Baltimore Ravens
Defensive tackle: Need Assessment: 4/5
Baltimore’s return to
the 4-3 defense, after a successful two-year experiment with the 3-4, will
likely mean that the undersized but quick NG Kelly Gregg will move to the
3-technique tackle spot. This will open
up a vacancy at the 1 technique, or “over” position, tackle. Currently, the Ravens have Jarret Johnson, a
third year man out of Alabama, penciled in at this position. But Johnson is more of a wave player; the
most effective way to use him is to spell the starter, or as a pass rusher in
nickel and dime sets. To that end, the
Ravens also have young tackles Aubrayo Franklin and Ma’ake Kemoeatu, both
effective depth players, but lacking the skill sets to start and excel. It is important to remember that the vaunted
Ravens defense of 2000 featured two massive space-eating tackles in Tony
Siragusa and Sam Adams, who combined to keep the interior three offensive
linemen away from Ray Lewis. It is a
known fact that Ray Lewis sometimes struggles when teams are able to get their
guards out into his face (see last year’s Monday nighter against the
Chiefs). While Kelly Gregg overcomes
his lack of size with superb leverage, the Ravens will still need to add a stout,
wide-bodied “over” tackle to two-gap the interior and keep blockers off of Ray
Lewis.
Derrick Mason is an
excellent possession receiver, with some downfield capabilities. But he turned 31 in January and is not a
long-term solution at the position. Six-foot
six Clarence Moore showed promise in his first season as a dangerous red-zone
threat, but he will need seasoning to develop into a complete receiver. Behind Mason and Moore are prospects. Randy Hymes is elusive in the open field,
but has shown his ability only in flashes.
Derek Abney and Devard Darling were limited by injuries in their rookie
seasons. The Ravens have tried to apply
band-aids to this position for too long (see Marcus Robinson, Kevin
Johnson). Eventually, a true playmaking
young receiver will need to be added to aid in Kyle Boller’s maturation.
This was the position
filled by Terrell Suggs last season.
Given the fact that the Ravens employed the 3-4, Suggs was used a wing
rusher. The 4-3 “will” linebacker is
more of a sideline-to-sideline pursuer, and also has important flat, hook, and
curl zone responsibilities. Suggs will
most likely play with his hand down this season, as the Ravens attempt to
maximize his dynamic pass rush abilities.
If re-signed, T.J. Slaughter will assume the weakside
responsibilities. Slaughter has not
distinguished himself as much of a playermaker in his time as a Jaguar and
Raven. And currently backup Cornell
Green is 30 years old and best suited
for use in substitution packages and on special teams. Depth might also be required at the “sam”
backer position, where starter Peter Boulware returns from an injury-marred
year, and back-up Adalius Thomas, while an excellent special teamer, is more of
upfield pass-rusher than a multi-functional linebacker.
Other needs: Right tackle, defensive end.
Defensive Tackle: Need
assessment: 5/5
This is by far the
most pressing need on the team. So
pressing, in fact, that most draft observers have written in FSU DT Travis
Johnson’s name in permanent marker beside Cincinnati’s position on the draft
board. Last season, Tony Williams and
his replacement Langston Moore were simply manhandled and teams ran at the
Bengals with impunity. Williams will be
gone and Moore will likely be used only in sub packages. The Bengals added Bryan Robinson from Miami
in free agency. But Robinson will be 31
this summer and will be suiting up for his fourth different team in the
fall. He is neither an impact player, nor
a long-term solution at the “over” tackle position. An intriguing prospect to keep an eye on this season is
second-year man Mathias Askew out of Michigan State, who measures a massive
6’5, 310 lbs., but is very raw after battling injury his rookie season.
Both starters, Duane
Clemons and Justin Smith, are adequate starters at best. Clemons is the more solid of the two. He is a capable run defender, who
contributed 6.5 sacks last year. His
bookend Justin Smith wears down easily and is often a complete liability in run
defense. Although Smith posted 8 sacks
last season, four of his sacks came in two games. He is a player who looks dominant in stretches, then disappears
for entire quarters. His backup, Robert
Geathers, has great potential, contributing 3.5 sacks in limited action last
season. Whether he can develop into a
more consistent contributor than Justin Smith is unknown, however. Depth is certainly an issue, as well. Clemons has no experienced backup.
Last season, the
Bengals drafted their FS of the future, Madieu Williams, in the second
round. Williams’ future in the NFL
looks bright after he made great strides in the rookie season. Now the Bengals need to draft an impact SS
to pair with him and give them a stud pairing for the next 6-8 years. Last season, the Bengals used a platoon at
SS, composed of Rogers Beckett, Kim Herring, and Anthony Williams. None of these players should figure in the
Bengals’ future plans. All three are
best suited as situational players, as they lack the range, coverage skills,
in-the-box authority, and intimidating tendencies that define the truly great
strong safeties.
Other needs: Linebacker, center, tight end.
On a team with so many
needs, the most glaring is at the quarterback position. After Kelly Holcomb departed for Buffalo,
the Browns acquired Trent Dilfer from Seattle.
The Browns expect Dilfer to play cautiously but consistently in 2005, to
make few errors, and to steady the ship for their franchise quarterback in
2006. This might be expecting too much
from a player who has not thrown more than 170 passes since 2000, and who
posted a 43.1 completion percentage in 5 games last year for the Seahawks. Second year QB Luke McCown got some quality
snaps as a rookie, but few project him as franchise quarterback material down
the line, and in limited action last season, he posted a quarterback rating of
52.6. With the number 3 pick overall,
the Browns will be in position to take either Alex Smith or Aaron Rodgers,
depending on which one San Francisco snaps up at number 1. But if Romeo Crennel is looking to build on
the Patriots model in Cleveland, he might very well go defense with the third
overall pick, and take a second tier QB prospect such as Charlie Frye or David
Greene in the second or third round.
If the Browns do not
select a quarterback 3rd overall, it will likely be because they
have targeted Texas LB Derrick Johnson as the centerpiece around which to build
an aggressive, athletic, playmaking linebacker corps. The Browns have imported former Falcons’ LB Matt Stewart in free
agency. Also penciled in as a starter
in third-year man Chaun Thompson, an excellent athlete with great promise, but
who has yet to showcase his potential at the pro level. Thompson, OLB Ben Taylor, and ILB Andra
Davis were to be the linebacking trio around which Butch Davis’ regime was to
build its defense. But when coaching
staffs change, so too do strategy and personnel. If Crennel installs a 3-4 defense, Taylor and Davis will likely
have starting jobs, if only because the Browns have little depth at the
position. Barry Gardner has departed in
free agency and Warrick Holdman will likely not be retained. This leaves tough journeyman Brant Boyer and
special teams ace Justin Kurpeikis as the only backups. Crennel will likely begin drafting heady,
multi-functional linebackers to stock his 3-4, the same kind he enjoyed so much
success with in New England.
Last season, the
Browns did not have a receiver with more than 850 yards receiving. At the top of the depth chart is
former-Cowboy Antonio Bryant, a tease who in his 3 years in the league has
never put together a consistent season.
At the split end position is Andre Davis, a player drafted in the same
year as Bryant, and having demonstrated a similar lack of productivity. Their most explosive wideout is likely SB
Dennis Northcutt, who also has excellent kick return ability. The rest of the depth chart is populated by
borderline practice squad players like Andre King and Richard Alston (although
Alston also can return kicks with some explosiveness). The Browns need a serious injection of
playmaking ability here. Whoever the
future quarterback is, he will not benefit from throwing to a wide receiving
corps like this.
Other needs: Offensive tackle, defensive tackle, safety.
This is not a team with a plethora of needs. But addressing the vacancies free agency created on the right side of the offensive line is paramount. Right guard Keydrick Vincent left to join division rival Baltimore. Vincent was surprisingly effective last season, filling in for injured starter Kendal Simmons. Simmons will return to the starter’s role this season. However, his durability is a question mark because of his recurring health problems. The Steelers have the option of moving the mammoth but inexperienced Max Starks, currently slated to replace the departed Oliver Ross at RT, inside to the guard position. But that would create a vacancy at right tackle, and given the fact that the Steelers are a run-first offence, it is unlikely that they would want to start the season with no clear-cut starter at such a crucial run-blocking position. The entire right-hand side of the offensive line will be new this season. Even if Simmons is ready to go at RG, the Steelers would be wise to find an insurance policy, because of the lingering threat that his health poses to him.
This is the one defensive position at which the Steelers are deficient. They got by most of last season with Willie Williams manning one of the corner spots. But realistically, Williams was only a stop-gap solution. At his age, Williams should only be used in nickel and dime packages. Deshea Townsend did a respectable job at the other CB position last season, but he is another player who is best suited for use in substitution packages. Chad Scott’s 2004 season was marred by injury, and he was a salary cap casualty this offseason. Ricardo Colclough’s 2004 rookie season certainly forecasted a bright and promising future for him. He should make an aggressive push for starting time this season. Another young corner who will be expected to take his game to the next level is Ivan Taylor, who up to this season has made most of his contributions on special teams. Coordinator Dick Lebeau protects his corners with aggressive blitz packages, which prevent them from being “on an island” for long periods of time. But their deficiencies were exposed in the AFC Championship game against New England.
The departure of Plaxico Burress leaves
behind Heinz Ward, Antwaan Randle El, newly acquired Cedrick Wilson and a group
of unproven receivers. Ward is one of
the best blocking wide receivers in the league, a superb route runner, and a
dangerous short-to-intermediate threat.
Antwaan Randle-El is cut from the same cloth: shifty, elusive, and
dangerous after the reception. But both
are more diminutive, possession receivers.
Cedrick Wilson’s skillset is not unlike Ward’s and Randle El’s, but he
struggled with consistency during his time in San Francisco. With the Steelers, Burress assumed two
critical roles: deep-ball playmaker and inviting red zone target. One receiver who may emerge from the bottom
of the depth chart and provide this is Lee Mays. Mays is a tall, angular receiver with rare size, but he is longer
on potential than experience and past production. This need could also be mitigated if the Steelers target a young
tight end with athleticism who can push the seams of a defence, say a Heath
Miller or, if available, a Matt Jones.
Other needs: Tight end, right tackle, linebacker.