1-Baltimore Ravens
Offense
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what the Ravens are good at on offense. Last year, Jamal Lewis rushed for over 2,000 yards, and the collection of quarterbacks (Kyle Boller, Anthony Wright, and newcomer Kordell Stewart) were terrible. Still, Coach Brian Billick has faith in Boller though, and he should improve with a year’s experience and better health. Still, that is an awful lot of faith in Boller. As someone who watched him throughout his college career, I was rather stunned he was thought of so highly. He had one good season in college, and three terrible ones. The Ravens are attempting to surround Boller with a good supporting class, led by Lewis, TE Todd Heap, and a good line. They still need help at WR, beyond the talented but raw Devard Darling. Everything is lost if Lewis doesn’t get his legal troubles taken care of.
Defense
The Ravens play a 3-4, based on serious speed and talent at linebacker. On the inside, we find Ray Lewis, merely the best linebacker of his generation, and the underrated Ed Hartwell. On the outside, the Ravens attack defenses with Peter Boulware, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas, all three of which are fast and versatile enough to swing down to the DE position. Along the line, Baltimore is a tad undersized for a 3-4, but quick. In the secondary, they are talented but not especially deep. The starting corners, Chris McAlister and Gary Baxter, are spectacular, but Baltimore is thin enough to be wooing Deion Sanders to be their nickleback.
Prediction
If this was 1965, and a passing attack was completely necessary to win in the NFL, this team might well be the favorite in the AFC. Unfortunately, Boller will need to improve a great deal for this team to go deep in the playoffs. Every other element is there, including coaching. Brian Billick may be the most unlikable man in the NFL, but you cannot argue his results.
2-Cincinnati Bengals
Offense
Jon Kitna, 2003 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, led the Bengals to an 8-8 record, and passed for over 3,000 yards,
then lost his job to Carson Palmer right after the season ended. It is not entirely about money either. There is reasonable concern in Cincy that Kitna had a career year, and that’s probably true. The move to Palmer makes sense, but might not pan out until 2005. Palmer was a slow starter at USC, and might not adapt quickly to the NFL game. Whoever is at QB will have some weapons to work with. WR Chad Johnson had a spectacular season, and Peter Warrick has settled in as second option. Rudi Johnson will take over for the traded Corey Dillion at tailback.
Defense
There are more holes here than on the offense. The Bengals attempted to fill some with free agents. DT Daryl Gardener was signed to solidify the middle of the D-line. This is a so-so bet, as the big tackle hasn’t been healthy or particularly enthused the past couple seasons. Cincy also signed former Buc Nate Webster to play middle linebacker. Webster, an undersized but speedy ‘backer, will shove Kevin Hardy outside. These two, teaming with returnee Brian Simmons, could give the Bengals a quality unit. Staying healthy is the key. In the secondary, Cincinnati acquired Bronco cast-off Deltha O’Neal. O’Neal, a great athlete who lost his confidence in Denver, will start, probably across from Tory James.
Prediction
This is the most even of the AFC Divisions. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to see any of these four teams in the playoffs or jockeying for an early draft pick. The Bengals will need Palmer to play well, especially early. It would be difficult for this team if he stumbled and Marvin Lewis had to call Kitna off the bench. On defense, they need to improve against the run. They were 25th in the NFL last year.
3-Pittsburgh Steelers
Offense
The Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger with an eye on replacing Tommy Maddox in 2005. This season should belong to Tommy, who, despite a rough year last year, is still one of the more inexplicable comebacks in NFL history. Maddox still has excellent receivers to throw to; few teams go three deep better than Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress, and Antwaan Randle-El. The Bus should be parked a little more this season, as Pittsburgh signed Duce Staley away from Philadelphia, and he should be the feature back. The line needs work, though there are few guards as steady as Alan Faneca.
Defense
Since switching to the 3-4, the Steelers have been known for their linebackers. That isn’t quite the case no, as ends Kimo von Oelhoffen and Aaron Smith, along with Pro-Bowl NT Casey Hampton out-produced the linebackers. This led to longtime Steeler Jason Gildon being cut, replaced by special-teamer Clark Haggans will replace him. Both Joey Porter and Kendrell Bell have to up their production to avoid the same fate. Speaking of which, the secondary lost former starters Brent Alexander and Dewayne Washington; both were cut, to be replaced by Chris Hope and Deshea Townsend.
Prediction
The Steelers are in flux right now, rebuilding, but seemingly unwilling to break up the entire team. Coach Bill Cowher would be in serious trouble if he worked for a different franchise. The Rooney family, with only two coaches since 1969, treasure stability, and renewed his contract just this week.
4-Cleveland Browns
Offense
The Tim Couch Error is over, and it didn’t come soon enough for Brown fans, which never warmed to him. He’s replaced by former 49er Pro-Bowler Jeff Garcia. Garcia, a gritty overachiever, seems to fit in with Cleveland fans far more than Couch ever could. The problems surrounding the QB return though, as Cleveland doesn’t have a Terrell Owens of it’s own. Andre Davis and Quincy Morgan often show flashes of talent, but are inconsistent. Super rookie Kellen Winslow will help. William Green returns from off the field issues to battle Lee Suggs for the tailback job. Suggs is more instinctual runner, but Green has more speed.
Defense
The defensive line features three top draft picks in ends Courtney Brown and Kenard Lang, and tackle Gerard Warren. Only Lang has lived up to his potential: both Brown and Warren have seriously underachieved. Both will face competition for their jobs from less-talented overachievers like Ebenezer Ekuban and Michael Myers. The situation is better at linebacker, as all three starters return. Ben Taylor, Andra Davis and Kevin Bentley return a year after being pressed into starting jobs. In the secondary, Cleveland is solid, but sorely lacking in impact players.
Prediction
This team took a huge step backwards. Obtaining Garcia should help somewhat, but they still face serious questions along both lines and at wide receiver. Butch Davis needs to show improvement to keep his job. New owner Michael Lerner has already shown to have less patience than his late father.
Previously: AFC East, AFC South
Posted by Frinklin at August 25, 2004 09:17 PM