My Anquan Boldin Blog

Today's stop on our breathless rush through the ranks of professional football is the AFC North, or, as I like to call it, America's Most Wanted. From Ben Roethlisburger to Cedric Benson and Pacman Jones, this division is sure to serve up at least a criminal a week, if not more. But regardless of the less-than-legal off-field actions from this group, it is still my sacred duty to break the teams down, piece by piece. So I am proud to present Part 2 of Around The NFL. Here is how the division will break down:

(#x = Last year's rankings)

1) Baltimore Ravens 10-6
Quarterback: Joe Flacco (#14), Mark Bulger (#30)
Running Back: Ray Rice (#3), Willis McGahee (#17),
Wide Receivers: Derrick Mason (#23), Anquan Boldin (#38), Mark Clayton (#73)
Tight Ends: Todd Heap (#7)
QB Protection: #21
Rush Protection: #4
Sacks (on opponent): #20
Run Defense: #1
Pass Defense: #9
Key Additions: WR Anquan Boldin (#38), WR Derrick Mason (#23), QB Mark Bulger (#30)
Key Losses: DT Justin Bannan, DE Dwan Edwards
Notes: Baltimore quietly had the best offseason they could hope for, keeping all of the pieces that led them past the Patriots and into the divisional playoffs. In addition, they added much-needed support at QB, and two quality receivers to back Joe Flacco up... Rice and McGahee are the third best RB combo in the NFL, behind Carolina's Stewart and Williams, and Miami's Williams and Brown... The hiring of Jim Zorn as QB coach was a fantastic move; he was instrumental in fine-tuning the mechanics of both Charlie Batch and Matt Hasselbeck.

2) Cincinnati Bengals 8-8
Quarterback: Carson Palmer (#15)
Running Back: Cedric Benson (#14)
Wide Receivers: Chad Ochocinco (#15), Andre Caldwell (#60), Antonio Bryant (#66), Terrell Owens (#70)
Tight Ends: Jermaine Gresham (N/A)
QB Protection: #11
Rush Protection: #22
Sacks (on opponent): #18
Run Defense: #7
Pass Defense: #6
Key Additions: WR Antonio Bryant (#66), CB Pacman Jones
Key Losses: WR Laveranues Coles (#44), K Shayne Graham
Notes: This team is remarkably average for a team that made the playoffs last year... Teams don't win by being mediocre at everything; one facet of this team needs to stand out, whether it be running, passing, or smashmouth defense... Nobody leave Pacman Jones (vandalism, assault with a deadly weapon, public intoxication) near Cedric Benson (DWI, resisting arrest)... Is it just me, or are those orange alternate jerseys looking more like prison jumpsuits? Just a thought.

3) Pittsburgh Steelers 8-8
Quarterback: Ben Roethlisburger (#8), Byron Leftwich (#24)
Running Back: Rashard Mendenhall (#25)
Wide Receivers: Hines Ward (#9), Mike Wallace (#16), Antwaan Randle El (#51)
Tight Ends: Heath Miller (#8)
QB Protection: #30
Rush Protection: #18
Sacks (on opponent): #3
Run Defense: #5
Pass Defense: #15
Key Additions: QB Byron Leftwich (#24), WR Antwaan Randle El (#51), CB Bryant McFadden
Key Losses: WR Santonio Holmes (#10), RB Willie Parker (N/A), G Darnell Stapleton
Notes: Maybe Roethlisburger's legal problems can be traced back to all the hits to the head he takes behind this AWFUL offensive line?... No team lost more this off-season: Holmes will be impossible to replace, as will Roethlisburger (for the beginning of the year)... With their offense on the decline, the Steelers must return to the form that netted them the Super Bowl: Blitzburg.... Expect the Steelers passing game to fail without a valid run game to back it up (also, as long as the O-line lays over and plays dead).

Cleveland Browns 5-11
Quarterback: Seneca Wallace (#26), Jake Delhomme (#33)
Running Back: Jerome Harrison (#28)
Wide Receivers: Chansi Stuckey (#85), Josh Cribbs (N/A), Mohamed Massaquoi (N/A)
Tight Ends: Ben Watson (#10), Robert Royal (#33)
QB Protection: #17
Rush Protection: #17
Sacks (on opponent): #7
Run Defense: #29
Pass Defense: #28
Key Additions: QB Jake Delhomme (#33), QB Seneca Wallace (#26), TE Ben Watson (#10)
Key Losses: QB Derek Anderson (#42), QB Brady Quinn (#31), RB Jamal Lewis (#41)
Notes: While more attention has been payed to the passer overhaul, one has to wonder: Who exactly will they pass to?... Ben Watson is the most promising player here, but when's the last time Belichick let a quality player go?... Jake Delhomme made the biggest switch in recent memory, from Carolina's high-flying offense to the plane wreck that are the Browns... I had high hopes for Colt McCoy, but he better hope for a trade if he wants to fulfill his immense potential as a QB.

More to come!

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