Quick Thoughts – Future of the AFC North 2/16/12
by Brandon Halsey
brandonhalsey@gettinAfterIt.com
When people think of the AFC North, Pittsburgh and Baltimore almost instantly come to mind. That might be changing soon.
The problem with the Steelers comes in the form of a question – how much time do they have left? The great defense isn’t getting any younger and Harrison is two more illegal hits away from lifetime suspension. Offensively the Steelers have some really good receivers in Wallace and Brown and when Roethlisberger is not hobbling around the field he can and will get them the ball. However you might see questions about the running-back position with the news of Mendenhall’s ACL injury. Here’s the thing – it doesn’t matter. Pittsburgh is a pass happy team. Times have changed, and it’s not the same ground and pound offense like it was thirty years ago. I think the Steelers might have one more run in them but they better be looking defensively and offensive line in the draft.
The Ravens are done. The doors to ‘Ball So Hard’ university are closed, forever. Joe Flacco is not, and will never be in the class of ‘elite’ quarterbacks. Joe Flacco has been handed the keys to a Jaguar, all he has to do is not drive it off a cliff yet that’s all he does do. There is about 15 other quarterbacks I would take over Flacco. The same question about the Steelers getting older can also be asked about Baltimore. Ray Lewis as a 40 year old linebacker just doesn’t sound intimidating. The Ravens were a Billy Cundiff screw up of colossal proportions away from a trip to the Super Bowl and that might’ve been as close as they will ever get. Twice now in Flacco’s career he’s had his team, actually the defense had their team, knocking on the door to greatness, but just missed out. Will they be good, YES. Will they be great, not until there’s a quarterback change.
Cincinnati was clearly the most surprising team of the AFC in 2011. I, and many other writers across the country thought Cincy was good for five wins or less. I penciled them in for three. I wasn’t even remotely close. And the thing about the Bengals, after you watched them for a little bit in 2011, you quickly began to realize they’re just like their division counterparts in Balti and Pittsburgh. They are a younger, fresher version of the Steelers offensively and Baltimore on the defensive side. For a lot of the year Cincy had the #1 defense in the league. And they have a chance to become great with Dalton and Green. It’s going to be special to watch the maturation of Dalton and Green.
The Browns are just the Browns. Is the city of Cleveland cursed to always lose? However, the Browns are feisty. There record was horrible at 4-12 but they lost six games by 7 points or less. One possession throughout six games was the deciding factor. How do they translate this one lost possession into wins? They need help at the O-Line. Colt McCoy is very undersized and if the Browns decide they’re going to stick with him, they must give McCoy some help. Do they focus on O-Line or take a guy like Blackmon if he’s available. McCoy also needs reliable targets. The Browns are in the process of building a solid defense. Keep in mind, Rob Ryan just left to the Cowboys in 2011 and when he was leading the Browns defense they shut New England down to 14 points.
Mike Tomlin and Ryan Clark 1/5/12
by Raymon Thomson
Collegefootballruleshq.com
It’s about time that someone in football recognizes the serious health problems that are involved with sickle cell anemia.
When Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced Steelers’ safety Ryan Clark won’t be making the trip to Denver for Sunday’s game against the Broncos, he was clearly putting the health of a player first. After all, Clark lost his spleen and gall bladder after becoming seriously ill after a 2007 game in Denver (the reason sickle cell is so serious in Denver due to the thin air and the inability of the deformed red cells – sickle cells – to adequately carry oxygen to the major organs of a player). What befuddles me is why it took so long for a coach to step up and recognize the seriousness of the illness, and why it was a black coach that has first taken precautions?
Case in point (and a perpetual thorn in my side) is Ereck Plancher from Central Florida. On March 18, 2008, Plancher died after a strenuous workout, which included an intense exercise called “mat drills”. Despite Plancher collapsing, trainers and coaches forced him to stand up and to complete the drill; it was only after he collapse again and became unresponsive did they perform medical care. He died a hour later.
10 players have died from sickle cell since 2000 – too many for a disease that is easily treatable. The NCAA and NFL should test all African American players for the disease and make sure that the coach and staff are aware of the disease, preventive measures, and treatments for sickle cell “crisis”. My hat’s off to Mike Tomlin and the Steelers for putting a player’s health and welfare ahead of winning a game.
