2011 AFC North Preview

For the third of our eight part 2011 NFL preview, we take a look at the AFC North. The teams are listed in order of where we expect them to finish.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ignore all of the things that happened this past offseason involving the players on the Steelers. They are no longer strangers to controversial downtime after the entire Roethlisberger situation last year. In fact, the Steelers almost seem to thrive on such things. Roethlisberger put up one of his better seasons last year, and with a full 16 game slate this year, should do even better. While Hines Ward is the recognized name amongst the receiving corps, he may only be their third best option. Mike Wallace is a playmaker, and Antonio Brown adds a secondary speed element to the group. Jericho Cothcery and Heath Miller are steady performers. At running back, Rashard Mendenhall showed that he was truly capable of being an every down back, and forces teams to pay attention to the running game.

On defense, there are weaknesses, particularly in the secondary. While Troy Polamalu is essentially a guided missile with hair, he needs to stay healthy for the Steelers to be what they want to be. No other safety is that instinctive when it comes to finding the ball. The corners, however, are a major weak spot of the team. However, they are often hidden due to a strong pass rush, and a great corps of linebackers led by Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison.

The formula has not changed in several decades – a tough football team with a strong defense. There is not reason why the Steelers will not be a Super Bowl contender again this year.

2. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco believes that he is a top tier quarterback. If he is, then he had better prove it this season. While he did lose his favored targets in Derrick Mason and Todd Heap, the receiving corps are actually better and deeper than at any point in time during his tenure in Baltimore. Holdover Anquan Boldin is joined by the newly acquired Lee Evans and second round draft pick Torrey Smith. Evans and Smith are both speedsters, which will allow Boldin to work the middle of the field, where he is more comfortable. At running back is Ray Rice, a complete player in the backfield with his ability to run and catch the ball. Now that he has a true fullback in Vonta Leach in front of him, he could be in line for a career season. The only weakness on offense appears to be along the line, where a lot of faith is being placed on Bryant McKinnie to be able to protect Flacco’s blindside. If he falters, then it could be a long season.

The defense, long thought of as the strength of the Ravens, is actually a question mark. There are no guarantees that mainstays Ed Reed or Ray Lewis will be able to stay healthy all year. Without those two, the defense loses a great deal of it’s edge and toughness. The cornerbacks were pedestrian at best last season, forcing them to draft the talented Jimmy Smith in the first round. Smith will start, but expect growing pains. The once feared pass rush was nothing more than a shadow of itself, with the Ravens holding back on the blitz to protect the secondary. For the Ravens to truly be a contender, the defensive line and linebackers need to step up in a big way.

The Ravens might be more talented on paper than the Steelers, but they are a worse team. They will go as far as Flacco can take them.

3. Cleveland Browns: While Colt McCoy should show some improvement this season, the offense is still all about Peyton Hillis. Before running out of steam last year, Hillis was a complete beast, rushing for almost 1200 yards, catching passes, running people over, and seemingly scoring at will. While Hillis will remain the focal point of the offense, he will finally get some rest, with the return of Montario Hardesty. The passing game should be improved, as McCoy has Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi as potential playmakers at the receiver spot. Ben Watson showed that he could be relied upon as a receiving threat last year, and is a good outlet for McCoy.

The defense is improving, but has a lot of holes. Outside of the two young defensive tackles in Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin. Otherwise, there is little depth and a whole lot of nothing going out there when the opposition has the ball. Pressure on the quarterback was non-existant, and when the Browns blitzed, the secondary was torched like a creepy old woman during the Salem Witch Trials. They are also making the transition from the 3-4 defense of the past six years to a 4-3 defense. Expect this unit to be terrible for a couple of years.

The Browns are putting pieces together and getting some solid players. Regardless, they are still a couple of years from contending.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: Talk about your train wrecks of an organization. In this past offseason, they alienated their franchise quarterback, who got tired of the losing culture fostered in Cincy. They got rid of their top receiver in Chad Ochocinco, who gladly accepted a trade to New England. This must have felt like a ten year felon getting paroled. Rookie Andy Dalton is in for a long year, since his best weapon on offense may be another rookie in A.J. Green. Expect the passing game to feature a lot of short passes, with the occasional bomb to Green. The running game is headed by the wildly inconsistent, and semi incarcerated, Cedric Benson. Behind him, there is not much.

The defense has essentially one playmaker, pass rusher Carlos Dunlap. And even he is a part time player, as he is extremely suspect against the run. Rey Maualuga is a solid linebacker, and has been joined by newcomers Manny Lawson and Thomas Howard. The corps is deeper and better, but not exactly amongst the best in the AFC. The secondary has Taylor Mays and Nate Clements, but the defense as a whole lacks overall speed. In fact, the best player on this team may be their punter, which makes sense since he will have plenty of opportunities this year.

The Bengals are an embarrassment of a franchise, and are in the midst of yet another rebuilding process. How this team has any fans left is beyond me. They may take a run at the second 0-16 season in NFL history.