AFC North Outlook | The Honolulu Advertiser

AFC North Outlook | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Sunday, August 24, 2003

AFC North Outlook

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers

Outlook

STEELERS

LAST YEAR: Kordell Stewart was benched and Tommy Maddox, right, replaced him at QB. Rallied to beat Cleveland in wild-card game but lost in overtime to Tennessee.
STRENGTHS: Passing, with Maddox throwing and Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle-El catching. Defensive front seven is strong, and TE is deep.
WEAKNESSES: Secondary was largely responsible for defense allowing 30 or more points eight times, more than in any game in 2001.
Top additions: TE Jay Riemersma, OT Todd Fordham, G Calvin Collins, WR Chris Doering, LB Cliff Kriewaldt.
Rookies to watch: S Troy Polamalu, DE Alonzo Jackson.
Key losses: QB Kordell Stewart, OT Wayne Gandy, K Todd Peterson, S Lee Flowers, WR Terance Mathis, LB John Fiala.
Goals: RB Jerome Bettis needs to convince coaches he's not through. Marvel Smith must replace Gandy. QB Maddox is on his own now.

BROWNS

LAST YEAR: Slipped into playoffs in final week of the season, first postseason appearance in their new incarnation. Lost to Pittsburgh, 36-33, in the wild-card round, blowing a 17-point lead.
STRENGTHS: Rookie RB William Green rushed for 887 yards after a slow start. WRs Kevin Johnson, Quincy Morgan, Dennis Northcutt and Andre Davis provide plenty of targets for QBs Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb.
WEAKNESSES: Young group of LBs must replace veterans released in salary cap dump. Secondary in a year in which Browns play many of the league's top WRs.
Top additions: LB Barry Gardner, defensive coordinator Dave Campo.
Rookie to watch: C Jeff Faine.
Key losses: LB Jamir Miller, LB Earl Holmes, TE Mark Campbell, CB Corey Fuller, C Dave Wohlabaugh, G Tre Johnson.
Goals: Coach Butch Davis must handle QB controversy after naming Kelly Holcomb starter over Tim Couch. Can former top picks Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren play up to potential?

RAVENS

LAST YEAR: Despite extensive salary-cap related purge and loss of LB Ray Lewis to shoulder injury midway through season, youthful Ravens stayed in playoff contention.
STRENGTHS: Defense, which returns almost everyone from unit that was good even without Lewis.
WEAKNESSES: Little QB experience. Chris Redman, whose first year as starter was cut short by injury, has edge over rookie Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright.
Top additions: WR Marcus Robinson, CB Corey Fuller, OT Orlando Brown, WR Frank Sanders, linebackers coach Mike Singletary.
Rookies to watch: LB Terrell Suggs, Boller.
Key losses: QB Jeff Blake, WR Brandon Stokley, FB Sam Gash.
Goals: Find out whether Redman is ready. Orlando Brown returns after three years out nursing eye injury. Singletary tries to make Suggs a linebacker and connect with superstar Lewis.

BENGALS

LAST YEAR: Repeatedly shuffled QBs, finished with worst record in franchise history, replaced coach Dick LeBeau with Marvin Lewis.
STRENGTHS: Running game featuring Corey Dillon, deep corps of receivers led by Chad Johnson.
WEAKNESSES: QB Jon Kitna is prone to mistakes, secondary is thin.
Top additions: Head coach Lewis, LB Kevin Hardy, DT John Thornton, DL Carl Powell, TE Reggie Kelly, CB Tory James, DE Duane Clemons, QB Shane Matthews, S Rogers Beckett.
Rookies to watch: QB Carson Palmer, G Eric Steinbach, WR Kelley Washington, CB Dennis Weathersby.
Key losses: LB Takeo Spikes, QB Akili Smith, S Cory Hall, FB Lorenzo Neal, QB Gus Frerotte.
Goals: Kitna must convince coach Marvin Lewis he should remain the starter. Fans will push Lewis to see rookie Palmer. Lewis retools defense.