AFC North: The Pre-Preseason 2008 NFL Preview
by Bodog Sportsbook | Aug 1 2008
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
BEST MOVE: Re-hiring defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. This was a hugely popular move for the locker room. Not to mention the field. Ryan has helped guide this defense to become one of the most dangerous in the league.
WORST MOVE: Not getting franchise player Terrell Suggs into camp on time. All they have to do is agree not to use the franchise tag again in 2009. This is becoming standard for franchised players in the league.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Watch for Baltimore to start living in Bizarro world. With the addition of Cam Cameron, the offense will start to take shape while the defense starts to show signs of Ray Lewis’ age.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Troy Smith. He looked sharp in his few opportunities last season and could be named the starter while first-round pick Joe Flacco develops.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Joe Flacco. If he is pushed too early, Flacco could become head coach John Harbaugh’s Kyle Boller.
Cincinnati Bengals
BEST MOVE: Standing up to Chad Johnson. This was huge and sent a bold statement to players on their team. Now, if only they could check criminal records before making their picks. It’s almost past funny and teetering into just plain sad territory.
WORST MOVE: Losing Madieu Williams in free agency. He was one of the young leaders on defense, and with him gone, the Bengals will need players like Leon Hall and Keith Rivers to stand up fast.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: Top 10 pick. A young, inexperienced defense will not be able to stop opponents consistently. Or at all.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Carson Palmer. He is the rock for this team. He has been the one constant through all of the diva-like outbursts and all of the arrests. The biggest surprise is that he hasn’t thrown his hands up in the air and demanded a trade. No one in their right mind would blame him.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Marvin Lewis. At what point does Marvin get his walking papers? Probably at the end of the season. When they don’t make the playoffs. Again.
Cleveland Browns
BEST MOVE: Signing free agent Corey Williams. He had a spectacular year last season and will help strengthen the Browns against the run.
WORST MOVE: Not trading Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson. GM Phil Savage knows he’s going to have to deal with it next summer; why would he not trade one of them while their value was at its peak?
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: The Browns are one of the hot teams coming off probably their best non-playoff seasons. This year they’ll get there…then they’ll meet youth and inexperience.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Brady Quinn. Was Derek Anderson really that good or did he just benefit from the development of Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow Jr. and Joe Thomas? Not too many QBs get lucky two years in a row.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Derek Anderson. He still has to prove he is for real. The league has had more one-year wonders than
Rolling Stone magazine.
Pittsburgh Steelers
BEST MOVE: Drafting Limas Sweed. Ben Roethlisberger wanted a big tall receiver and by golly he got him. Sweed will definitely help Big Ben in the red zone, but he will also help open up the field for Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
WORST MOVE: Not replacing Alan Faneca. They did, however, use the transition tag on a backup in Max Starks. WTF? Who does that? Mike Tomlin must know something that fans don’t. Like… he’s crazy.
2008 CRYSTAL BALL: The Steelers aren’t going to be the top of the AFC North anymore, but that will only be due to their declining defense. The Steelers' offense will be more dynamic than it has been in many, many moons. Look for a huge year from Roethlisberger.
MOST LIKELY TO BE PRAISED LIKE HE SAVED A CHILD FROM A BURNING BUILDING: Ben Roethlisberger. Sure, he shoots off his mouth. And sure, he doesn’t think he has anything a helmet would protect… but he’s going to deliver on the field. All season long.
MOST LIKELY TO BE BEATEN LIKE HE OWES MONEY ON MONDAY MORNINGS: Troy Polamalu. He is starting to wear down and the knee problems that plagued him all season could continue into this season as well. He had the knee surgically repaired, but the Steelers must be wary of how it will hold up under the stresses of a game situation.
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More AFC Pre-Preseason Previews: NFC Pre-Preseason Previews:
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
