NFL Picks, 2012 Season Week 5

by | Oct 2, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Picks

The offensive line still isn’t very good. The running game needs a lot of work. And the quarterback play is … unpredictable. But the Arizona Cardinals are 4-0 for the first time since before I was born.

Scott Allen, editor of the Raising Zona blog, says he’s surprised at how well the season started but adds that expectations have now risen.

“I can see them winning at least the next two games, although the Miami game should teach the Cards to take nothing for granted,” he says. “Once they hit Minnesota on October 21st, all bets are off.”

Allen joined Zoneblitz with his picks for week five. He’s got a tough act to follow. Last week’s picker, The Viking Age’s senior blogger Dan Zinski, hit 11 of 15 games to pull our celebrity blogger contingent into a tie with Tony for first place.

Andy and Tony tied at 10-5, leaving Andy two games behind Tony and the bloggers for the season.

Week Four Season Total
Tony 10-5 37-26
Celebrity bloggers 11-4 37-26
Andy 10-5 35-28

Here are the picks for week five. (more…)

ZB Notebook 09-10-12

by | Sep 11, 2012 | 2012 season, NFL Random Thoughts

Five rookie quarterbacks started their careers on Sunday. Only one looked really good. From the start of the game, Robert Griffin III looked in control of Washington’s game against New Orleans. Despite the Saints having a chance to tie the game with a final drive, there really wasn’t a point during which it seemed like Washington was in any real trouble. That’s a huge credit to Griffin, who does appear to be the best quarterback the Redskins have had since … Joe Theismann?

There will be rough patches as teams gather film on this composed rookie, but I may have been wrong predicting another season in the cellar of the NFC East for the Redskins. This guy looks good.

None of the other rookies fared well in their debuts. Andrew Luck got beat up by Chicago. I still think he’s going to be fine, but when the Colts fell behind the Bears and the run game provided little support, Luck was out of … luck.  It is important to note the similarities between the first games of Luck and one Peyton Manning, however. CBS put up the linked graphic during the game broadcast. Colts fans can take solace in the likelihood that better days are ahead.

Russell Wilson showed glimpses that he’s going to be alright, though he ended up not able to pull the Seattle game out in the end against Arizona. Cleveland’s Brandon Weeden and Miami’s Ryan Tannehill both had forgettable debuts. A statistical breakdown of their performances can be found at RealRedskins.com.
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In depth: Denver Broncos

by | Mar 6, 2012 | 2011 season, 2012 season, NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, NFL Random Thoughts

The Denver Broncos got off to a 1-4 start before Tim Tebow replaced Kyle Orton in a move that kick-started the team. All of a sudden the defense improved, the run game became more of a threat and the Broncos won seven of eight, including six in a row at one point.

The team slumped again at the end of the season but still made the playoffs, knocking off Pittsburgh before falling to New England. So just how good are the Broncos? How responsible was Tebow for the team’s success? And can he and a vastly improved defense take this 8-8 division champion to the next level in 2012 and beyond? Ian Henson from Broncotalk.net shared his thoughts with Zoneblitz.

Zoneblitz: Tim Tebow was good at times, bad at times but amazingly polarizing. What is your assessment of his season and is he the quarterback of the future? (more…)

Foundation work, public speaking keeping Mecklenburg busy

by | May 6, 2011 | Where are they now

Editor’s note: Professional athletes often get a bad rap. A handful of chowderheads make headlines on a regular basis for getting arrested or committing other bad deeds. Those incidents often overshadow the good works and interesting careers being pursued by current and former players outside their respective games. We’re planning to make a semi-regular feature out of recognizing some of these former football stars for the contributions they make to society when they leave the spotlight. Here is the first of those profiles.

*****

In 1983, the Denver Broncos traded quarterback Mark Herrmann, offensive lineman Chris Hinton and a first round pick the following year to the Baltimore Colts for John Elway. The trade turned out to be a highway robbery that helped make the Broncos competitive for years into the future.

But it was not the only steal the team made that year. In the 12th round — a round that does not even exist any more — the club selected Karl Mecklenburg, a linebacker from the University of Minnesota.

Though he was drafted late, Mecklenburg always figured he’d make it. And he did, playing playing 12 years in the NFL, amassing 79 sacks, six Pro Bowls and three First-Team All Pro nominations.

Mecklenburg played in three Super Bowls and has been named to the Broncos Ring of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. But his time in the public eye did not end when his NFL career did in 1994. He’s taken on the role of motivational speaker. He helps run a foundation aimed at getting kids to read. And he’s an active member of the Broncos’ alumni.

Mecklenburg shared some thoughts with Zoneblitz this week on his NFL past and his present.

Zoneblitz: You recently wrote a book, Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice for Competitors and Their Families. What’s in the book and why did you write it? (more…)

Denver, Detroit make early strides in the draft

by | Apr 30, 2011 | 2011 season, NFL Draft, NFL Random Thoughts

There are a lot of picks left to be made but the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos have already had winning drafts.

Even if Denver forfeits its remaining picks the team took unmistakably helped its putrid defense with the additions of linebacker Von Miller, safety Rahim Moore and linebacker Nate Irving.

I’m a little confused about why the team took Miller over Marcel Dareus in a year they are switching from the 3-4 defense to the 4-3. Miller is considered a top-notch edge rusher for the 3-4 and Dareus would help fill a gaping hole in the team’s run defense.

But as far as just adding talent, Denver has done a tremendous job heading into day three. (more…)