In the second of Eight installments, I’ll look into the many position battles that are fought every off-season. Nothing in the NFL is guaranteed, from the contracts to a roster spot, which is why the NFL is so intriguing every year. For every Pierre Thomas and Miles Austin, long-shots for an NFL roster, there’s a Deuce McCallister or Marvin Harrison, former greats, that gets cut. So, on that note, we’ll take a look at the AFC North division, where there are such battles as a Brees/Rivers look-alike competition and receiver battles that could mean good things for their teams.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Right Guard/Right Tackle
The right side of the Steelers line is still very much up for grabs at both guard and tackle. After toying with the idea of taking a tackle or a versatile player like Max Unger in round one in this past draft, they decided they would let the position figure itself out. With Marvel Smith no longer in black and gold, they will need to find his replacement this season if they hope to repeat their Super Bowl berth once again. Darnell Stapleton is returning at guard after starting last season, so the RG spot is his to lose. However, Trai Essex and Willie Colon both have the ability to play guard, and the team is very high on both players. Also, draft pick Kraig Urbik from Wisconsin has the skills to step in right away, so he could challenge at guard if Stapleton or the other two mess it up at guard. Essex and Colon are the only two up for the right tackle spot, and the edge so far goes to Colon. He started all 16 games last year a few positions, and the team is comfortable with him. Essex and Urbik should sit the bench to start, but could play and be solid replacements if a problem arises with Colon or Stapleton.
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Probably the most notable position battle in the league right now, both players are in difficult situations. Derek Anderson is the more experienced of the bunch, but can’t scramble very well, something that Mangini values in a quarterback. Brady Quinn, the golden child of Ohio, is still waiting to get his chance, but he hasn’t gotten it because he has yet to dominate a training camp. He is more athletic than Anderson, but seems timid to some in the Browns organization, the main reason why he hasn’t gotten the full support. He has the talent, but there may be a reason why he fell about 10 spots lower in the draft than anyone expected. I think Quinn will start the season as the quarterback, but if the Browns start to compete (and I think they could have a surprise repeat of 2007) and Quinn struggles, Anderson could ride this team into the playoffs.
Wide Receiver
Even without Donte Stallworth, the Browns are still in decent shape in relation to receivers. They currently don’t have a consistent option opposite the struggling, yet undoubtedly talented Braylon Edwards, but they have great slot-type receivers and some youger guys who could emerge as starters. The fight for the number two spot should come down to David Patten and Brian Robiskie. Both have very reliable hands and could run those intermediate routes tightly and consistently, allowing Edwards to roam short and deep with less zone attention. Patten will likely get the nod due to his past with Mangini and that staff, but Robiskie was viewed by some as a first round type player, and has all the makings of a great number 2 option. Both could play based on the situation, with Robiskie probably the starter by year’s end. The slot option could be platooned by two players with differing skills sets. Joshua Cribbs has the breakaway, near Devin Hester game-breaker ability, and will be used to fly past nickel corners and safeties. Mike Furrey, the former great success story of the Lions a few years back, could be utilized as a Wes Welker type player, a reliable, willing to take a hit for yards type receiver. Also, Paul Hubbard and Mohammed Massaquoi, both young receivers, will be fighting for playing time, with both having the potential to be either #2 or #3 receivers. It looks as though it should be Robiskie at #2 by the 1st quarter of the season, Patten and Cribbs/Furrey as the #3 and #4 receivers, and Hubbard and Massaquoi solid replacements in case of injury. For not having an established #2 receiver, the Browns look to have a solid competition among many talented players.
Baltimore Ravens
Left Tackle
I doubt, coming into the draft, the Ravens were in search of a left tackle. They selected Jared Gaither two years ago in the Supplemental draft, and he has done a solid job developing into a back-side tackle. However, with a prospect with such an elite talent and such a great character as Michael Oher still on the board when the Ravens were on the clock, Baltimore wasted no time in selecting Oher. The battle will probably be simple for Gaither at the start, as he has a season experience ahead of Oher. But, once Oher starts to put his Pro Bowl potential in the weight room and on the field, Gaither could be quickly looking for a seat on the bench.
Cincinnati Bengals
Wide Receiver
With Chad Ochocinco still in Orange and Laverneous Coles coming in from the Jets, the first two spots on the wide receiver depth chart are filled. However, the next two slots will be hotly contested for in camps this off-season. Chris Henry, trouble-maker and considered by some a waste of potential, has been hyped by Carson Palmer as a Randy Moss-type talent. Whether you believe that or not is up to you, but that could mean that Henry could beat out two 2008 draft picks, Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson. Simpson was one of the better small school receivers to come out in some time, and has the talent to be a starter in this league if he fine-tunes his game. Caldwell was projected to be a surprising contributor last season, but couldn’t, as both he and Simpson were injured most of the year. Both will be looking to come back with something to prove. It looks like Henry could get the nod and be the #2 receiver when he’s in, putting Coles at the slot. But Caldwell and Simpson seem on pace to fight for his job, with Simpson most likely slotted at #4 right now.
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