In depth: Buffalo Bills

by | Jan 29, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

Ryan Fitzpatrick got off to a hot start in 2011 and, in following his lead, so did the Buffalo Bills. Seven games in, the Bills sat at 5-2 and looked to be a real playoff contender. Then Fitzpatrick cooled and the team ran off seven losses in a row.

So who are the real Bills? Does Chan Gailey have this team on the right track? Or will Buffalo and the team’s fans struggle to climb from the basement of the AFC East once again in 2012? Brian Galliford, editor-in-chief of BuffaloRumblings.com, shared his thoughts with Zoneblitz.

Zoneblitz: Bills got off to a hot start and then fizzled as the season wore on, resulting in a 6-10 finish and a two game improvement from last season. Is the season a success, a failure or somewhere in between and why? (more…)

Comparing likely Hall of Famers: Brown, Carter & Reed

by | Jan 28, 2012 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts

We’re getting close to learning who the 2012 inductees will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this August. Much of the discussion on one of our other Hall of Fame posts revolves around which of the three wide receiver finalists — or whether any of them — will get chosen for the honor this season.

Four-time finalist Andre Reed seems to have gained the most momentum, based on his near miss last season. Three-time finalist Cris Carter and one-time finalist Tim Brown are the other two wideouts in the mix for this year’s honor.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Website did a comparison of these three players and how they fared up against the other 21 wideouts already enshrined in Canton, Ohio. But I wanted to do some analysis of my own.

Let me start with this. All three of these guys had great careers and they definitely are strong candidates, at least in the eyes of Zoneblitz. They all would be in the top five in receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions among receivers already in the Hall. Even as we move into a heavy passing era, Reed, Carter and Brown all continue to match up strongly with the other candidates they’ll be compared with in the near future.

But as the competition gets stronger in the years ahead, as guys like Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Torry Holt, Terrell Owens and a host of others retire, it’s going to be more and more challenging for the current group of finalists to get in. That makes the voting over the next couple years that much more important. And frankly, after doing some analysis, I think the current wide receiver finalists might be gaining momentum in the wrong order.

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In depth: Miami Dolphins

by | Jan 27, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

The Miami Dolphins got off to a dreadful start in 2011. Seven losses to start the campaign sparked a 6-10 season. The results cost Coach Tony Sparano his job.

But there was reason for optimism. Of the 10 losses, three were by a field goal and two were by a single point. And despite the early-season struggles, Miami had the best defense in terms of points allowed in the AFC East.

So, can the Dolphins, with a new coach and a resurgent Reggie Bush, capitalize on a strong second half in 2011 by turning it into a playoff run in 2012? Brian Miller, editor and lead writer for Phin Phanatic, shares his thoughts below:

Zoneblitz: What do you think of the Joe Philbin hire? (more…)

In depth: Carolina Panthers

by | Jan 25, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

Few 6-10 teams will finish a season with as much enthusiasm and excitement for the future as the Carolina Panthers. That’s because few teams have Cam Newton. The consensus 2011 Rookie of the Year threw for 4,000 yards and ran for 14 touchdowns during a season where he silenced doubters and burst upon the scene.

The six win season is a four game improvement over 2010. And the Panthers’ offense performed like a unit headed in the right direction.

The defense is still a work in progress. But Jaxon, who manages the blog Cat Scratch Reader, says the unit will get some key contributors back from injuries. With a few solid moves, he says Carolina could find itself in the wild card mix as soon as next season. Here’s what he had to say:

Zoneblitz: Will Cam Newton duplicate his success from 2011? (more…)

In depth: Jacksonville Jaguars

by | Jan 23, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

While there wasn’t a lot for fans to cheer about on the field in 2011, the Jacksonville Jaguars did usher in a new era as the team introduced to its fans a new owner and a new quarterback. Change has continued into the early offseason with Mike Mularkey being named the Jags’ new head coach.

There’s even a new era at the Jaguars fan blog Black and Teal, where Luke Sims recently signed on as the new editor and lead writer. And he tells us Jacksonville’s future on the field may be on the way toward success sooner rather than later. Here’s what he had to say:

Zoneblitz: What are your first impressions of new owner Shahid Kahn? Are fans getting behind his efforts to rejuvenate the team and keep it in Jacksonville? (more…)

In depth: Cleveland Browns

by | Jan 21, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

It’s been nearly 30 years since the Cleveland Browns were playoff contenders on a regular basis and now a decade since the last postseason appearance. But the new Cleveland Browns might not be that far from a return to relevance.

The defense stepped it up big time in 2011. And despite a 4-12 record, the team was in a majority of its games until the very end. They need a dramatic infusion of talent on offense. But Steve DiMatteo, editor and lead writer of the Dawg Pound Daily, tells us he thinks the team is definitely on the right track.

Here’s what he had to say:

Zoneblitz: The Browns lost 12 games, but six were by a touchdown or less. What was your overall impression of the 2011 season? (more…)