, Cincinnati will fight for a playoff spot.

Cleveland Browns: The defense was good last year and the offense theoretically got better during the offseason. It’s going to take a year before Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Josh Gordon and company are ready to challenge for the top of the division, but this team is no longer the Same Old Browns. They could be a tough beat for anyone.

AFC East prediction 2012

by | Sep 3, 2012 | 2012 season

AFC East

It’s been quite awhile since anyone gave New England much of a run for their money in this division. The Patriots have dominated the AFC East for just over a decade. Is that about to change? I’ve been waiting to see it for years. And I think I’m giving up.

New England Patriots: I’m done betting against Bill Belichick. Whenever I think someone has caught him (Last year’s New York Jets), I’m pitifully and embarrassingly wrong. The Patriots will win the division until they get bored doing so. Or until Tom Brady retires. Neither of which has happened yet.

Buffalo Bills: The other reason it’s easy to pick the Patriots is no other team is quite ready to challenge them. The Bills are better. A solid defense got better with the addition of pass rusher extraordinaire Mario Williams. And the offense has a solid quarterback complemented by Fred Jackson and Stevie Johnson. This team won’t make the playoffs yet, but it is much improved.

New York Jets: Rex Ryan is going to have an interesting challenge on his hands. Coming off two conference championship appearances, New York appeared primed to take over the East last year. But t he Jets imploded. Now Ryan is in a fight for his job with two mediocre-at-best quarterbacks, a mediocre-at-best running back in Shonn Greene and a supporting offensive cast that just isn’t all that impressive. If (when) we get around to writing about coaches on the hot seat, Ryan will be right at the top of the list.

Miami Dolphins: This is a season of new beginnings for Miami. They brought in Joe Philbin to coach and Ryan Tannehill to take over the quarterback position in hopes that he can be the best Dolphin quarterback since Dan Marino. In all honesty, though, the biggest thing Dolphins fans have to look forward to is seeing television shots of Tannehill’s wife. This team has no receivers, not a lot of skill players the rest of the way around, a mediocre defense and, really, a pretty miserable chance to do anything this season. Philbin might be a fine coach but Miami is a couple years away from contending for anything, at best.