Never too Early: A Glance at All Of The AFC

All right all you NFL fans out there, here is the break down of your favorite teams heading into summer workouts.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: After a very promising 2006 campaign, the Ravens just couldn't hold it together on either side of the ball in 2007. Their somewhat aging defense didn't strike fear into the scheming minds of offensive coordinators, and Kyle Boller didn't scare anyone either.

Bright Spots: Willis McGahee was named to his first Pro Bowl, as he was the main offensive weapon in '07. Ray Lewis again broke the 100-tackle mark. Derrick Mason snagged 103 balls, and rookie Yamon Figures impressed on special teams. Though they are aging, experience is on the Raven's side.

'08 Outlook: With McNair gone, and Kyle Boller not living up to his first-round status, there is an instant problem at the quarterback position. Enter Joe Flacco, the second coming of Rich Gannon, only with a bigger frame and a much bigger arm. The Baltimore faithful have much to be excited about.

They played the draft well, nabbing their quarterback of the future, along with instant impact players Ray Rice, and Notre Dame's own Tom Zbikowski.

Cleveland Browns: The Browns put themselves back on the map with an impressive 2007 season. Their offense amazed, their defense not so much. Derek Anderson, who was almost released at the beginning of the season, showed flashes of brilliance to lead the Browns to a 10-6 record.

Braylon Edwards had a Pro-Bowl season, and once again Jamal Lewis was running like a freight train. Kellen Winslow and Joshua Cribbs provided clutch plays for the Dog Pound all year. Although they barely missed out on the playoffs, the Browns have much to look forward to.

What needed to be done: As the Giants proved to us once again, defense wins championships. With the explosive offense that the Browns boast, management understood that they need help on defense.

'08 outlook: With defense on their minds, the Browns added 340-pound mammoth Shaun Rogers in the offseason. He will beef up their defensive front.

Defensive back Terry Cousin will help a hurting secondary. As if the Browns didn't believe their offensive was electric enough, they signed lightning quick Donte Stallworth from the Patriots. Imagine Derek Anderson, Jamal Lewis, Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, and Donte Stallworth lining up on 1st-and-10. Look out.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Pittsburgh Steelers impressed both offensively and defensively throughout the entire 2007 season, but had an un-Steelers like meltdown twice at home to end their year against the same team. Willy Parker ran through, and around, defenses all season, and Big Ben had his best season to date.

Added Offense: Although losing perennial Pro-Bowler Alan Faneca, the Steelers had a good offseason, climaxing with a great draft. They nabbed Illini star Rashard Mendenhall, who shined against USC in the Rose Bowl, and stiffed armed the entire Big Ten.

Along with Mendenhall they were able to nab, arguably the best wide receiver in this draft class, Limas Sweed, in the second round. What steals.

'08 Outlook: With Cleveland close in their rear view mirror, the reigning AFC North Champs will have to remain consistent on both sides of the ball in '08. They have the talent and experience to make a Super-Bowl run, but it definitely isn't getting any easier in the loaded AFC.

Mendenhall and Sweed will make their offensive more explosive, and the likes of Harrison, Taylor, and Polumalu will continue to flex their muscles on the defensive side.

Cincinnati Bengals: With two of the top wide receivers in the game, and one of the best quarterbacks in the game, the Bengals greatly underachieved in '07. Ocho Cinco had some catching issues, and the team seemed to move further apart.

Leon Hall had an impressive rookie season, hauling in five INTs. TJ Houshmandzadeh became the No. 1 target, but the defense couldn't hold up all year long.

Offseason drama: We've all heard the rants from Chad Johnson saying that he wants out of Cincy. Many have respected the management and coaching staff to not give in to the drama king, and I applaud that as well.

But, if Johnson sits out the '08 season, the coaches will have wished they had gotten rid of the locker-room problem in order to get something in return.

'08 outlook: Though missing on their coveted DT Sedrick Ellis, they picked Ellis's teammate Keith Rivers, who would have been a top-ten pick a year ago. He will help in the middle of the young defense, and coaches are hoping his prowess will have a ripple effect on the rest of the bunch.

Carson Palmer will continue to put up great numbers, as their offense won't have a problem moving the ball. Can rookie receivers Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell, and Mario Urrutia fill in for the departed Chris Henry, and possible holdout Chad Johnson?

AFC NORTH PICKS

• Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5
• Cleveland Browns 10-6
• Baltimore Ravens 7-9
• Cincinnati Bengals 5-11

AFC West

Denver Broncos: 2007 displayed many different things to the Denver Broncos. Jay Cutler has Pro-Bowl potential, they can still run the ball, and their dream secondary of Dre Bly and Champ Bailey can get burned from time to time. (See Monday Night Game vs. Packers).

Travis Henry was in trouble with the league's front office, and the Broncos missed the playoffs for the first time in a while, which doesn't go over to well in the tradition-rich city of Denver.

A Star in the Making: Jay Cutler really proved he has more than just a strong arm in his second season, by throwing for 3,500 yards, completing over 60 percent of his passes, and throwing 20 scores to a not-so stellar wide receiving corps. If he can build on his 2007 growth, Cutler will be amongst the leagues elite in 2008.

'08 Outlook: The Broncos knew where they needed to get stronger and signed Marlon McCree in the offseason. Their secondary will tighten up with McCree roaming in center field. Look for Selvin Young to only get stronger, as the Broncos drafted two, quality offensive linemen in April.

Kansas City Chiefs: After sneaking into the playoffs the year before on the back of Larry Johnson, the Chiefs had a disappointing season in '07, and that could be an understatement.

Dwayne Bowe surprised, while Tony Gonzalez continued to show that he was the best TE in the game. Larry Johnson's sub-par year proved that a strong line is the driving force behind a great running back.

Rebuilding: Herm Edwards knows how to rebuild. With seven picks within the first 105 in the draft, the Chiefs replenished their team with young talent. They nabbed monster Glenn Dorsey, blocking machine Brandon Albert, and later rounds provided great talent with Texas star Jamal Charles, and Missouri's Will Franklin. Cornerback Brandon Flowers could become the sleeper out of the '08 bunch.

'08 Outlook: With all the young talent entering Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs' fan base has much to look forward to in years to come. The question that needs to be answered in order for the Chiefs to be successful is if Larry Johnson can return to '06 form.

Other questions include: Can the young talent provide instant impact? Can Brodie Croyle do enough for his team to win? Will Jamal Charles provide a home run threat?

San Diego Chargers: What a passionate group in '07. With their back against the wall in the loud (artificial or not) RCA Dome, they strung together great play after great play in route to the AFC Championship, where they just fell short.

Philip Rivers impressed some, didn't impress some others, and LT stood tall on top of the elite running backs in the National Football League. Antonio Cromartie took the terms "lock-down corner" and "playmaker" to a whole new level as he was shipped to Hawaii for the first time. The under-rated wideouts only got stronger as they year progressed.

Who will show up: Philip Rivers can be great and bad within two weeks. Will the Rivers that threw for 270 yards on only 13 completions against the Broncos stellar secondary show up, or the Rivers who completed only 19 of 42  pass attempts against a Vikings team that is supposed to be stout against the run?

08 Outlook: All signs are pointing to the Chargers being even better in '08. LT is back from his mysterious injury in the AFC title game, Philip Rivers will improve, and Antonio Gates has had time to rest that nagging toe injury. Merriman will continue to bulldoze through O-lines, and Cromartie will remain a force in the secondary. Watch out AFC.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders in '07 remained pretty much the same as they have been the past four years after reaching the Super Bowl with Rich Gannon, lousy.

Justin Fargas ran the ball with great passion, and the defense wasn't all that bad. JaMarcus is obviously the quarterback of the future, and Run-DMC will help out just a little bit.

Same old: Al Davis was up to his old tricks in the '08 offseason, bringing in decent players, and paying way too much for them. Though some may say Davis is on the brink of insanity, you can't blame the guy for trying that hard to win.
Signing Tommy Kelly, Javon Walker, and DeAngelo Hall to very lucrative contracts may not be worth it in the long run. 

'08 Outlook: The combo of Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas should be very explosive in '08, with Michael Bush still looming in the shadows. If JaMarcus Russell can be anything like the player he was at LSU, this team will have a chance at a .500 record. You never know how far an improved defense can carry a team.

AFC WEST PICKS

• San Diego 11-5
• Denver Broncos 9-7
• Kansas City Chiefs 7-9
• Oakland Raiders 5-11

AFC EAST

New England Patriots: Where to start? The '07 Patriots will be considered one of the best teams of all time, as the duo of Tom Brady and Randy Moss combined for 50 TDs, and 23 receiving TDs, both NFL records.

Their defensive was scary good the entire season, as they pulled out 18-consecutive wins to start the season. They won blowouts, they won nail-biters, but they lost in the Super Bowl. Ouch.

Team of the Past: Many believe that with the losses in the secondary, and the aging linebacking core, the Patriots will fall short of their lofty goals. Can Tom Brady and Moss rekindle the fire that lasted the entire '07 season? Probably not 23 TDs worth, but they will be hard to defend against. Wes Welker fits perfectly into their lineup.

'08 Outlook: The Patriots are one of the best drafting teams, and that is the main reason they have become a dynasty in the past eight years. Grabbing Mayo and Crable re-freshens the older linebackers, and re-signing Moss breathes a sigh of relief for Pats fans. They will continue to impress in '08.

Miami Dolphins: Where to start? The '07 Dolphins were about as close as you can come to infamy in the NFL as they almost joined the '76 Bucs as the only winless teams in NFL history. The QB shuffle didn't help, and they couldn't get anything done on either side of the pigskin. 1-15. That's all that needs to be said.

Big Tuna: Bill Parcells does not like to be involved with losing, and he started his tenure in Miami with the hiring of head coach Tony Sparano. He made the smart move by drafting brick wall, Jake Long out of Michigan, and got the man he blocked for, Chad Henne, in the third round. Great front office moves by this franchise.

'08 Outlook: With the young talent on this Dolphins team, the only place to go is up. Ted Ginn showed flashes of brilliance. With Ronnie Brown returning the backfield will be greatly upgraded. All the Dolphins need to do is hope for some luck on defense, and find a starting quarterback. It's a long road ahead, but a promising one.

New York Jets: The Jets couldn't match their up-start '06 season, as they didn't impress anyone in '07. Chad Pennington couldn't perform steadily and Kellen Clemens has yet to show himself.

Darelle Revis had a solid rookie campaign, and Jericho Cotchery caught balls consistently all year. 4-12 won't cut it in the Big Apple, especially when your NYC counterpart wins the Super Bowl.

Busy, Busy, Busy: The Jets were the most busy team this offseason as they upgraded their O-line with Alan Faneca, and signed hybrid defensive-player Calvin Pace from the Cardinals. These are players that will provide much-needed talent in East Rutherford.

'08 Outlook: The Jets will be trying to find their '06 magic in 2008. Coles and Cotchery must provide leadership for basically a third wideout, Dustin Keller, and Thomas Jones must return to his '06 Chicago Bears form. If Vernon Gholston can provide a decent pass rush, and Dustin Keller can attract attention down the middle, the Jets will be surprisingly better in 08.

Buffalo Bills: Resilient bunch in '07. The Bills suffered the leagues most injuries in 2007, but still managed to use second and third-string players to win games. JP Losman is out as starting QB in Buffalo, and Trent Edwards showed the poise in the pocket that JP could not.

Their offense sputtered in the red zone, and although their defense gave up a ridiculous amount of yardage, they were in a lot of games down the stretch.

Wheeling and Dealing: As the free-agent market opened up, the Bills were sure to grab Super-Bowl champ Kawika Mitchell to help the linebacking corps. The Bills signed Marcus Stroud, William James, and Courtney Anderson to deals to strengthen their other weak spots.

'08 Outlook: The Bills should be stampeding in 2008. Rookie Leodis McKelvin will provide great depth at corner and makes their special teams even look scarier. If James Hardy can provide red zone help, and Paul Poz can become a leader on the defensive side, with an improved Marshawn Lynch, the Bills could be the surprise team in the AFC in 2008. Circle the Wagons?

AFC EAST PICKS

• New England Patriots 12-4
• Buffalo Bills 11-5
• New York Jets 6-10
• Miami Dolphins 4-12

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts: The '07 Colts continued their yearly spectacular offensive performance and housed the AP Defensive Player of the Year, Bob Sanders.

Reggie Wayne had his best year to date, but Marvin Harrison had a tough time staying off the injured list. Peyton Manning was Peyton Manning. Everything was the same in Indy besides the fact that they lost at home, in the playoffs.

Revitalized Backfield: With the Super-Bowl winning tandem of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai re-united in '08, things will be special once again. Mike Hart could be the missing link to solidifying the Colts as a great rushing team.

'08 Outlook: If Marvin Harrison gets past all of his legal issues and returns healthy to his team in '08, things will be horrifying for opposing defenses. The backfield will be improved, and as usual this team for the most part stayed put during the offseason. Obviously, a great AFC pick once again.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags really made an impression on people in '07. The duo of Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor was dynamic for the duration of the season, with Taylor finally getting awarded with a trip to the Pro Bowl. David Garrard was calm and cool all season, despite a not-so stellar receiving group, as he is now mentioned in the discussion of elite QBs in the league.

Solid Everywhere: The Jags are great on D, punishing on offense, and do not play like a warm-weather team whatsoever, ask the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are being mentioned as a dark horse to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and this is very justifiable with all the talent on this team.

'08 Outlook: With their great combo in the backfield, and great leader behind the center, the Jags will be nipping at the heals of the Colts more than ever. Their defense will be improved with Derrick Harvey, as they understand the importance of pass rush. If everyone stays healthy, they should journey deep into the playoffs in '08.

Tennessee Titans: The '07 Titans were a hard-nosed group. They limped into the playoffs, and didn't have much to show for it aside from a first-round exit. Vince Young didn't necessarily build on his outstanding rookie season statistically, but he won more games. The once over-weight LenDale White proved he could be a force in the NFL, and the defense held up pretty well.

Help me, Please: Those must be the words coming out of Vince Young's mouth in regards to the lack-luster wide receivers in the Music City. They grabbed Chris Johnson in the first round, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but stole Hawkins out of Cal, a receiver who could possibly provide whatever it is that Vince is looking for.

'08 Outlook: With VY entering his third season, the pressure is on. Can he scramble efficiently, as well as keep the chains moving with his arm in '08? Will the one-two punch of White and Johnson anchor the backfield? What receiver will step up for this offense? Answer those questions, and the Titan's '08 season will be spelled out.

Houston Texans: Being overshadowed in the dominant AFC South, the Houston Texans finished the season with an 8-8 record, which says a lot. Mario Williams proved why the Texans chose him number one overall in '06, and the QB flopping was successful. The Texans were a hard-to-read group in 2007.

Can They Do It: Can the Texans leapfrog all the teams in the AFC, or better yet in their division in '08? Maybe, maybe not. The under-rated Texans provide offensive firepower with Andre Johnson and defensive punch with Mario Williams.

'08 Outlook: If the backfield situation can be settled, and Mario Williams, Matt Schaub, and Andre Johnson stay healthy, the AFC South will get even tougher in '08. The newly improved line will help Matt Schaub as he tries to prove that he is not just a stellar backup QB.

AFC SOUTH PICKS

• Jacksonville Jaguars 13-3
• Indianapolis Colts 10-6
• Houston Texans 9-7
• Tennessee Titans 8-8