The NFL is gearing up for another season as teams have already completed rookie mini camps and OTAs. Hope springs eternal for all teams thanks to the parity of the NFL. The AFC North enters the 2014 season with three teams that are likely to be playoff contenders in the 2014 season. Let’s take a look around the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time under John Harbaugh. They truly missed the toughness that Anquan Boldin brought to the offense. Joe Flacco missed having his main target on third downs and during crucial points in the game. They were able to sign Steve Smith and he will bring the same veteran leadership that Boldin did. He is already rubbing off on fellow receiver, Torrey Smith who is learning how to come back to the ball better.
The Ravens secondary will reap the benefits of drafting an athletic safety in Terrence Brooks. He will pair with second year safety Matt Elam. The secondary also will feature two of the better cover cornerbacks in the NFL. Lardarius Webb is another year removed from injury and has looked very good in OTAs. He is steadily regaining trust in his knee and was already battling with Smith and the other Ravens receivers during practice. Jimmy Smith has looked very good in OTAs also. He is coming off his best year as a pro and is now focused on learning the tendencies of the opposing offenses.
Cincinnati Bengals
All of the focus was on quarterback Andy Dalton in OTAs and mini camps . He is looking to get a contract extension that will pay him in the $18 million a year range. Darqueze Dennard was impressive while moving inside as the nickel back. Leon Hall is still out with injury and will take over the slot position when he returns.
New Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has been focusing on the timing and route precision for Dalton and the receivers. This will allow Dalton to utilize his above average anticipation skills and get the ball to AJ Green and the other receivers in stride. Jackson has been imploring Green to finish plays better by running to to the end zone after every catch that he makes.
Marvin Jones continues to progress and it’s likely that the Bengals will use more three receiver sets to get Jones, Mohamed Sanu and AJ Green on the field. Jones played very well down the stretch last year and has been challenged by Hue Jackson to push for Green’s number one receiver spot.
Jackson has also used both Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill in the same backfield. Hill is projected to be the big bruising back while Bernard provides the change of pace option. The Bengals offense should improve with Jackson at the controls. He worked wonders with limited options back when he was with the Oakland Raiders.
Cleveland Browns
It has been all about Johnny Manziel with the Browns. He took some reps with the first team but is set to be the backup to Brian Hoyer. Jordan Cameron, Andy Hawkins and Terrence West have been impressive in OTAs.
Cameron is set to cash in if he hits free agency next year. He is reportedly showing signs of improvement as a deep option and a red zone threat. Hawkins has shown the quickness and acceleration that made him a threat from the slot when he played for the Bengals. He is catching everything thrown his way. West is making a name for himself with his ability to make one cut and explode upfield. He is said to be a perfect match for the new zone blocking scheme that Kyle Shanahan will implement. Some even feel that he may end up being the starter despite the Ben Tate acquisition.
There will be fierce competition at cornerback. It is very clear that Buster Skrine has no intentions of losing his starting position to first round draft pick Justin Gilbert. Gilbert remains unsigned but that should change soon. He has competed since the first practice at OTAs. Donte Whitner has established himself as the leader of the secondary.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been working to get some new players mixed in on defense. Mike Mitchell is settling in at safety. He said that he is picking up the defense very well and likes the way defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is using him. They are also getting rookie Ryan Shazier up to speed on the new defense. Rookie Stephon Tuitt has already recognized the need to “increase his motor” in the NFL and that everyone in the league is good.
Offensively, the Steelers have added some weapons for Ben Roethlisberger to use. Martavis Bryant signed his deal and should be active at the next practices. Lance Moore is another addition. He has already said that he is impressed with the constant communication that Rothlisberger has been. Moore called him a coach on the field.
Heath Miller is working his way back from injury. Miller has always been one of Rothlisberger’s favorite targets. He says that he feels good running his routes in practice and is just looking to continue to work towards being healthy. There are a lot of new faces for Miller and he said that this is the time to work on meshing together. Communication is something that came up with him as well. Miller felt that these practices are important for the new receivers and running backs to get on the same page.
