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In the Hood: The AFC North - IN THE HOOD: AFC NORTH UPDATE

Posted On: 8/25/07
Written By:  
Eric Buckner
ITH takes a look at each AFC North team and what has occurred through the first 2 pre-season contests:
 
Baltimore Ravens
 
Preseason Schedule Date
Opponent
Monday, August 13
RAVENS 29 EAGLES 3
Sunday, August 19
GIANTS 13 RAVENS 12
Saturday, August 25
@ Washington Redskins
Friday, August 31
@ Atlanta Falcons
  • The rushing attack failed to show up in the loss to the Giants. RB Willis McGahee was unimpressive, but is he to blame when the offensive line wasn’t able to get a push up front? RB Mike Anderson was the more resourceful back when he had the opportunity to get some carries.
  • It’s only preseason, but once again play calling by the coaching staff was questionable at times. On the QB keeper that Steve McNair failed to convert on 4th and less than a yard, why take a risk on injuring the starting QB? You just drafted a potential starting FB in LeRon McClain. Why not see what the kid can do in that situation as a runner or even a blocker? Also, the decision to go for a FG instead of the lead with less than 3 minutes left and 1 timeout was a bit conservative. It would have been fun to see how rookie QB Troy Smith would have handled the play on 4th down.
  • Defensive lineman Dwan Edwards has stepped up his play considerably. While perhaps not exactly what the team had hoped for with their 2nd round investment in Edwards, he has developed into a very reliable back-up and could possibly become a quality starter if someone goes down to injury.
Cincinnati Bengals
 
Preseason Schedule Date
Opponent
Thursday, August 9
Lions 27  Bengals 26
Saturday, August 18
SAINTS 27 BENGALS 19
Monday, August 27
@ Atlanta Falcons
Friday, August 31
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
 
  • The Bengals (0-2) have a lot of work to do. Cincinnati's new-look defense looked a lot like the old one, giving up two touchdowns and a field goal on the Saints' first three possessions in their 27 – 19 loss on Saturday.
  • QB Carson Palmer played four series and was a pedestrian 5-for-10 for 41 yards with a sack and a fumble that set up the Saints' second touchdown. "It wasn't what we expected or want to do," Palmer said.
  • The most glaring problem was the lack of a No. 3 receiver. The Bengals were reminded how much they miss Chris Henry, who is suspended for the first eight games for violating the NFL's conduct policy. Tab Perry was the intended receiver on eight passes in the first half, but had only one catch for seven yards. He also had a false start on the opening drive of the second half. Perry finished with two catches for 19 yards.
  • LB Landon Johnson strained his back and DE Robert Geathers strained his ribcage in the first quarter. Neither returned. RT Willie Anderson walked the sideline without the protective boot he wore on his right foot two days earlier. Anderson has a foot injury that threatens to keep him out of the season opener.
Cleveland Browns
 
Preseason Schedule Date
Opponent
Saturday, August 11
BROWNS 16 CHIEFS 12
Saturday, August 18
LIONS 23 BROWNS 20
Saturday, August 25
@ Denver Broncos
Thursday, August 30
@ Chicago Bears
 
  • QB Brady Quinn threw two fourth-quarter TD passes in his first NFL exhibition game and looked better than any other Cleveland quarterback in the Browns' 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Saturday night. He entered the game with the Browns down 23-7.
  • The QB battle between Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson has produced mostly confusion for HC Romeo Crennel, who was hoping to have his starter for the Sept. 9 opener against Pittsburgh named by this point of the preseason. He doesn't have much to choose from. For the second straight week, Frye (5-for-10, 42 yards) had a mental error and threw an interception. Anderson (6-for-8, 65 yards) had two turnovers, including an interception near the goal line.
  • The Browns were happy to see that cornerback DeMario Minter, the 2006 fifth-round draft pick who missed all of last season because of a knee injury, returned to the practice field for the first time this year after being plagued by a heel problem. According to the coach, G Eric Steinbach (knee) and DE Orpheus Roye (knee) "are coming along. But like I said yesterday, they need to get out on the field and I have to see them there before we make a determination on when they will be ready." The Browns are hoping they'll be able to go in the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 9, but there's no way now to tell if that will be possible.
Pittsburgh Steelers
 
Preseason Schedule Date
Opponent
Sunday, August 5
Steelers 20, Saints 7, Canton, OH
Saturday, August 11
PACKERS 13 STEELERS 9
Saturday, August 18
Steelers 12 Redskins 10
Sunday, August 26
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Thursday, August 30
@ Carolina Panthers
  • New Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gave his starters their most extensive work so far this pre -season, and the results showed there is more work to do. QB Ben Roethlisberger, who worked only three series in the first two games, played the entire first half and completed eight of 12 passes for 87 yards. He was sacked once and had to scramble four times because of pressure. "Like to see him perform better," Tomlin said. "Like to see the offense perform better, but that was a charged-up defense."
  • The Steelers went with a makeshift O-line starting Trai Essex at LT in place of Marvel Smith (back), and Sean Mahan at C in place of Chukky Okobi (ribs). It showed in both the run and the pass. RB Willie Parker, who missed the first two games because of a knee injury, carried four times for 4 yards.
  • A rookie who has been answering the call in the first three preseason games is punter Daniel Sepulveda. Sepulveda had four punts for an average of 50-yards against the Redskins, including a 58-yarder, and a net average of 48.5 yards thanks to good coverage, something that didn't go unnoticed. "I thought our punter and our punt coverage kept us in it early," said Tomlin of the performance in Washington.  "There wasn't a lot going well except that we were netting fifty or so yards every time we kicked the ball and I think that's what kept us in it. Hats off to those guys."

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Posted On: 8/25/07
Written By:  
Eric Buckner

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