AFC North Preview:
As NFL football season is finally here, after last nights thrilling opener, we’re wrapping up our season previews for each division, similar to our draft preview. Today, we end it with a look at the AFC North.
Cincinnati Bengals:
Last year, Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals won the division. This year they look to be a strong team again, with Dalton hoping to buck the label of underachiever. I mean sure the Bengals have had solid teams since drafting Dalton, but the last time a Bengals team won a playoff game, Anthony Munoz was starting at tackle. If Dalton wants to be taken seriously, he needs to step up this season, and progress into a better quarterback. Behind him is Jeremy Hill, who is a touchdown monster. He’s a bruiser who is deadly by the goal line, noted by his 20 rushing touchdowns since entering the league. He faltered slightly last year in terms of rushing yards but hopes to bounce back this year. At receiver, the Bengals still have AJ Green, highly regarded as the best receiver in football (maybe OBJ or Brown), but lost their #2 receiver, Mohamed Sanu, in free agency. Brandon LaFell hopes to fill the void left by Sanu, after years in Carolina and New England. Their tight end, Tyler Eifert, is one of the better young tight ends in football, and a serious ball catching threat for opposing defenses. Tyler Zeitler at center and Cedric Ogbuehi at right tackle will protect Dalton. Both are former first round picks, and both are some pretty good offensive linemen.
Defensively, the team starts and ends with Geno Atkins. Atkins is top three, if not the best, defensive tackle in the league. He’s a monster on the field, and teams will have to either double or triple team him. Which leaves Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson and Domata Peko either under guarded or with no one at all. Make no mistake; the pass rush is legit in Cincy. Linebackers, Rey Maualuga, Vincent Rey and Vontaze Burfict all hope to show that they are the best linebacking corps in the league. Unfortunately for the Bengals faithful, Burfict is suspended the first three games of the NFL season. Journeyman, Karlos Dansby, will fill in for him while he is gone. The secondary has Dre Kirkpatrick starting at cornerback and he’s a solid starter in the NFL. Pacman Jones will start at opposite him, and he too is an above average NFL defensive back. As for their safeties, Shawn Williams steps into the starting role after spending three seasons as a special teams/backup player. Next to him is George Iloko, who has started for the Bengals the past three years, missing four games to injury last year. Is the defense good enough to win a playoff game? Or will Andy Dalton turn into a Red-headed pumpkin the moment the regular season ends?
Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Pittsburgh Steelers also made the playoffs last year, beating the Bengals in the first round due to a few stupid penalties for the Cincy defense. Ben Roethlisberger is still the starter, and probably the second best quarterback in the NFL besides TB12. He hopes to add another Super Bowl ring on his finger, to make a total of 3 for Big Ben. Ben’s running back, Le’veon Bell, is suspended for the first four games, but back up DeAngelo Williams, could start on most teams in the league. The one-two punch of the Bell and Williams could cause a lot of trouble for opposing defenses. At wideout, Antonio Brown hopes to continue his successful career. Brown is a top 3 wideout in the league, and provides a fantastic weapon for Ben to throw to. The #2 wideout, Markus Wheaton, hopes to have a break out season; similar to Emmanuel Sanders did for the Black and Yellow in 2013. On the line, the Steelers have Maurkice Pouncey at center, and he’s just an awesome center. Next to him is David DeCastro, at guard, who is a pro bowl caliber guard, capable of dominating opposing defensive lineman. On defense, the team has less flashy names, but still a solid team.
Rookie Javon Hargraves is starting for Pittsburgh at defensive tackle. Talent surrounds the rookie. With defensive ends Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, both of which will help the rookie adjust to the NFL. At linebacker, Ryan Shazier is turning into a bigger player, and should look to have a breakout season for the Steelers. The same can be said for Jarvis Jones, positioning himself at the outside linebacker position. Lawrence Timmons, continues to be a force in the middle, having started for the Steelers since 2009. The linebacker corps has the chance to dominate the NFL if their younger players can blossom into stars. William Gay, Robert Golden, Mike Mitchell, and Ross Cockrell fill out the secondary. They also have two rookies, Artie Burns and Sean Davis, who could see the field at some point as well. Having been drafted in the top two rounds of this year’s draft, almost guarantees that these two will play at some point this season. Can the Steelers steal the division title away from the Bengals?
Baltimore Ravens:
The Ravens had a horrible year last year, and while I expect them to bounce back slightly this season, these aren’t your older brother’s Ravens. The dominant defensive players that we grew up with are gone, such as Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. Instead the team has CJ Mosley and Lardarius Webb filling their positions. Molsey, a blue chip prospect from Alabama, has the potential to eventually become a reckoning force in the middle of the field, but I doubt he will ever reach the heights of Lewis, who is one of the top 3, if not best, middle linebackers to ever play the game. Webb on the other hand is far cry from Reed, but is a serviceable safety, and would play a significant role on most NFL teams. Yet, one holdover from the old Ravens is still there, T-Sizzle, Terrell Suggs. Suggs career has been dominant, but he has been hampered with injuries the past couple of years. Opposite Suggs is former Denver Bronco, Elvis Dumervil, and the two will help the pass rush to become a threat to opposing QB’s. Jimmy Smith holds the cornerback spot and continues to be a freak of nature, playing corner at 6’2. The guy is massive for a corner and will use that to his advantage against smaller receivers. Finally, on the defensive line, tackle is manned by third year pro, Timmy Jernigan. Jernigan, who had a successful career at Florida State, could be a breakout defensive player. I don’t simply mean on the team, Jernigan could show this year the dominance he showed in college. Offensively, the team struggles at the skill positions.
Is Joe Flacco elite? This question is asked by Baltimore Ravens fans often ask. Personally, I think he is, but he cannot perform at that level largely due to his massive contract, which has hampered the team’s ability to go get skill players to make Flacco better. Somehow, Steve Smith Sr. is playing some of the best football in his career and that will make Flacco better as well, but Mike Wallace hasn’t been able to produce like he could in Pittsburgh after brief stops in Miami and Minnesota. Kamar Aiken, too shouldn’t be a #3 or #2 wideout, but Flacco loves to target him. Expect him to be a big part of the team going forward. At running back, the Ravens just signed Justin Forsett, after releasing him last weekend. Forsett had a monster season in 2014, but followed it up with a lukewarm campaign last year. If Forsett can catch lightning in a bottle again, watch for the Ravens to be better than expected. On the line Ronnie Stanley, the rookie from Notre Dame, will start at the tackle position while Marshall Yanda starts again at center. Can the Delaware product lead the Purple and Black back to the playoffs?
Cleveland Browns:
The last team in the AFC North, is the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland is currently title town, what with LeBron and the Cavs winning the NBA title, and Stipe Miocic is currently the UFC heavyweight champion. That trend will not continue with the Browns. RG3 gets his chance to start after sitting last year on the Redskins, but he still can’t seem to slide, and looks awkward when hit. He still has a cannon for an arm though, and with wideouts Josh Gordon and Terrelle Pryor look like they will benefit from the Baylor Alumni. The same goes for rookie receiver Corey Coleman, who actually played at Baylor The same could be said about running back Duke Johnson. Johnson won the starting job this year over Isaiah Crowell. Johnson is a threat out of the backfield in the passing game and will be able to get an extra step on defenses, due to Griffin’s legs and ability to run the ball. Add in tight end Gary Barnidge, who had a breakout year last year, and the Browns look to have a potent offense. On the line, the will have to look to replace Alex Mack who left the team to go somewhere he could win. Mack’s replacement, Cameron Erving, is a first rounder from last year’s draft, but does not have much experience in the NFL. Tackle Joe Thomas is a monster, and consistently, one of the best players at tackle. Can RG3 replicate what he did in 2012, or will he continue to be disaster like his other years in Washington?
Defensively, the Browns cut Paul Kruger earlier this offseason. That was dumb. Regardless of his salary, Kruger might have been the best linebacker on the Browns roster. The Browns have youth though, defensively, with two rookies starting, and four other looking to get significant playing time. Joe Schobert and Emmanuel Ogbah will both start at linebacker, while Carl Nassib hopes to play at defensive end this season. Danny Shelton, looks to build off of his rookie campaign at DT while Xavier Cooper hopes to do the same at defensive end. In the secondary, Joe Haden continues to be a complete and utter stud at cornerback while, rookies Tracy Howard and Derrick Kindred hope to get a chance to see the field at corner and safety respectively. For Kindred, he is behind Ibraheim Campbell, the 4th round pick from last year’s draft. If the Browns youth can perform, they could be a dangerous team. If they don’t Cleveland will do Cleveland things, and we will all laugh while feeling really bad for them deep down in our hearts. Believeland is a good name for the city, but the football team gives them no real reason to believe.
Asinine Predictions that Will Probably be Wrong:
AFC North Champions: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-5
- Cincinnati Bengals: 11-5
- Baltimore Ravens: 6-10
- Cleveland Browns: 5-11
