D12 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 /// THE ENQUIRER

RAVENS
2013 RECORD: 8-8 (Tied for 2nd of 4
teams in division).
HEAD COACH: John Harbaugh (7th sea-
son with Ravens and overall, 62-34 record).
2013 OFFENSIVE STATS: 20.0 ppg (25th
in NFL); 307.4 yards per game (29th); 83.0
yards per game rushing (30th); 224.4 yards
per game passing (18th).
2013 DEFENSIVE STATS: 22.0 ppg (22nd
in NFL); 335.5 yards per game (12th); 105.4
yards per game rushing (11th); 230.1 yards
per game (12th).
NEW FACES: OC Gary Kubiak, WR Steve
Smith, TE Owen Daniels, LB C.J. Mosely
(rookie), C Jeremy Zuttah, S Darian Stew-
art.
KEY LOSSES: DL Arthur Jones, OT Mi-
chael Oher, CB Corey Graham, S James
Ihedigbo, TE Ed Dickson.
OUTLOOK: Baltimore missed the postsea-
son last year for the first time in coach
John Harbaugh's six seasons. If the Ravens
expect to get back into playoffs, it's going
to take improvement from a defense that
lacks depth and more production from an
offense that is forced to start untested
Rick Wagner at RT. The Ravens hope to
open up the offense under former Texans
coach Gary Kubiak, who has installed a
version of West Coast attack designed to
protect quarterback Joe Flacco and im-
prove a running game that ranked last in
NFL in yards per carry (3.1). Flacco was
sacked 48 times last year and had more
interceptions (22) than TD passes (19).
STEELERS
2013 RECORD: 8-8 (Tied for 2nd of 4 teams in division).
HEAD COACH: Mike Tomlin (8th season with Steelers and overall, 71-41 record).
2013 OFFENSIVE STATS: 23.7 ppg (tied for 16th in NFL); 337.5 yards per game (20th); 86.4
yards per game rushing (tied for 27th); 251.1 yards per game passing (12th).
2013 DEFENSIVE STATS: 23.1 ppg (14th in NFL); 337.6 yards per game (13th); 115.5 yards
per game rushing (21st); 221.1 yards per game passing (tied for 8th).
NEW FACES: S Mike Mitchell, WR Lance Moore, LB Ryan Shazier (rookie); DT Stephon Tuitt
(rookie); RB LeGarrette Blount, OL coach Mike Munchak.
KEY LOSSES: S Ryan Clark, LB LaMarr Woodley, WR Jerricho Cotchery, WR Emmanuel
Sanders, DE Ziggy Hood.
OUTLOOK: QB Ben Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley have reached
detente entering third year of partnership, with Haley giving Roethlisberger more freedom
to call plays out of expanded no-huddle offense when Steelers pick up pace. Addition of
RB Blount should take some of workload off second-year back Le'Veon Bell, though those
two did themselves no favors with the franchise when they were cited for marijuana pos-
session during traffic stop on Aug. 20. The Steelers have spent the last two years rebuilding
on the fly. The results were pair of 8-8 seasons that constitute downswing for one of the
NFL's most consistent winners. Only four of the 22 projected starters will be in their 30s
when Pittsburgh kicks off against Cleveland. Coach Mike Tomlin believes youngsters can
play. If the Steelers want to work into January, they'll have to.
BROWNS
2013 RECORD: 4-12 (4th of 4 teams in
division)
HEAD COACH: Mike Pettine (1st season
with Browns and overall).
2013 OFFENSIVE STATS: 19.2 ppg (27th in
NFL); 339.4 yards per game (19th); 86.4
yards per game rushing (tied for 27th);
252.9 yards per game passing (11th).
2013 DEFENSIVE STATS: 25.4 ppg (24th
in NFL); 332.4 yards per game (9th); 111.3
yards per game rushing (18th); 221.1 yards
per game passing (tied for 8th).
NEW FACES: OC Kyle Shanahan, GM Ray
Farmer, QB Johnny Manziel (rookie), RB
Ben Tate, WR Miles Austin, WR Andrew
Hawkins, LB Karlos Dansby, S Donte
Whitner, CB Justin Gilbert (rookie), OL Paul
McQuistan, OL Joe Bitonio (rookie), TE Jim
Dray, WR LaRon Byrd, RB Eric Winston.
KEY LOSSES: LB D'Qwell Jackson, LB
Quentin Groves, S T.J. Ward, WR Greg
Little, WR Davone Bess, QB Brandon Wee-
den, QB Jason Campbell, G Shawn Lauvao.
OUTLOOK: This franchise has seemingly
been searching for answers at quarterback
and head coach since returning to the NFL
in 1999. In the 15 seasons since it has post-
ed just two winnings records and had 10
seasons of at least 10 losses or more, in-
cluding the last six in a row. QB Brian
Hoyer beat out Manziel during training
camp, but may not have much time before
the hyped rookie takes over. Browns will
lean heavily on zone-blocked running
game and attacking defense.
A closer look: AFC North
PANTHERS
2013 RECORD: 12-4 (1st of 4 teams in
division).
HEAD COACH: Ron Rivera (5th season
with Panthers, 25-23 record).
2013 OFFENSIVE STATS: 22.9 ppg (18th in
NFL); 291.2 yards per game (24th); 90.2
yards per game rushing (25th); 201.0 yards
per game passing (18th).
2013 DEFENSIVE STATS:
16.5 ppg (9th in NFL);
305.8 yards per game
(16th); 105.2 yards per
game rushing (17th);
200.5 yards per game
passing (15th).
NEW FACES: WR Kelvin
Benjamin, WR Jerricho
Cotchery, WR Jason
Avant, TE Ed Dickson; CB Antoine Cason;
SS Roman Harper, DE Kony Ealy.
KEY LOSSES: WR Steve Smith, WR Bran-
don LaFell, WR Ted Ginn Jr., LT Jordan
Gross; G Geoff Hangartner, CBs Captain
Munnerlyn, S Mike Mitchell.
OUTLOOK: The Panthers are looking to
make playoffs in back-to-back seasons for
first time, which won't be easy given free
agent departures. If Panthers are to be
successful, they need to develop cohesive-
ness quickly on offense. Quarterback Cam
Newton had ankle surgery in the offsea-
son, slowing his preparation.
SAINTS
2013 RECORD: 11-5 (2nd of 4 teams in
division).
HEAD COACH: Sean Payton (8th season
with Saints, 73-39 record).
2013 OFFENSIVE STATS: 23.2 ppg (8th in
NFL); 329.5 yards per game (13th); 100.2
yards per game rushing (19th); 229.2 yards
per game passing (12th).
2013 DEFENSIVE STATS:
21.8 ppg (24th in NFL);
396.2 yards per game
(32nd); 153.5 yards per
game rushing (31st); 242.8
yards per game passing
(28th).
NEW FACES: S Jairus
Byrd; CB Stanley Jean-
Baptiste; FB Erik Lorig; C
Jonathan Goodwin; WR Brandin Cooks.
KEY LOSSES: RB Darren Sproles, WR
Lance Moore, FB Jed Collins,C Brian De La
Puente, DE Will Smith, CB Jabari Greer, SS
Malcolm Jenkins, SS Roman Harper.
OUTLOOK: With addition of Byrd and
return of nearly all productive players
from 2013 on both sides of ball, Saints
expect to look like legitimate title con-
tender by end of training camp. Payton
looking for speed and versatility to fill
kick-returning and scatback roles handled
by Sproles in past three seasons.
BUCCANEERS
2013 RECORD: 4-12 (Tied 4th of 4 teams
in division).
HEAD COACH: Lovie Smith (1st season
with Bucs).
2013 OFFENSIVE STATS: 15.2 ppg (27th in
NFL); 221.8 yards per game (32nd); 91.0
yards per game rushing (23rd); 221.8 yards
per game passing (32nd).
2013 DEFENSIVE STATS:
18.5 ppg (12th in NFL);
346.5 yards per game
(25th); 88.2 yards per
game rushing (7th); 258.2
yards per game passing
(30th).
NEW FACES: Coach Lovie
Smith, defensive coor-
dinator Leslie Frazier,
offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, QB
Josh McCown, DE Michael Johnson, WRs
Mike Evan, CB Alterraun Verner, OT An-
thony Collins, DT Clinton McDonald.
KEY LOSSES: CB Darrelle Revis, WR Mike
Williams, OT Donald Penn, G Davin Jo-
seph, C Jeremy Zuttah, LB Dekoda Watson.
OUTLOOK: Bucs haven't made playoffs
since 2007, but Smith insists he isn't begin-
ning rebuilding project. He believes
McCown can be the consistent QB lacking
for more than a decade, and that person-
nel changes he and first-year GM Jason
Licht made will meld with holdovers Ger-
ald McCoy, Lavonte David, Mark Barron,
Dashon Goldson, Doug Martin and Vin-
cent Jackson.
FALCONS
2013 RECORD: 4-12 (Tied 4th of 4 teams
in division).
HEAD COACH: Mike Smith (7th season
with Falcons, 60-36 record).
2013 OFFENSIVE STATS: 16.0 ppg (22nd
in NFL); 327.8 yards per game (14th); 76.6
yards per game rushing (30th); 251.2 yards
per game passing (3rd).
2013 DEFENSIVE STATS:
20.0 ppg (17th in NFL);
321.8 yards per game
(18th); 92.0 yards per
game rushing (11th);
229.8 yards per game
passing (24th).
NEW FACES: WR/KR
Devin Hester, OGs Jon
Asamoah, CB Javier Are-
nas, OT Jake Matthews; DE Tyson Jackson,
RB Devonta Freeman, LB Prince Shembo.
KEY LOSSES: TE Tony Gonzalez, CB
Asante Samuel, LB Akeem Dent, RB Jason
Snelling.
OUTLOOK: Return to playoffs is Atlanta's
goal, a big jump from 4-12. Ryan no longer
has superstar TE Gonzalez, but passing
game can still flourish if Julio Jones and
Roddy White are healthy, and Matthews
and Asamoah hold down right side of line.
- From staff and wire reports
A closer look: NFC South
* The crossover division
on the Bengals schedule
Benjamin Byrd McCown Asamoah
Harbaugh Tomlin Pettine