(05-16-2016, 02:45 AM)mroudfly Wrote: I'm out here in Melbourne, AU and have to settle for Australian Rules football and Rugby every weekend, so I seriously need some NFL talk at the moment (move back to the states in August - perfect timing ).

Based on the current state of rosters in the AFC North - just wanted get some perspectives on how teams compare on paper (obviously this is pointless BS fun):

Offense
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers - The three B's healthy will be very difficult to stop. Really just want Ben to retire...
2.) Cincinnati Bengals - Dalton back to being healthy. AJG, Gio, Hill (back to normal hopefully), Eifert, Boyd...weapons weapons weapons.
3.) Baltimore Ravens - Steve Smith Sr., Aiken and a healthy Perriman will be interesting to watch.
4.) Cleveland Browns - drafted a million WRs and now have RGIII....

Defense
1.) Cincinnati Bengals - One of the best scoring defenses last year - lose Nelson, but add lots of new weapons through FA/Draft (WJ3, Billings, Vigil, KD..)
2.) Baltimore Ravens - Allowed over 25ppg last year, but with Suggs back, the wave of rookie pash rushers, and the likes of smith/weddle/webb - they should bounce back this year.
3.) Pittsburgh Steelers - Everyone ripped on them last year, but statistically they weren't horrible...Added new weapons as well and a year of experience for the young guys.
4.) Cleveland Browns - ...............someone help me here

Special Teams
1.) Baltimore Ravens - Justin Tucker is automatic, and an auto-touchback machine...Steve Smith Sr. as PR again at his age?
2.) Pittsburgh Steelers - Figured out the K position finally; AB returning punts is always scary...Archer was a bust;
3.) Cincinnati Bengals - Searching for a Tate replacement (although he's safe); Pacman is solid PR; Huber had a somewhat off year statistically, and Nugent seems to be trending in the wrong direction
4.) Cleveland Browns - Average K/P; lost their punt returner in Benjamin

Overall
1.) Bengals - playoff bound
2.) Steelers - playoff bound
3.) Ravens - playoff bound
4.) Browns - maybe LeBron will try out for TE someday

Always interested to see everyone else's thoughts...Obviously a bit homerish - on paper 3/4 teams look very solid (sorry Browns). I can see the Bengals, Steelers and Ravens making it out in '16, especially with lots of question marks in the AFC (Jets, Broncos, etc...).

Cheers

(05-16-2016, 10:18 AM)6andcounting Wrote: The steelers were a fumble on offense from making the AFC Championship game last year with Blake at corner.

(05-16-2016, 06:09 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: Hmmm, Ravens had a higher ranked offense than the Bengals last season despite their starting QB, RB, 4 of their top 5 WRs, TE, and half their line being on the IR. This was before the Bengals receiving corp was gutted.

Don't sell that offense short.

(05-16-2016, 05:50 PM)Beaker Wrote: Ironically, a fumble on offense was the reason they made the second round of the playoffs too. The Bengals offense.

(05-16-2016, 05:50 PM)Beaker Wrote: Ironically, a fumble on offense was the reason they made the second round of the playoffs too. The Bengals offense.

(05-16-2016, 06:09 PM)BmorePat87 Wrote: Hmmm, Ravens had a higher ranked offense than the Bengals last season despite their starting QB, RB, 4 of their top 5 WRs, TE, and half their line being on the IR. This was before the Bengals receiving corp was gutted.

Don't sell that offense short.

(05-16-2016, 09:06 PM)mroudfly Wrote: Higher Ranked overall offense how so? Are you looking just at yards/game? Just trying to understand how you came to this conclusion. The Bengals averaged fewer yards per game, but we also had about the best starting field position average in the league - so we didn't have to travel too far to score...Hell the Bengals had 6 or 7 drives start closer than their opponents 20 yard line.

BAL - 267 yds/game passing; 92 yds/game rushing;
CIN - 245 yds/game passing; 113 yds/game rushing;

So yes, Baltimore average more yards/game, but they were probably starting on their own 20 or so on average. With the Bengals takeaways, punt returns, etc. - many of our games we were averaging a starting spot close to the 50...

BAL - 30.11 Offyards/drive
CIN - 32.7 Offyards/drive

BAL - 20.5 ppg
CIN - 26.2 ppg

I'm not trying to sell the offense short - your defense did you in last year. Just trying to figure out your argument statistically. With the eye test the Bengals were loads better last year. This year I would assume they will both be very competitive - just depending on whether SSsr is back to normal form and Perriman isn't a bust.

(05-17-2016, 01:25 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: The problem is a lot of those same stats rely on the defense as well. As you admitted, the Ravens defense was shit for the first half of the season. If we use the metric used universally for ranking offenses, the Ravens ranked higher. There are metrics we can use to show the Bengals offense was better.

Point being, the Ravens had a franchise best offense in 2014 and then saw half of that offense on the IR the next year, and they still ranked higher than the Bengals with regards to total yards. In other categories they trailed, but considering that, the losses the Bengals had compared to the Ravens having a fresh squad would suggest that this is a lot more competitive than those initial rankings in the thread may suggest. 

And, yea, Perriman being healthy is a maybe, but so is relying on two rookie receivers to fill the wholes great veterans left.

I agree, though, the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers should all have competitive offenses this season.

(05-17-2016, 01:25 AM)BmorePat87 Wrote: The problem is a lot of those same stats rely on the defense as well. As you admitted, the Ravens defense was shit for the first half of the season. If we use the metric used universally for ranking offenses, the Ravens ranked higher. There are metrics we can use to show the Bengals offense was better.

Point being, the Ravens had a franchise best offense in 2014 and then saw half of that offense on the IR the next year, and they still ranked higher than the Bengals with regards to total yards. In other categories they trailed, but considering that, the losses the Bengals had compared to the Ravens having a fresh squad would suggest that this is a lot more competitive than those initial rankings in the thread may suggest. 

And, yea, Perriman being healthy is a maybe, but so is relying on two rookie receivers to fill the wholes great veterans left.

I agree, though, the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers should all have competitive offenses this season.

(05-17-2016, 02:11 AM)mroudfly Wrote: I can see your point with the yards/gm argument, but I guess for me the eye test and the points/gm yds/drv are what I typically look at... Seems that both teams will be relying on rookie receivers (Perriman from a physical standpoint is basically a rookie - I know he has been learning the system for over a year, but playing the game will take time to adjust I imagine). Also, because I don't personally know too many Ravens fans, do you see/expect Maxx Williams breaking out this year? I'm interested to see how Max Williams/Benjamin Watson duo will work this year for you guys - It'll be nice for you to have Williams learning/playing alongside Watson. Watson has all my respect - one of the best guys in the NFL IMO.

Also, do you think your running game will step it up? I know you had OL injuries last year, but it seemed Forsett/Allen couldn't get a whole lot going - and then Forsett had the arm injury in week 11 or 12. Obviously the OL injuries/lack of production are intertwined, but do you think the Ravens have enough RB talent this year? If Forsett can come back with the same 2014 swagger it will be interesting, but as a RB 30 years old isn't exactly youthful anymore...

Curious to hear your take.

(05-16-2016, 02:45 AM)mroudfly Wrote: I'm out here in Melbourne, AU and have to settle for Australian Rules football and Rugby every weekend, so I seriously need some NFL talk at the moment (move back to the states in August - perfect timing ).

Based on the current state of rosters in the AFC North - just wanted get some perspectives on how teams compare on paper (obviously this is pointless BS fun):

Offense
1.) Pittsburgh Steelers - The three B's healthy will be very difficult to stop. Really just want Ben to retire...
2.) Cincinnati Bengals - Dalton back to being healthy. AJG, Gio, Hill (back to normal hopefully), Eifert, Boyd...weapons weapons weapons.
3.) Baltimore Ravens - Steve Smith Sr., Aiken and a healthy Perriman will be interesting to watch.
4.) Cleveland Browns - drafted a million WRs and now have RGIII....

Defense
1.) Cincinnati Bengals - One of the best scoring defenses last year - lose Nelson, but add lots of new weapons through FA/Draft (WJ3, Billings, Vigil, KD..)
2.) Baltimore Ravens - Allowed over 25ppg last year, but with Suggs back, the wave of rookie pash rushers, and the likes of smith/weddle/webb - they should bounce back this year.
3.) Pittsburgh Steelers - Everyone ripped on them last year, but statistically they weren't horrible...Added new weapons as well and a year of experience for the young guys.
4.) Cleveland Browns - ...............someone help me here

Special Teams
1.) Baltimore Ravens - Justin Tucker is automatic, and an auto-touchback machine...Steve Smith Sr. as PR again at his age?
2.) Pittsburgh Steelers - Figured out the K position finally; AB returning punts is always scary...Archer was a bust;
3.) Cincinnati Bengals - Searching for a Tate replacement (although he's safe); Pacman is solid PR; Huber had a somewhat off year statistically, and Nugent seems to be trending in the wrong direction
4.) Cleveland Browns - Average K/P; lost their punt returner in Benjamin

Overall
1.) Bengals - playoff bound
2.) Steelers - playoff bound
3.) Ravens - playoff bound
4.) Browns - maybe LeBron will try out for TE someday

Always interested to see everyone else's thoughts...Obviously a bit homerish - on paper 3/4 teams look very solid (sorry Browns). I can see the Bengals, Steelers and Ravens making it out in '16, especially with lots of question marks in the AFC (Jets, Broncos, etc...).

Cheers

(05-17-2016, 10:05 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I think it is fair to say Ravens, Steelers and Bengals offenses will all be very good. I can see the argument with Suggs back the Ravens improve on defense (and draft), but they have a long way to improve to match the Bengals defense. The Steelers also focused on defense and I see improvement versus 2015.
Overall, I think all 3 of these teams are very good and it is a toss up who wins the AFCN this year, but as of now I would give the edge to the Steelers and Bengals slightly.

(05-17-2016, 10:05 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I think it is fair to say Ravens, Steelers and Bengals offenses will all be very good. I can see the argument with Suggs back the Ravens improve on defense (and draft), but they have a long way to improve to match the Bengals defense. The Steelers also focused on defense and I see improvement versus 2015.
Overall, I think all 3 of these teams are very good and it is a toss up who wins the AFCN this year, but as of now I would give the edge to the Steelers and Bengals slightly.