AFC North Preview

Division of constant changes and fluctuation. It is the matrix.

Browns- Finally, this team is successful again. I wouldn't predict a repeat season for Derek Anderson because his gambling style will catch up to him (not that America will care: in this country if you do that and still win you're a Gunslinger, IE Favrespn. If you do it and lose, you suck and end up in the arena, IE Aaron Brooks). But he still has Braylon Edwards as a top target who made good on his insane potential last season and Kellen Winslow at TE who seems to have finally successfully removed his head from his anal cavity. Those two make for a fearsome duo as the top two options in an offense, and are compounded by the addition of speedy although fragile Donte Stallworth in free agency, coming over from the Patriots. Jamal Lewis will continue his revival in the backfield (no word yet on a possible link to Gideons Bible) and the line is genuinely a strong point now, with Joe Thomas transitioning near seemlessly last season from Wisconsin Badgers football to Cleveland Browns NFL football. He leads a unit that performed spectacularly last season, along with Rex Hadnot Kevin Shaffer Hank Fraley and Eric Steinbach. Depth could be an issue with Seth McKinney and Ryan Tucker as the only skilled experienced backups, but if they avoid injuries this unit should be absolutely fine. The whole offense is impressive, with above average players pretty much across the board. The defense is where there was a real investment made this offseason, with the line now featuring Shaun Rogers, possibly the most talented lineman in the division, and Corey Williams will move from 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE coming over from Green Bay. Robaire Smith is unimpressive as the other starting end, but theres only so much that a person can hope for. The linebackers could be a huge plus this season, with Andra Davis as a skilled inside linebacking option, D'Qwell Jackson showing why he was made a second round pick as the Mike Backer in a 3-4, former top 15 pick Kamerion Wimbley starting outside (5 sacks last year, 4 forced fumbles) and opposite Wimbley will be a carousel, with Willie McGinest likely to see time, along with Antwan Peek and maybe even rookie Beau Bell. It is worth noting that Leon Washington is likely to be the backup communicator, which would make him Andra Davis' primary replacement. Where this defense will hit issues is the secondary. Safeties Brodney Pool and Sean Jones have proven a flair for the dramatic, but the corners are a bit more concerning. Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright had very encouraging rookie years, but the fact is they are still young and possibly prone to mistakes. I would be optimistic though, and have this team in competition for a first round bye. Barring injuries, definite Superbowl threat.

Steelers- Well, Roethlisberger is still Ben Roethlisberger. Which means his name still wins scrabble. But his Quarterbacking has never particularly impressed me. Not to say he's not good, but with Alan Faneca gone and replaced by Chris Kemoeatu, you have to be at least mildly worried about this teams ability to protect their QB or open holes for their runners. Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall have enough talent between the two of them to be spectacular though (I'm not big on Parker but I am huge Mendenhall fan). Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward are still a fine set of starting wideouts and Heath Miller is a good option to eat up the middle of the field. Limas Sweed can make an impact out of the slot this year if he's allowed to play there, but they might not want him to get locked into a slot mindset for when they want to move him outside in a few years. The line is uninspired as a whole but should do just well enough to keep their jobs and not be called out and thrown under the bus. Defensively, Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton are still epic options on the line, but Brett Keisel is decidedly less so. LaMarr Woodley moves up to starting strong side linebacker this year, and isn't in great shape to chase down runners, which will put more run pressure on the inside backer on his side, James Farrior. Farrior is a consumate professional though and has more than enough skill to handle the extra responsibilities. Larry Foote maintains a starting spot in the inside next to Farrior and is also quite good, but is aging, as is his interior backing mate. James Harrison was a one man wrecking crew on the weakside but shouldn't be counted on to do it again: for all we know it was a freaky career year. Outside are Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend who are an unimpressive starting pair of corners and stand to be improved on, and deep are Troy Polamalu who is due for a big injury with the way he plays, and Ryan Clark who is a little underwhelming.

Bengals- Carson Palmer will have his hands full this year with no guarentees in the backfield and disgruntled wideout Chad Johnson's ongoing soap opera. Rudi Johnson is the halfback, and supposedly looks good in camp and worked out insanely this offseason. However hes aging (for a running back) and his knees aren't great. Kenny Watson and Chris Perry back him up and have enough skill to pick up Rudi's slack but will get discouraged if they're performing and not given starting jobs. TJ Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson are probably the top receiver duo in the league, and are expected to produce as such. Ben Utecht is a good blocking H-back and should do good enough in his new situation. The tackles on the O-line are great, and thus one has to expect one of the top three to move inside to guard this year. Stacie Andrews is the favorite, due to seniority. The inside of the line could use work. Eric Ghiaciuc is not a fantastic center but isn't terrible, but his guards really need work. This is a defense that really scares everyone, because they're athletic and potential filled enough to scare opponents and inexperienced and mistake prone enough to scare their own fans and coaching staff. This is embodied by safety Chinedum Ndukwe, a great athlete who is kinda still learning the nuances of the game of football. Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall are inconsistent corners though and could develop into a problem if they develop consistency near the bottom of their spectrum. Rashad Jeanty is not positive as a starting strong side linebacker, but there is only so much that can be done. Dhani Jones is an alright option starting in the middle, but ideally his versatility gets used more as a flex backer (he could do well in San Francisco where they expect to change looks often). Keith Rivers is expected to start at weakside linebacker but isn't in camp yet and woudn't really be a good thing to have starting right now since he isn't working with his team at all. Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers are opposites on the line, Odom excelling in pass rush and Geathers a pure run stopper. Domata Peko and John Thornton round out an odd bunch and could use some work technique wise.

Ravens- A three headed quarterback monster is disturbing, with Troy Smith barely able to see over his line, Kyle Boller......well....being Kyle Boller, and Joe Flacco making the jump from division II Delaware to a competitive AFC North division. Flacco and his nuclear arm are expected to take over before the end of the year though. When they're out of contention (first couple weeks of October?). Willis McGahee is a warrior on the turf and should perform out of the backfield this year though, and rookie Ray Rice is a stupendous handcuff in f antasy terms. Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton are slightly sub-par options out wide but shouldn't be a true problem area, with Todd Heap playing the role of the cavalry. The line suffered a tremendous blow in the retirement of Left Tackle Johnathan Ogden. Jared Gaither and Ben Grubbs can learn and apply their freakish physical skills, but that shouldn't manifest its self for another couple of seasons. They also need to get a new center and basically throw out the right side of the offensive line. The Ravens are another amorphous defense, not unlike the forty niners. Pryce Ngata Gregg and Suggs will do well on the line (or just Pryce Ngata and Gregg if they aren't in the 4-3) and Ray Lewis should be Ray Lewis again. Bart Scott and Suggs half the time will do fine as the other backers, but Jarrett Johnson is currently penciled in for a starting role and is something of a question mark in that role. I wouldn't be too worried though, as he played well when given substantial playing time last year. Chris McAlister Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington are a fantastic trio of corners to have as your top three, although given injury risks, keep expectations a bit lower than that. Ed Reed and Dawan Landry are pro-bowlers at safety for a reason, and should be treated as such. This defense isn't a bad unit at all, but the offense will smother any attempt they make at success.


Well, I'm done. Now is the part where readers tear everything I say apart, whether I'm right or not. Facts are a myth. Myths are reality. Why do you insist I am not Sigmund Freud?