Steelers set for another strong run at AFC title
Roethlisberger returns for second season at QB
By ALLEN WILSON
News Sports Reporter
5/23/2005
The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a season to remember. Despite injuries that forced young players into the lineup, they managed to roll through the NFL before being derailed by New England in the AFC Championship Game.
But the Steelers are in great position to repeat in the AFC North and make another run at the conference title.
The Baltimore Ravens need more production from their offense to threaten the Steelers. The Cincinnati Bengals haven't made a lot of free agent moves but re-signed two key members of the offense and had a good draft.
The Cleveland Browns upgraded their coaching, front office and roster, but tight end Kellen Winslow's recent motorcycle accident has overshadowed a good offseason.
Here's a review of the offseason moves by each club:
Pittsburgh Steelers (15-1)
Key gains: WR Cedrick Wilson (49ers), TE Heath Miller (Virginia), CB Bryant McFadden (Florida State), OT Trai Essex (Northwestern).
Key losses: WR Plaxico Burress (Giants), CB Chad Scott (Patriots), LB Kendrell Bell (Chiefs), T Oliver Ross (Cardinals), OG Keydrick Vincent (Ravens).
Breakdown: Because of a conservative offensive approach, the Steelers ranked 28th in passing last season. Miller, Wilson and fourth-round pick Fred Gibson (Georgia) will collectively try to fill Burress' shoes. McFadden (Florida State) and Essex (Northwestern) fill definite needs. The biggest offseason worry is QB Ben Roethlisberger, who revealed recently that he rides a motorcycle without a helmet.
Questions: Will Roethlisberger top his remarkable rookie season? Can new receivers make up for Burress' departure? Have they done enough to address offensive line and secondary depth? Will coach Bill Cowher end years of postseason frustration and get the Steelers to Super Bowl XL?
Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
Key gains: WR Derrick Mason (Titans), WR Mark Clayton (Oklahoma), CB Samari Rolle (Titans), OG Keydrick Vincent (Steelers), LB Tommy Polley (Rams).
Key losses: WR Travis Taylor (Vikings), CB Gary Baxter (Browns), LB Ed Hartwell (Falcons), C Casey Rabach (Redskins), G Bennie Anderson (Bills).
Breakdown: The Ravens had the NFL's 31st-ranked offense last season because of a weak passing game. Mason and Clayton are good enough to make even QB Kyle Boller look good. Vincent, OT Adam Terry (Syracuse) and C Jason Brown (North Carolina) fortify the offensive line. Rolle and Chris McAlister should be one of the NFL's best cornerback tandems. The team wants 38-year-old CB Deion Sanders to come back. Polley and second-round DE/OLB Dan Cody (Oklahoma) should fit right into Ravens' defensive aggressive schemes. Team career sacks leader Peter Boulware, who hasn't played since 2003 because of knee and toe injuries, was released.
Questions: Will Boller finally have a breakout season? Are Mason and Clayton the answer at wide receiver? Will offensive line newcomers be an improvement over departed starters? How much will Sanders contribute if he comes back? How long can the defense carry this team?
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Key gains: DT Bryan Robinson (Dolphins), DE David Pollack (Georgia), LB Odell Thurman (Georgia).
Key losses: DT Tony Williams (Jaguars), LB Kevin Hardy (released), CB Dennis Weathersby (released).
Breakdown: Continuity is important to coach Marvin Lewis, which is why re-signing RB Rudi Johnson and WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the top priority. The Bengals signed a good run stopper in Robinson. Pollack's relentless playing style should boost the pass rush. Taking Thurman in the second round made Hardy expendable. Third-round WR Chris Henry (West Virginia) fell in the draft because of concerns over his character. C Eric Ghiaciuc and T Adam Kieft, both from Central Michigan, add offensive line depth.
Questions: Are the Bengals ready to compete for a playoff spot? How much better will QB Carson Palmer be after a year as the starter? What does drafting Henry mean for the future of disappointing WR Peter Warrick? Did the Bengals do enough to help an average defense?
Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Key gains: Coach Romeo Crennel (Patriots), GM Phil Savage (Ravens), QB Trent Dilfer (Seahawks), RB Reuben Droughns (Broncos), WR Braylon Edwards (Michigan), G Joe Andruzzi (Patriots), CB Gary Baxter (Ravens).
Key losses: QB Jeff Garcia (Lions), QB Kelly Holcomb (Bills), DE Courtney Brown (Broncos), DT Gerard Warren (Broncos), SS Robert Griffith (Cardinals), CB Anthony Henry (Cowboys).
Breakdown: Crennel and Savage have gone to work remaking this club, dumping chronic underachievers and injury-prone players. The addition of Andruzzi and G Cosey Coleman (Buccaneers) gives the Browns their most experienced front five since they returned to the NFL in 1999. Free agency also brought defensive starters in Baxter, DL Jason Fisk (Chargers), FS Brian Russell (Vikings) and LB Matt Stewart (Falcons). The Browns traded for Droughns to compete with Lee Suggs, but Droughns might hold out because he wants a new contract. Savage had a great first draft. With Winslow out, Edwards (Michigan), the third overall pick, immediately becomes the Browns' go-to receiver. Second-round FS Brodney Pool (Oklahoma) was the best in the draft at his position. Third-round QB Charlie Frye (Akron) will be groomed as Dilfer's successor.
Questions: Will Crennel be an improvement over Butch Davis? How much will Winslow's injury hurt the offense? Will Edwards be an impact player as a rookie? Will Droughns' possible holdout hurt the offense? Will Baxter and Pool improve the secondary? After sending three starters packing, who is going to play on the defensive line besides Fisk?
Next: AFC South.
e-mail: awilson@buffnews.com
Roethlisberger returns for second season at QB
By ALLEN WILSON
News Sports Reporter
5/23/2005
The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a season to remember. Despite injuries that forced young players into the lineup, they managed to roll through the NFL before being derailed by New England in the AFC Championship Game.
But the Steelers are in great position to repeat in the AFC North and make another run at the conference title.
The Baltimore Ravens need more production from their offense to threaten the Steelers. The Cincinnati Bengals haven't made a lot of free agent moves but re-signed two key members of the offense and had a good draft.
The Cleveland Browns upgraded their coaching, front office and roster, but tight end Kellen Winslow's recent motorcycle accident has overshadowed a good offseason.
Here's a review of the offseason moves by each club:
Pittsburgh Steelers (15-1)
Key gains: WR Cedrick Wilson (49ers), TE Heath Miller (Virginia), CB Bryant McFadden (Florida State), OT Trai Essex (Northwestern).
Key losses: WR Plaxico Burress (Giants), CB Chad Scott (Patriots), LB Kendrell Bell (Chiefs), T Oliver Ross (Cardinals), OG Keydrick Vincent (Ravens).
Breakdown: Because of a conservative offensive approach, the Steelers ranked 28th in passing last season. Miller, Wilson and fourth-round pick Fred Gibson (Georgia) will collectively try to fill Burress' shoes. McFadden (Florida State) and Essex (Northwestern) fill definite needs. The biggest offseason worry is QB Ben Roethlisberger, who revealed recently that he rides a motorcycle without a helmet.
Questions: Will Roethlisberger top his remarkable rookie season? Can new receivers make up for Burress' departure? Have they done enough to address offensive line and secondary depth? Will coach Bill Cowher end years of postseason frustration and get the Steelers to Super Bowl XL?
Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
Key gains: WR Derrick Mason (Titans), WR Mark Clayton (Oklahoma), CB Samari Rolle (Titans), OG Keydrick Vincent (Steelers), LB Tommy Polley (Rams).
Key losses: WR Travis Taylor (Vikings), CB Gary Baxter (Browns), LB Ed Hartwell (Falcons), C Casey Rabach (Redskins), G Bennie Anderson (Bills).
Breakdown: The Ravens had the NFL's 31st-ranked offense last season because of a weak passing game. Mason and Clayton are good enough to make even QB Kyle Boller look good. Vincent, OT Adam Terry (Syracuse) and C Jason Brown (North Carolina) fortify the offensive line. Rolle and Chris McAlister should be one of the NFL's best cornerback tandems. The team wants 38-year-old CB Deion Sanders to come back. Polley and second-round DE/OLB Dan Cody (Oklahoma) should fit right into Ravens' defensive aggressive schemes. Team career sacks leader Peter Boulware, who hasn't played since 2003 because of knee and toe injuries, was released.
Questions: Will Boller finally have a breakout season? Are Mason and Clayton the answer at wide receiver? Will offensive line newcomers be an improvement over departed starters? How much will Sanders contribute if he comes back? How long can the defense carry this team?
Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
Key gains: DT Bryan Robinson (Dolphins), DE David Pollack (Georgia), LB Odell Thurman (Georgia).
Key losses: DT Tony Williams (Jaguars), LB Kevin Hardy (released), CB Dennis Weathersby (released).
Breakdown: Continuity is important to coach Marvin Lewis, which is why re-signing RB Rudi Johnson and WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the top priority. The Bengals signed a good run stopper in Robinson. Pollack's relentless playing style should boost the pass rush. Taking Thurman in the second round made Hardy expendable. Third-round WR Chris Henry (West Virginia) fell in the draft because of concerns over his character. C Eric Ghiaciuc and T Adam Kieft, both from Central Michigan, add offensive line depth.
Questions: Are the Bengals ready to compete for a playoff spot? How much better will QB Carson Palmer be after a year as the starter? What does drafting Henry mean for the future of disappointing WR Peter Warrick? Did the Bengals do enough to help an average defense?
Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Key gains: Coach Romeo Crennel (Patriots), GM Phil Savage (Ravens), QB Trent Dilfer (Seahawks), RB Reuben Droughns (Broncos), WR Braylon Edwards (Michigan), G Joe Andruzzi (Patriots), CB Gary Baxter (Ravens).
Key losses: QB Jeff Garcia (Lions), QB Kelly Holcomb (Bills), DE Courtney Brown (Broncos), DT Gerard Warren (Broncos), SS Robert Griffith (Cardinals), CB Anthony Henry (Cowboys).
Breakdown: Crennel and Savage have gone to work remaking this club, dumping chronic underachievers and injury-prone players. The addition of Andruzzi and G Cosey Coleman (Buccaneers) gives the Browns their most experienced front five since they returned to the NFL in 1999. Free agency also brought defensive starters in Baxter, DL Jason Fisk (Chargers), FS Brian Russell (Vikings) and LB Matt Stewart (Falcons). The Browns traded for Droughns to compete with Lee Suggs, but Droughns might hold out because he wants a new contract. Savage had a great first draft. With Winslow out, Edwards (Michigan), the third overall pick, immediately becomes the Browns' go-to receiver. Second-round FS Brodney Pool (Oklahoma) was the best in the draft at his position. Third-round QB Charlie Frye (Akron) will be groomed as Dilfer's successor.
Questions: Will Crennel be an improvement over Butch Davis? How much will Winslow's injury hurt the offense? Will Edwards be an impact player as a rookie? Will Droughns' possible holdout hurt the offense? Will Baxter and Pool improve the secondary? After sending three starters packing, who is going to play on the defensive line besides Fisk?
Next: AFC South.
e-mail: awilson@buffnews.com
