THE ENQUIRER /// THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 D11

afc north

14
bengals
preview
S
ince the AFC North was formed in 2002, only twice has a
team repeated as division champion, and the national con-
sensus this season is that it will be tough for the Bengals to
become the third team to do it. Both the Baltimore Ravens
and Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off 8-8 records and must find a
way to improve their running games if either is to unseat the Ben-
gals for the divisions top spot, while the Cleveland Browns once
again are searching for a quarterback and appear headed for a sev-
enth straight losing season. Here are three key questions each of
those three teams face heading into the season:
BALTIMORE
WILL A REVAMPED OFFENSIVE LINE AND NEW
ZONE-BLOCKING SCHEME LEAD TO AN
IMPROVED RUNNING GAME?
Former Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak takes
over as offensive coordinator and he likes to use a zone-
blocking scheme in his running game.
The line lost road-grader tackle Michael Oher to free
agency, but the Ravens liked the acquisition of left tackle
Eugene Monroe via a trade with Jacksonville last October
so much they signed him to a five-year deal in the offsea-
son.
Veteran center Jeremy Zuttah was acquired in a trade
with Tampa Bay in the offseason and he takes over for
Gino Gradkowski, who struggled badly last season.
The Ravens averaged just 83.0 yards per game and 3.1
yards per carry last season.
Its one of the reasons Joe Flacco threw a career-high
614 passes, which led to a career-high 22 interceptions.
IS STEVE SMITH THE ANSWER AT THE NO. 2 WIDE
RECEIVER SPOT OPPOSITE TORREY SMITH?
The 35-year-old Smith (above) had seven seasons with
over 1,000 yards receiving in Carolina, but he had just 745
last season, the second-fewest since he became a full-time
starter in 2002, and his 64 receptions were the third-fewest
since he became a full-time starter.
That said, neither Marlon Brown (49 receptions for 524
yards, 7 TDs) nor Jacoby Jones (37 for 455, 2 TDs) really
filled that role well last season, and both are on the roster.
WHO IS THE PLAYMAKER ON DEFENSE?
Where once there were Ray Lewis and Ed Reed making
plays all over the field, the Ravens didnt have anyone
close to that last season.
Terrell Suggs and pass-rushing specialist Elvis Dumervil
did combine for 19.5 sacks, but last years leading pass
interceptor, Corey Graham, is now in Buffalo and last years
starting strong safety, James Ihedigbo, who had three
interceptions, is now in Detroit. The rest of the team com-
bined for just eight interceptions.
PITTSBURGH
WILL THE RETURN OF CENTER MAURKICE
POUNCEY AND ADDITION OF RUNNING BACK
LEGARRETTE BLOUNT IMPROVE THE RUNNING
GAME?
The Steelers averaged just 86.4 yards per game rushing
and 3.5 yards per carry as Pouncey (above) tore his right
ACL and MCL in last years season opener and was lost for
the season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his
first three seasons (2010-2012).
The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Blount has averaged 4.7 yards
per carry in his brief career in Tampa Bay and New England
and is supposed to help provide a 1-2 punch with second-
year back LeVeon Bell, who averaged just 3.5 yards per
carry last season.
WHO IS THE NO. 2 WIDE RECEIVER OPPOSITE
ANTONIO BROWN?
Brown is outstanding as evidenced by his 110 receptions
for 1,499 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but both
Emmanuel Sanders (67 for 740, 6 TDs) and Jerricho Cotch-
ery (46 for 602, 10 TDs) are gone, leaving 2013 third-round
pick Markus Wheaton (6 for 64) and 31-year-old nine-year
veteran Lance Moore (37 for 457, 2 TDs), formerly of the
New Orleans Saints, as the top candidates.
IS THE SECONDARY TOO OLD?
As the front seven has gotten younger and younger
over the last few seasons, the secondary will feature 34-
year-old Ike Taylor at one corner and 33-year-old Troy
Polamalu at strong safety. Polamalu is still good, but no-
where near the Hall of Fame-caliber player he once was.
The Steelers did get younger at free safety, where
27-year-old Highlands High School graduate Mike Mitchell
was signed to replace 34-year-old Ryan Clark.
Last years defense tied for just 25th in the NFL in sacks
and came up with just 20 turnovers, which ranked 27th.
CLEVELAND
HOW LONG BEFORE JOHNNY MANZIEL
REPLACES BRIAN HOYER AS THE STARTING
QUARTERBACK?
Hoyer was given the nod to start the season mostly
because Manziel (above) was slow to grasp the offense
and because he didnt exactly wow new head coach Mike
Pettine in the preseason (a completion percentage of 50.8
percent and he was sacked six times, although he didnt
throw any interceptions).
Hoyer did go 3-0 as a starter last season and was solid
(82.6 passer rating), but he struggled a bit in the presea-
son, too, and if the losses come early the fans will clamor
for Johnny Football.
NOW THAT WIDE RECEIVER JOSH GORDON IS
SUSPENDED FOR THE SEASON, WHO ARE THE
TEAMS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS?
Gordon caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards and nine
touchdowns last season and no other wide receiver on the
roster had more than 24 catches or 244 yards.
Veterans Miles Austin and former Bengal Andrew
Hawkins were signed in the offseason, but Austin had just
24 catches for 244 yards, while the 5-foot-7 Hawkins is best
used in the slot and would be very effective if Gordon was
still around.
Tight end Jordan Cameron is very good (80 catches for
917 yards and seven touchdowns).
CAN NEWCOMERS HELP THE DEFENSE KEEP THE
TEAM IN GAMES?
Veteran inside linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety
Donte Whitner were signed as free agents and cornerback
Justin Gilbert was picked eighth overall.
Dansby is 32 years old, but coming off one of his best
seasons, when he had 114 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 4 intercep-
tions for Arizona, while Whitner made the Pro Bowl each
of his last two seasons in San Francisco.
The defense has a chance to be very good, but its
going to have to be to overcome the expected severe
offensive problems.
Key questions for division rivals
By Richard Skinner | rskinner@enquirer.com.