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AFC North

Sporting News, The, Dec 9, 2005

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Starting FS Will Demps (ACL) will miss the rest of the season. Demps had become a staple of the defense and often set the alignments. B.J. Ward is expected to start in Demps' place. The Ravens like Ward's size and athletic ability. He is physical but lacks experience.... MLB Ray Lewis (thigh) might sit out the rest of the season because the team has no shot at the playoffs. The defense had been playing reasonably well without Lewis before allowing 42 points to the Bengals, so there won't be much of a difference. OVERACHIEVING: DT Kelly Gregg (6-0,310) doesn't have great size and isn't the prototype for his position, but he hustles and uses leverage. He has short, powerful arms. Gregg is one of the best run stuffers in the league but needs to improve his pass-rushing technique. UNDERACHIEVING: The team wanted to build its offense around RB Jamal Lewis, but he has been hesitant and indecisive. He says he hasn't run with the same intensity, partly because the team reneged on giving him a contract extension before the season. The team now will see how he plays the rest of the season before offering him an extension.--Mike Preston

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CINCINNATI BENGALS

Q8 Carson Palmers dual trademarks are his arm strength and accuracy. He places the ball where his receivers can catch it. By hitting receivers in stride in the open field, they have a better opportunity to pick up yards after the catch.... SLB Landon Johnson is a smart, smooth, aggressive player who shows excellent speed and range. Johnson has tremendous initial quickness and is tough against the run. He also has the athleticism to match up in man coverage, and he tackles well in space. On the downside, Johnson has durability issues. He has missed some time with shoulder pain. OVERACHIEVING: Rookie WR/KR Tab Parry has emerged as the ace up the club's sleeve on special teams. Perry has good size, speed, toughness and vision. He sees an opening, hits it and does a good job of securing the ball. UNDERACHIEVING: Third-year WR Kelley Washington has been a big disappointment and has been passed up by rookie Chris Henry. Washington has good physical skills, but he doesn't have Henry's blazing speed. Washington's biggest drawback is his inability to play on special teams.--Chick Ludwig

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Wishful thinkers see a lot of Randy Moss in rookie WR Braylon Edwards. Edwards' acrobatic moves are reminiscent of Moss, but Edwards isn't in the same class athletically. He certainly lacks Moss' speed. Edwards is a polished route runner for a rookie, but he is not as crisp as veteran teammate Antonio Bryant. Edwards does, however, have excellent hands and is driven to be dominant.... RB Reuben Droughns, who is on pace for a 1,000-yard season, is one of the most relentless runners in the game. His punishing straight-line style makes up for a lack of a second gear. OVERACHIEVING: CB Leigh Bodden has gone from undrafted free agent to starter within three years. Bodden, who has replaced the injured Gary Baxter (pectoral muscle), is a smooth athlete who plays with poise. Bodden should attract interest as a restricted free agent in the offseason. UNDERACHIEVING: OLB Kenard Lang's conversion from end has not been a success. He has only one sack for a defense that was counting on his pass-rushing ability. Lang (6-3,257) lacks bulk after losing weight to handle coverage duties. He now is backing up Matt Stewart.--Steve Doerschuk

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

FB Dan Kreider doesn't have many rushing attempts, but the club is a better running team with him in the game because he's like a pulling guard. Kreider (5-11,255) uses his thick upper body to hammer into linebackers. He rarely misses a block because he doesn't lunge at defenders; he uses good leg drive to drive them backward.... Rookie LT Trai Essex filled in for Marvel Smith (ankle) in Week 11 and settled down after a shaky start. Essex has good feet and mobility for his size (6-4,324) and should develop into a good player. OVERACHIEVING: Ike Taylor wasn't a starter entering training camp, but he has developed into the team's best cornerback. The athletic Taylor (6-1,191) doesn't give up big plays and is a sure tackler with good size. The team used him to shadow Bengals WR Chad Johnson in Week 7, and Taylor held him to four catches. UNDERACHIEVING: WR Cedrick Wilson, who was expected to be a big-play threat as the third wideout, had only 13 catches and no touchdowns through Week 11. Wilson has speed and explosiveness--reflected in his 18.0 yards per catch--but he hasn't been able to develop a rapport with QB Ben Roethlisberger because Wilson has dropped several passes.--Gerry Dulac

AFC North

Sporting News, The, Dec 9, 2005

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