Throughout the 2011 season, there wasn’t a more competitive division than the AFC North. A champion wasn’t decided until week 16, and it produced three playoff teams.
It’s going to take a solid offseason from each team in order for them to compete for the division title again in 2012. What is each team going to have to do in order to have a shot at a 2012 AFC North Title?
Baltimore Ravens
Middle Linebacker – Ray Lewis has enjoyed one of the greatest careers from any linebacker in the NFL. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and he is definitely in the down hill portion of his career. He’s been the leader for the Baltimore defense for years, and they need to find another middle linebacker who can make that same type of impact.
Offensive Tackle – Bryant McKinnie has had a decent year for the Ravens, but it’s only a matter of time before weight and conditioning issues catch up to him. Baltimore would be wise to look for a younger replacement sooner than later.
Interior Offensive Line – The Ravens will be dealing with a number of expiring contracts in the interior offensive line, including Matt Birk and Ben Grubbs. They’ll need to make sure they have some reliable blockers to lead the way for Ray Rice in 2012.
Cincinnati Bengals
Interior Offensive Line
In a surprisingly good offensive season for the Bengals, the inside of the offensive line was a weakness. Clint Boling hasn’t looked very inspiring, and they’ll need to get some young talent there for 2012.
Running Back
Cincinnati needs a running back that can scare defenses, and Cedric Benson just isn’t that guy. The Bengals need to look for a younger and quicker alternative to provide for a more balanced offensive attack.
Cornerback
The loss of Jonathon Joseph hurt, but the Bengals were able to handle it pretty well. Still, another corner they can trust to leave in one on one coverage would be a huge advantage in a competitive AFC North.
Cleveland Browns
Offensive Tackle
The Browns have one of the bookends they need in Joe Thomas, but they’re still looking for the second piece. Tony Pashos isn’t the answer, and a right tackle is a huge need for the Cleveland offense.
Running Back
Peyton Hillis fell victim to the Madden curse after all. Quietly brewing disputes with coaches and management combined with nagging injuries led to a terrible season for Hillis, and things don’t look to be getting any better.
Quarterback
It’s not a given that the Browns are going to give up on Colt McCoy, but there is reason to believe they may. Seneca Wallace is a nice enough back up plan, but he’s not a guy that is going to lead to team to the playoffs at this stage of his career. Even if the Browns intend to give McCoy one more shot, adding a QB is certainly not out of the picture.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Offensive tackle
It feels like it’s always first on the list for Pittsburgh, but they head into another offseason needing help on the offensive line. Maybe it’s an indictment on Ben Roethlisberger’s style of play, but he’s their quarterback and that won’t change anytime soon. Regardless, there is plenty of room to improve, especially at offensive tackle.
Cornerback
If there was any question as to whether or not the Steelers needed a revamped secondary, it was eliminated in their playoff loss in Denver. After giving up 316 passing yards to Tim Tebow, Pittsburg will be looking for some serious improvements in the defensive backfield.
Quarterback
When he’s healthy, Roethlisberger is one of the top quarterbacks in the league. But he just can’t seem to stay healthy, and the Steelers must make it a priority to have a reliable second option.
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