2009 AFC North Predictions

[Taydeezy]

Here's a list of predictions to make for the AFC North in 2009. In 2 days, I'll post another division, and then 2 days after that, I'll post another, and so on. Feel free to add more predictions if you'd like.

Standings(with records if you would like):

Best Offensive Player of Division:

Best Defensive Player of Division:

Best Offensive Rookie of Division:

Best Defensive Rookie of Division:

Players on the Rise:

Players on the Decline:

Coach(es) on the Hot Seat(If necessary):

Biggest Storyline of Division:

[Taydeezy]

Standings:
Pittsburgh (12-4)
Baltimore (11-5)
Cincinnati (8-8)
Cleveland (6-10)

Best Offensive Player: Ben Roethlisberger

Best Defensive Player: Ed Reed

Best Offensive Rookie: Michael Oher

Best Defensive Rookie: Rey Maualuga

Players on the Rise: Ray Rice, Lawrence Timmons, Joe Flacco

Players on the Decline: Chad Ocho Cinco, Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis, Willis McGahee

Coach(es) on the Hot Seat: Marvin Lewis

Biggest Storylines: Steelers Best Team of the Decade? Can the Bengals Show Any Improvement? Can the Browns Ever Finish Rebuilding? Are Flacco and Harbaugh the Real Deal?

[Ride the Pine]

Originally Posted by Taydeezy

Standings:
Pittsburgh (12-4)
Baltimore (11-5)
Cincinnati (8-8)
Cleveland (6-10)

Best Offensive Player: Ben Roethlisberger

Best Defensive Player: Ed Reed

Best Offensive Rookie: Michael Oher

Best Defensive Rookie: Rey Maualuga

Players on the Rise: Ray Rice, Lawrence Timmons, Joe Flacco

Players on the Decline: Chad Ocho Cinco, Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis, Willis McGahee

Coach(es) on the Hot Seat: Marvin Lewis

Biggest Storylines: Steelers Best Team of the Decade? Can the Bengals Show Any Improvement? Can the Browns Ever Finish Rebuilding? Are Flacco and Harbaugh the Real Deal?

Ok, I highly disagree with the best offensive player. I'm going to step out on a limb and say Carson Palmer will regain some of his old self this season. I can go with Ed Reed, he's a solid player. As far as Steelers being best team of the decade, they're going to have to win it all this year, and deciseively (not a close game) at that to be able to claim that title to me. The consistency of the Patriots even in non-Super Bowl years has been second to none, wihle the Steelers have sort of been up and down. Sure they've always been tough to beat but they followed their first Super Bowl with a poor season, something the Patriots never really did.

[Taydeezy]

Well I don't necessarily think the Steeler's are the best team of the decade. But with a fairly successful season this year that could become a reoccurring storyline throughout the season. Come on Brandon....your supposed to copy and paste and fill out your picks.

Sure they've always been tough to beat but they followed their first Super Bowl with a poor season, something the Patriots never really did.

Ok so Patriots win their first Super Bowl of the decade in 2001 and then fail to reach the playoff in the next season finishing 9-7. The Steelers win their first Super Bowl of the decade in 2005 and then fail to reach the playoffs the next season going 8-8. Their's not much disparity their. However I do truly believe, barring a horrible year from the Pat's (which is highly unlikely), they will be the best team of this decade. I think that the whole spygate **** is what they will be better known for though.

[Ride the Pine]

Originally Posted by Taydeezy

Well I don't necessarily think the Steeler's are the best team of the decade. But with a fairly successful season this year that could become a reoccurring storyline throughout the season. Come on Brandon....your supposed to copy and paste and fill out your picks.



Ok so Patriots win their first Super Bowl of the decade in 2001 and then fail to reach the playoff in the next season finishing 9-7. The Steelers win their first Super Bowl of the decade in 2005 and then fail to reach the playoffs the next season going 8-8. Their's not much disparity their. However I do truly believe, barring a horrible year from the Pat's (which is highly unlikely), they will be the best team of this decade. I think that the whole spygate **** is what they will be better known for though.

Yeah, I just don't see what the Patriots have done being rivaled before the new decade. I've got my picks coming up here in just a bit. I was in between classes during my last post so didn't really have time to fill it out, but it's coming!

[Ride the Pine]

Standings:
Baltimore (11-5)
Pittsburgh (10-6)
Cincinnati (8-8)
Cleveland (5-11)

Best Offensive Player of Division: Carson Palmer

I can see Carson coming out and reminding fans of what he can be when nagging injuries aren't bothering him. With a re-motivated Chad Ochocinco, look for Palmer to have a solid season.

Best Defensive Player of Division: Ed Reed

I just don't see anyone else challenging for this spot. James Harrison will still be effective, but he's already 31 years old, which isn't terrible, but sometimes you see a slight decline at about that age. He will stlll have a big year, but Reed will trump them all.

Best Offensive Rookie of Division: Andre Smith

Smith is a big body and although he showed up to the combine out of shape, Flozell Adams usually shows up to camp for the Cowboys on the PUP list due to conditioning issues. Look for Smith to fit right in.

Best Defensive Rookie of Division: Rey Maualuga

Mauluga was projected to be a first round shoe-in, but fell to the second round. Look for him to be hungry and prove he deserved to go higher.

Players on the Rise: Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer

Flacco should be more comfortable in year 2, and although Palmer has shown his potential before, with injuries the last few seasons, he's been unable to perform up to his expectations.

Players on the Decline: Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Ray Lewis

Roethlisber is already hurt going into the season. I think this is the year injuries, poor pass protection, and holding onto the ball too long finally catch up to him. Hines Ward is aging and while he'll be effective, I don't think we'll see him hit the 80 catch level again in his career. Ray Lewis will still be a force and a leader for that Ravens defense, but at 34 years old, I think his physical workload will be slightly limited as well as his production.

Coach(es) on the Hot Seat(If necessary): Marvin Lewis

This one isn't even close. Lewis has probably been kept around for too long as it is, and another sub-.500 showing will probably get him out the door.

Biggest Storyline of Division: Will the Bengals show signs of life?

The Bengals have the pieces in place to at least be competitive in their games this season. Carson Palmer should be healthy, Ochocinco motivated, and the defense looks to improve under coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer brought in an old student in safety Roy Williams, and apparently, despite the Hard Knocks footage of the "Oklahoma" drill, Williams has had a solid camp. If Williams can again flourish under his old coordinator, look for the defense to at least improve a little.

[Taydeezy]

Originally Posted by Brandon Land

[COLOR=Red]
Best Defensive Player of Division: Ed Reed

I just don't see anyone else challenging for this spot. James Harrison will still be effective, but he's already 31 years old, which isn't terrible, but sometimes you see a slight decline at about that age. He will stlll have a big year, but Reed will trump them all.


Biggest Storyline of Division: Will the Bengals show signs of life?

The Bengals have the pieces in place to at least be competitive in their games this season. Carson Palmer should be healthy, Ochocinco motivated, and the defense looks to improve under coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer brought in an old student in safety Roy Williams, and apparently, despite the Hard Knocks footage of the "Oklahoma" drill, Williams has had a solid camp. If Williams can again flourish under his old coordinator, look for the defense to at least improve a little.

Haloti Ngata would be my second pick for Best Defensive Player of the Division. I believe that Ngata is the most disruptive force in the middle in all of football, defensively speaking. I think being big and agile he is able to clog up running lanes and eat blockers like no other defensive tackle does in the entire NFL, that includes Haynesworth in my opinion. Since getting to Baltimore, they have consistently had a top 2 or three run defense, and the seasons before Ngata got to Baltimore they didn't have the same type of run stuffing defense. Sure they were good before he got there, usually a top ten run defense, but they was never the consistent top three they have been in all three seasons since Ngata arrived in Raven land. I am of the firm believe that he does what he does at his position as well as anyone else in the league does at their position, and the impact it has on his team makes him among the best in the league, and the best in the division.

My second choice for the best offensive player would go to Chad Ochocinco. Ocho Cinco is darn good receiver, and one that I look forward to watching this season. He has the complete skill set as a receiver. Big, fast strong, good route runner, adjusts to the ball well in the air. His receiving ability is among the best in all of football, I would put his equal to anyone else in the league. Since 2002, every year that he has played in the whole 16 games, he has caught atleast 90 passes, had atleast 1200 yards receiving, and at a minimum caught 7 touchdown passes. Simply put I think he's a one of a kind talent, and while he might not be as valuable or as important to his teams success as Big Ben and Palmer. I firmly believe he could be considered the most talented and best offensive player in the division.

As for the Bengal's Defense. Mike Zimmer did something fantastic... He was able to get the 12th best overall in yards and 19th best in scoring in defense using spare parts and retreads last year. As long as he's around, I'll always feel good about the defense because I know with the right players he could really do something here. Now they also were playing without stud LB Keith Rivers. Having him back and healthy this season will impact their defense more than aging Roy Williams. Roy's playing time will likely be limited to running downs only. Looks like Nedu Ndukwe has more potential as a 3 - down player @ SS.