In depth: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by | Jan 17, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

It was an ugly and disappointing season in Tampa Bay, where the Buccaneers got off to a slow start and then completely collapsed, largely throwing in the towels late in the year.

But the cupboard is not completely bare. With Josh Freeman and several skill position players to build around on offense, this team could rebound in 2012 with the right new coach and some defensive pieces.

Patrik Nohe, lead writer and editor for The Pewter Plank blog, joined us to share his thoughts on how Tampa can return to competitiveness next season.

Zoneblitz: Was firing Raheem Morris the right move one season after nearly making the playoffs and earning consideration for being coach of the year? (more…)

NFL Lockout may have saved 49ers season

by | Jan 16, 2012 | 2011 season, NFL Lockout, NFL Random Thoughts

After the San Francisco 49ers went 6-10 during the 2010 season, firing Coach Mike Singletary along the way, Alex Smith was clearly ready to move on.

The 2005 first-overall pick was talking in the locker room with a reporter from the San Jose Mercury News who asked him if he could see himself coming back for a seventh season in San Francisco.

His response, according to this story, was: “Are you being serious? … Uh, no.” (more…)

In depth: Minnesota Vikings

by | Jan 14, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

Many people thought the Minnesota Vikings were in for a tough 2011 season long before it kicked off in September against San Diego. But not quite so many saw the bottom completely falling out from underneath a team that was seconds away from going to the Super Bowl just two years ago.

The challenges get bigger in 2012, as well, with Adrian Peterson recuperating from an ACL tear and gaping holes on the offensive line and in the secondary. Dan Zinski, lead writer at TheVikingAge.com, took some time to share his insights on what went wrong in 2011 and where the team should go from here.

Zoneblitz: I think most people went into the season expecting the Vikings to have their issues in 2011, but I don’t know that many saw 3-13 coming. What made this whole thing fall apart? (more…)

In depth: St. Louis Rams

by | Jan 12, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

After several tough seasons, the St. Louis Rams went 7-9, finishing one game from the playoffs in 2010. They had a new quarterback in rookie Sam Bradford and, seemingly, all the momentum in the world. I thought they had the best chance in the division of winning the NFC West.

I was way, way wrong. For our second post-season, in-depth segment, Ryan Van Bibber, editor of Turf Show Times, joined Zoneblitz this week to share his thoughts on what went wrong in 2011 and what has to happen for the Rams to turn things around again in 2012.

Zoneblitz: After 2010 I believed St. Louis would be in the mix for the NFC West championship. What happened that derailed that so dramatically? (more…)

You’re doing a great job, Jonesie

by | Jan 11, 2012 | 2011 season, NFL Random Thoughts

Good news, Cowboys fans. Jerry Jones plans to look in the mirror and “make some changes,” according to a story on the WFAA-TV website.

Not sure what those changes are going to be, since he pretty much said after the season he wasn’t hiring a general manager.

It’s a poor comparison with regard to the importance of the issues at hand, of course, but I’ve always sort of envisioned Jones’ mirror talking to him similarly to how President George W. Bush spoke to Michael Brown during a press conference when the latter was getting criticized for FEMA’s questionable response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans: “You’re doing a great job, Jonesie.”

Jones’ self-assessment that he is providing the coaching and the player personnel as the team’s general manager rings as hollow considering the team’s performance over the years.

The Dallas Cowboys might be the most valuable team in sports and Fortune may have named Jones the National Football League’s fifth-best owner, but the team  with the billion dollar stadium is far from the top of the list when it comes to fielding competitive teams over the last 20-some years. (more…)