AFC North Preview

Baltimore Ravens: Offensively, the big news is the arrival of Willis McGahee from Buffalo. Everyone thinks he will be the savior of the offense. I think he makes them a bit better than Jamal Lewis. In Buffalo, he averaged 4, 3.8, and 3.8 yards a carry for the past three years and his two biggest games last year were against the Jets. I agree with most people in thinking that with the arguably better O-Line in Baltimore will help Mcgahee’s numbers, but I do not see him getting to a 100 yard a game average. McNair holds this offense in his hands. He needs to find a way to make an average receiving corp better this year. Derrick Mason is reliable, and Todd Heap is an All Pro. The both of them will be constant targets for McNair. Two questions are, who is the downfield threat and can the O-Line get better from last year so to allow McGahee lanes to run? Demitrius Williams must become the deep threat. As for the offensive line, I think they will be shaky this year. Hopefully they can gel as the season progresses. Defense will once again be the reason why the Ravens win. Depth and talent throughout the defense, barring injury, the Ravens will rank in the top five in total defense this year.

Cincinnati Bengals: Levi Jones (LT) and Willie Anderson (RT) anchor a very good Offensive Line that got better as the season wore on last year. Cincinnati lost G Eric Steinbeck to Cleveland, but have faith in two young players, Andrew Whitworth and Stacy Andrews to pick up the slack. The O-Line will succeed in giving Rudi Johnson more lanes to run and improve on his 3.8 yards per carry last year. Carson Palmer leads a very potent air attack. Chad Johnson and T.J Houshmandzadeh are torture for any defense to contain. The question here is who will play the slot and will they get any production from their tight end? Reggie Kelly is the veteran ,incumbent TE and will look to make a bigger contribution than his 21 catches in ’06. Last season, the defense ranked 30th overall, giving up 238 yards a game through the air. The D-line is held together by defensive ends Robert Geathers and Justin Smith. The Bengals need better production from their aging and underproductive DTs. Second year player Domata Peko needs to make an impact. To help the linebackers, Cincinnati signed Edgerton Hartwell. He will play alongside an underrated and year-after- year improving Landon Johnson. The Bengals used their first round pick on a CB for a second strait year (Johnathan Joseph in 2006) by selecting Leon Hall out of Michigan. This is an improving defensive unit that will help Cincinnati win the division this year.

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn will be starting by week 3. He has the talent and from pre-season work, looks to have the poise. A talented Braylon Edwards needs to improve his mental approach and Kellen Winslow can be an All Pro at TE. Where the Browns progressed most was in addressing the offensive line. The addition of LG Eric Steinbach (7 yrs, 49 mill) and drafting of LT Joe Thomas with the third overall pick will give the Browns needed stability (assuming the rookie Thomas adapts well) on the left side. Veteran Hank Fraley will start the season at C, but let’s hope LeCharles Bentley comes back this season after serious complications after knee surgery last season. The right side has questions at guard but if RT Ryan Tucker can put his personal problems in the past, he can help this unit become a second tier type of offensive line. Never a juke and burn type of back, the O-line play will directly impact the year Jamal Lewis has. He needs a hole to get through and then get 4-5 yards a carry. Although he will not duplicate his 2003 totals, I can see him reaching 1200 yards this year. The Browns used 4 of their 7 draft picks on the defensive side, 2 on defensive ends and two in the secondary. The D-line is old and unreliable and the secondary is a work in progress. Crennel needs to scheme so his very good linebackers can make plays. Kameron Wimbly is coming off an impressive rookie season, Andra Davis is reliable, Willie McGinest is old now, but can still make plays. The Browns could have a gem in LB Leon Williams. He seems to be in on every tackle and should see more snaps this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger should have been no where near a football field last year and it showed. After a head injury of the nature he suffered, it was ill advised for him to take hits to the head as is administered every week in the NFL. This is a win now league and teams suck out as much juice from the players until they are no longer useful. The long term effects will be seen in his play this year. The Steelers can not compete without a 100% Ben Roethlisberger and he will get hurt again this year because of his head trauma a year ago. A saving grace for Ben may be in a changing, yet still more than adequate O-line to protect him and open up holes for Willlie Parker. Parker should have another1400+ yard year. Santonio Holmes will grow better this year, provide a deep threat and allow Hines Ward to do his work underneath as a premium possession receiver. Heath Miller is a better than average TE and 3rd round pick TE Matt Spaeth will come in on single back and big sets. Troy Polamalu is a very reckless, but extremely productive leader of the defense. The DB’s are young but should mature as the season goes on. Casey Hampton leads the D-Line and is a perennial All-Pro. The linebackers, always strong on the Steelers may be slipping in stature. Joey Porter left for Miami, and although still effective, James Farrior is getting older and slower. The Steelers drafted LBs with their first two picks in this years draft. Lawerence Timmons (1st round) and LaMarr Woodley (2nd round, also plays DE) will help give depth at LB. It will be interesting to see how 1st year head coach Mike Tomlin handles his first year as a head coach. His demeanor is calm and I like what I see so far, but when the real games begin, sprinkle in some adversity when the pressure is on to win in a football crazy Pittsburgh, things can turn ugly quickly.


Predictions:

1) Bengals 2) Ravens 3) Browns 4) Steelers