Plugging the holes: AFC North
Mending the roster flaws in Baltimore, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh
As we near the draft, Football Outsiders is taking a look at the major holes in the roster of each NFL team by division. Monday, it takes a crack at the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
Biggest Hole: Defensive Depth
Baltimore seems to have all of the pieces in place: a young, promising quarterback, a trio of talented receivers and the third-best defense in the league. While the postseason did not go quite as planned, the team seems poised to improve substantially and seize the AFC North next year. Yet one statistic is particularly troubling: Baltimore finished 26th in adjusted games lost last season. (AGL measures effectiveness lost to injury, both when starters miss games and when they play hurt).
To read the rest of Football Outsiders' offseason analysis of the Ravens, plus their analysis of the Browns, Bengals and Steelers, you must be an ESPN Insider.
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With the Super Bowl in the books, Football Outsiders is looking ahead to 2010 and the biggest issues every NFL team are facing.
Plugging the Holes - AFC North
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February 12:
- Baltimore: Trouble ahead for defense?
- Cincinnati: Passing game headed downhill
- Cleveland: Who is in charge?
- Pittsburgh: Does team still have identity?
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March 22:
- Baltimore: Defensive depth still an issue
- Cincinnati: Receivers still needed
- Cleveland: New QBs, same problems
- Pittsburgh: Polamalu holds the key
Plugging the Holes - NFC North
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February 15:
- Chicago: Can Martz save the offense?
- Detroit: Is Stafford ready to step up?
- Green Bay: Is the pass defense elite?
- Minnesota: Will Pat Williams return?
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March 23:
- Chicago: Looking for receivers
- Detroit: Big hole in the secondary
- Green Bay: Woodson, then what at CB?
- Minnesota: O-line must get better
Plugging the Holes - AFC South
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February 18:
- Houston: Can Steve Slaton bounce back?
- Indianapolis: Is the running game fixable?
- Jacksonville: What is the quarterback plan?
- Tennessee: Can Titans rebuild the defense?
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March 24:
- Houston: Pass defense remains vulnerable
- Indianapolis: O-line faces rebuilding
- Jacksonville: Can passing game revive?
- Tennessee: D-line needs anchors
Plugging the Holes - NFC South
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February 19:
- Atlanta: Can Anderson step up on defense?
- Carolina: Is it time to rebuild?
- New Orleans: Should Sharper get tagged?
- Tampa Bay: How does Freeman develop?
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March 25:
- Atlanta: A DE would help things
- Carolina: A complement to aging Steve Smith would be nice
- Tampa: Getting Suh or McCoy is clutch
- New Orleans: Loaded, but OLB is a concern
Plugging the Holes - AFC West
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February 10:
- Denver: What went wrong?
- Kansas City: Can the Chiefs run the 3-4?
- Oakland: Can anyone here play QB?
- San Diego: What's the running back plan?
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March 26:
- Denver: ILB would be nice
- Kansas City: It's all about playing the nose
- Oakland: Ugh, the QB situation persists
- San Diego: CB is a bigger need than RB
Plugging the Holes - NFC West
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February 11:
- Arizona: Can Matt Leinart lead at QB?
- St. Louis: How patient should fans be?
- San Francisco: What can stop this team?
- Seattle: Is Curry like another top pick?
Plugging the Holes - AFC East
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February 16:
- Buffalo: Will 3-4 defense work?
- Miami: Can Mike Nolan revive defense?
- New England: Can the Pats sign Wilfork?
- New York: Will the defense be as good?
Plugging the Holes - NFC East
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February 17:
- Dallas: Can the team keep up injury luck?
- New York: Can Perry Fewell fix the defense?
- Philadelphia: Who is the right QB?
- Washington: How bad is it for Shanahan?
- Rumors: The latest on McNabb, draft buzz
- FBO: Filling holes in the AFC West
- Scouts: Daryl Clark could change positions
- Joyner: Change will help three quarterbacks
- Draft: Kiper and McShay mock | Big Board
