How the Cleveland Fans rate the AFC North

[BengalszoneBilly]

I was seeing what they had to say about the Winslow deal, and I read this thread. He goes down the list pretty lucidly for the most part! I almost felt he had no contempt for Cincy. Others left no doubt! I suppose they all can't be bottle throwing jerks!

Posts: 626 Loc: Ashland   AFC North Offensive Position Comparisons 

Running Backs

The Bengals have Johnson who carried the team's rushing load with 1454 yards on 361 carries racking up 12 TDs. There next two leading backs (Watson and Perry) together totaled 162 yards on 28 carries. The Steelers Staley who rushed 151 times for 707 yards and a touchdown, Bettis who carried the ball 143 times for 510 yards and 10 TDs, and Verron who had 36 carries for 165 yards.

The Ravens have Lewis who rushed 235 times for 1006 yards and 7 touchdowns, Taylor, who had 160 carries for 714 yards and 2 TDs, and White who had 14 Carries for 62 yards.

The Browns had Suggs who had 199 carries for 744 yards and 2 TDs, Green who carried the ball 163 times for 585 yards and two TD's, and we picked up Droughns who had 275 carries for 1240 yards and 6 TD's.

****Don't Push Me may want to skip this next quote! Dude. When the Browns fans start grasping the obvious, and your still grasping straws, the time to give it up has already come and gone!*****

Based on these individual stats if you wanted to ask which team has the best back, you would have to lean towards Cinci and Rudi Johnson. If you wanted to rate each team based on talent at the RB position I believe it should be as follows:

Cleveland has the best arsenol of RB's. It can be argued that Droughns had a better OL to run through, but it can also be argued that Suggs and Green will be running through a better OL than they did last year. Regardless, we have three very capable backs and should be able to keep fresh legs on the field at all times.

Ravens should be 2nd with Lewis and Taylor

Steelers have to have an edge over the Bengals because they have two backs sharing the load. Rudi cannot keep carrying the ball 361 times a year.

Well it's not like the Bengals didn't try (I guess) by drafting Perry 1st last year. Great potential for sure. If only he could be a bit less fragile, maybe he wouldn't find himself on the IR for those nagging hangnails and paper cuts so damn often!! This year HAS to be better for him. It can't get any worse.

Quarterbacks;

Palmer threw 432 times completing 263 - 60.9% for 2897 yards and 18 TDs.

Big Ben threw 192 times completing 132-69.8% for 1588 yards and 12 TDs

Boller threw 464 times completing 258 - 55.6% for 2559 yards and 13 TDs

Although Dilfer is the only one with a superbowl ring, ***Note***Although not a QB (duh) Marvin Lewis also wears the same ring.*** he hasn't started in a while and was known as a great QB even then.

I would have to rate the QB's as follows:

Palmer is definately the most talented of the Bunch and has the stats to prove it. Eventhough Big Ben hasn't really proven himself as a passer I would have to give him the edge over Boller because of his efficiency. Boller of course would be third. That leaves Dilfer at last, however, I do think from a leadership standpoint, he may be first.

Wide Receivers

The Bengals have Chad Johnson who had 95 receptions for 1274 yards and 9 TDs, Houshmandzadah with 73 receptions for 978 yards and 4 TDs, and Washington with 31 receptiond for 378 yards and 3 TDs. The Steelers were led by Ward with 57 catches for 678 yards and 3 TDs. Burris was 2nd but is no longer with the team. Randall El made 20 catches for 197 yards and a TD.

The Ravens were lead by KJ with 35 receptions for 373 yards and a touchdown, Taylor with 34 catches for 421 yards and Hymes with 26 catches for 323 yards and 2 TDs.

The Browns were lead by Northcutt with 55 receptions for 806 yards and 2 TDs and Bryant with 42 catches for 546 yards and 4 TDs. The also have added #3 pick Braylon Edwards to their air attack.

Based on all of that I rate the wide receivers as follows: Cinci has to be rated at the top having three receivers posting big numbers, The Browns would have to considered a close 2nd even if Edwards only has a 25 catch 350 yard first year. The Ravens have to be next since they have a more rounded attack than Pittsburgh and have picked up some more quality receivers. Pittsburgh has to be last in this department despite the great effort by Ward.

Tightends***Note: This was posted before the Winslow Wipeout!  B.B.  :player:

Cinci was led by Schobel with 21 catches for 201 yards and 4 TDs, Kelly with 15 receptions for 85 yards and Stewart with 10 catches for 48 yards and a TD. The Steelers were led by Tuman with 6 catches for 53 yards and a TD and Cushing with1 reception for 17 yards. The did pick up Heath Miller in the draft and should see improvement in this area.

The Ravens were led by Heap with 27 catches for 303 yards and 3 TDs, Wilcox with 25 catches for 219 yards and a TD and Jones with 20 Catches for 152 yards and a TD

The Browns were led by Heiden with 28 catches for 287 yards and 5 TDs, Shea with 26 catches for 252 yards and 4 TDs and will have KW2 back in the lineup who had 5 catches for 50 yards and a TD before getting injured.

I would have to rate them as follows: The Browns have to be the top rated team here. Heiden and Shea outperformed the Raven's Heap and Wilcox and you have to believe that Winslow will only make the TE position better. Of course, the Ravens have to be #2. The Bengals may still have the slight edge over Pittsburgh but if Heath Miller can live up to his expectations they could beat Cinci in this area.

Offensive Line

I will skip the individual team breakdown. I feel that Bengals have the best allowing them to put the most total offensive yards, the Ravens are second following closely behind the Bengals, The Steelers are also very close, not in total yards, but in ball control. The Browns are improved from last year, but still are last in this catagory

They don't seem aware of the issues that exist at the center position for the Bengals, wheather the draft helped any of the AFC North teams or not truly remains to be seen!

[JPW]

Cleveland has the best arsenol of RB's.

So the Browns are going to be lining up with three RBs in the back field ?

The thing about Rudi is that he has always been able to handle having a large number of carries.

In fact the more carries he gets the better he gets.

[TecmoFever]

I'm a Rudi fan (mostly), but I really have to question the Cleveland fan when he says that the best back in the AFC North has to be Rudi. When Jamal Lewis is not in jail, he is one of the top 8 backs in the NFL. Rudi is not. Then the guy rates the Baltimore backfield second. Is Chester Taylor that good? I mean, sure, he's a nice backup, but I really wouldn't want him starting for my team.

I do like how this guy found a way to make the Browns running back corps #1. I guess in his mind, three average backs equals great success on the field.

As for the rest of the analysis, I'd have to say that I highly question this person's ability to rate talent. When you base everything on statistics, things get a little skewed. The Steelers wideouts last year had poor stats because they rarely had to pass the ball to win. I wonder if this guy really thinks that Dennis Northcutt and his 800 receiving yards can compare to Hines Ward and his 700 from last year.

I will say, though, that any kind words given by a Cleveland fan about our team can't be all that bad.

[BlackJesus]

TURDS 2-14

[BDDFC]

I'm a Rudi fan (mostly), but I really have to question the Cleveland fan when he says that the best back in the AFC North has to be Rudi. When Jamal Lewis is not in jail, he is one of the top 8 backs in the NFL. Rudi is not.

I think J lewis' best days are behind him now. He'll start to slow down and all a back has to do is lose a half step and he's washed up.

[Ox]

TURDS 2-14

For some reason I found this highly entertaining. Turds does REALLY REALLY fit cleveland and there fans, doesn't it?

[Kazkal]

Eh some of the brown fans are preatty decent....

some are on crack and said they had the best WR depth

PS,Hines Ward is awesome tobad he isen't a bengal