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AFC north

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 2004

BALTIMORE RAVENS

The team has two capable backs--Chester Taylor and Musa Smith--to fill in while Jamal Lewis serves his two-game suspension. But the team won't be able to replace Lewis' physical style and ability to take over a game. Taylor is a slasher while Smith has more power.... Coach Brian Billick gave QB Kyle Boiler a vote of confidence, but it's clear Boiler can't make enough plays. He wasn't worth the first-round pick the team used on him.

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... In signing CB Chris McAlister to a seven-year deal, the team satisfied one of its most irreplaceable parts. The Ravens know they need a dominant defense to compete. As a top cover man, McAlister has a critical role. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: For years, teams tried to run away from MLB Ray Lewis. Now teams are starting to run at him. Shoulder injuries have limited Lewis weight-room regimen, causing him to be a smaller target (he is 245 pounds instead of 255). He still isn't easy to reach because of his quickness. But blockers who reach him can create a seam.--Mike Preston

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The offense should operate more smoothly with the return of WR Peter Warrick (bruised left shin). Warrick, a go-to receiver on third down, makes clutch catches that produce first downs. His presence will reduce the double-teams on WR Chad Johnson and open up the passing attack for more big plays. ... DT Tony Williams is an active, productive, one-gap tackle who displays good quickness, power, body control and burst off the line. His ability to penetrate quickly creates problems for offenses because he's so disruptive. His only problem is he's undersized (6-1,292) and teams can pound the ball at him. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RE Justin Smith has improved as a run defender, but his pass rushing leaves a lot to be desired. Despite his strength and quickness, Smith has difficulty trying to bull-rush massive left tackles, so he's been lining up farther outside to try to gain an advantage off the edge. But his upfield rush causes him to overrun plays and he arrives too late at the quarterback--Chick Ludwig

CLEVELAND BROWNS

OLB Warrick Holdman is giving the defense exactly what it needed: a veteran run stopper. He is a better tackler and a more instinctive run defender than 2003 starter Kevin Bentley, who has adapted nicely to his role as a nickel linebacker. That's important because Holdman is flawed as a cover man. ... Chris Crocker, who lacks the speed and instincts to be a top corner, could replace FS Earl Little. Crocker is a hard hitter who wraps up ballcarriers consistently. ... Once suspect as a kickoff man, Phil Dawson has improved his leg power and directional prowess. His field-goal range now reaches 50 yards when the conditions are good. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The run defense regressed some last week against the Steelers, but it still is vastly improved. The safeties are playing slightly wider, taking better angles to the ballcarrier. The overall tackling also has improved. The theme in practice has been, "meet me at the ball" and defenders are starting to swarm there by habit.--Steve Doerschuk

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

SS Troy Polamalu has been all over the field, using his speed to make tackles and interceptions. Polamalu's aggressiveness sometimes gets him in trouble because he tries to jump a route in the middle of the field, leaving him vulnerable to a double move. But he has great recovery speed and is a sore tackler. ... RB Duce Staley has performed better than the team hoped, putting together three consecutive 100-yard games for the first time in his eight-year career. He is a good fit for the offense because he hits the hole quick, and the coaches like the way he breaks tackles and almost always falls forward. He has been so productive the team hardly uses RB Jerome Bettis, except in goal-line situations. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: The team is using more designed rollouts and naked bootlegs to take advantage of the abilities of rookie QB Ben Roothlisberger. He does a good job of throwing on the run, which he demonstrated in last Sunday's victory against the Browns. On one play, he avoided the rush, ran to his right and threw a 48-yard pass to WR Plaxico Burress that set up a touchdown.--Gerry Dulac

AFC north

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 2004

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