Ask Andrea: The AFC North Mailbag

It's Friday, and as always, that means it is time for this week's edition of the Ask Andrea AFC North Mailbag.

This week, we have six questions, concerning such topics as the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive backfield, whether the Browns have really turned things around, and our first-ever three-tweet question. That's right, one question, three tweets.

If you want to send your very own one-, three- or seven-tweet question for next week's Mailbag, you'll need to follow me on Twitter. There's a convenient button located at the end of this column that will do just that. 

All signs are pointing toward the Pittsburgh Steelers putting running back Rashard Mendenhall on the PUP list to start the season, meaning they won't have his services for six weeks (and potentially longer—there's no reason to rush him back into anything close to full-time duty). 

That means Isaac Redman will be the starting back when the season commences, a role he's not entirely suited for but one that he'll be able to excel at regardless.

Redman is a north-south bruiser with decent burst, as compared to Mendenhall's shiftiness and all-around speed, which means the Steelers' run game is going to look a bit different this year, but that doesn't mean it won't be effective.

Redman's backup will be Jonathan Dwyer, granted he's healthy enough for the job. He ended 2011 on injured reserve with a foot injury, but he should be healed enough to participate fully in training camp, which begins next month. 

At goal-line back, expect either John Clay or Baron Batch to win the job. They are short-yardage backs with a great deal of strength but not much speed. Whoever gets this job will also see passes thrown his way—especially with offensive coordinator Todd Haley's predilection for getting backs involved in the passing game.

The wild card is rookie hybrid running back/receiver Chris Rainey. Rainey's not much of a blocker, which will limit his snaps, but his speed brings an added (and, for the Steelers, new) dimension to the Steelers running and passing games.

As a fantasy option, however, Rainey's very much on the margin. The hope is that he's a home-run hitter, chewing up major yardage every touch he gets. But those touches are likely to be limited—no more than five carries and a passing target or two per game.

If you want Rainey on your fantasy team, wait until later rounds to draft him, and stash him on the bench until you have a better idea of how often he'll be used. He's obviously a better fit in PPR leagues. You'll have to pay close attention to the defenses the Steelers face this season to find the right situation in which he's worth starting.

I think 2012 will mark the beginning of the Cleveland Browns ending their downward spiral, yes, but it's hard to imagine them getting a win over the other three AFC North teams this year.

I think that a win over the Bengals is certainly possible (especially in Week 2), but the timing of the two Baltimore Ravens contests (Week 4, in a nationally-televised game, and Week 9, when they come off the bye) make it seem at this time that they'll lose both of them.

Cleveland doesn't play Pittsburgh until Week 12, when the Steelers are likely on a tear that will lead them into the playoffs. Perhaps Cleveland has a chance in Week 17, but Pittsburgh doesn't rest their starters before the playoffs and that season-ending contest hasn't been kind to the Browns in some time.

I'm not saying a 6-6 divisional record is impossible for the Browns this year—it's early, and anything can happen, from the Browns being even better than predicted to injuries befalling their opponents—it's just that, right now, it seems far-fetched to predict such a thing.

However, if the Browns turn into the kind of team that they look like they could become, on paper, then it won't be long until a 6-6 AFC North record is completely realistic. Again, if this hypothetical becomes a reality, I do think Cleveland can be a Super Bowl contender in the next three seasons.

Thanks, Grudes, for that three-part behemoth of a question—and a good question at that (also, he noted to me later that the first part should read "Suggs is out in Baltimore").

I like what you're getting at here: that the Steelers have been overlooked thanks to what's been going on primarily in Baltimore and Cincinnati, but that they're no less scary of a team than they've been the past few seasons, meaning that they are under-the-radar but also very much in the playoff discussion.

I think that's a fair assessment, but also not one the Steelers are unfamiliar with. Despite recent history, which includes three Super Bowl appearances and two victories, Pittsburgh is generally ignored beyond the cursory and rather mandatory inclusion in many analysts' offseason contenders lists. 

Thanks to their one-and-done playoff loss last year to the Denver Broncos, the fact that they released so many veterans in the offseason (and those who don't pay close attention to the Steelers think this is a bad thing) and the seeming ascendance of the Bengals into the AFC North's darling, expectations for the Steelers are low.

That's dangerous thinking, by the way. The Steelers, in recent years, have thrived on being underestimated by the media (football teams, as it stands, don't really underestimate any of their opponents) and are able to put together playoff seasons in relative quiet.

The lack of media scrutiny isn't a bad thing—any team would prefer as few distractions as possible—and the feeling that the Steelers are somehow "done" breeds a valuable chip-on-shoulder mentality, as you measured.

But, of course, the Steelers are legitimate contenders, no matter what anyone may say to the contrary. Just pay close enough attention to the AFC North and it's glaringly clear.

In terms of rookies, I am going to have to go with two Cleveland Browns here: running back Trent Richardson and quarterback Brandon Weeden. The Browns desperately needed an offensive makeover, and both Richardson and Weeden represent very real upgrades at their respective positions.

Both men mean one thing for Cleveland: Touchdowns. Richardson single-handedly had 24 of them to his name last season at Alabama (four more than the Browns did as a whole in 2011, playing more games).

Weeden's strong, accurate arm is a phenomenon the Browns haven't seen in quite some time. As long as his receivers comply, he'll have a fairly successful rookie season. I also like Baltimore Ravens linebacker Courtney Upshaw this year; with Terrell Suggs out and Jarret Johnson now a San Diego Charger, the rookie is going to have a lot of playing time and should also make a major impact.

As far as veterans go, it's going to be another great year for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback-receiver tandem Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. I also like Ravens receiver Torrey Smith's chances to put up the 1,000 yards he predicted earlier this year. 

For the Steelers, I think receiver Antonio Brown will have yet another good season, with another 1,000-yard year and a fully-healthy LaMarr Woodley is always scary.

At this point, I think the Browns need to keep around as many reserve offensive linemen as possible. Most teams would like seven on their 53-man roster, but I could see Cleveland holding onto as many as nine this year.

As such, it's hard to say right now who is on the bubble at offensive line. John Greco likely stays on, because he can play guard, tackle or center; the same goes with Oniel Cousins. Undrafted rookie J.B. Shugarts is a project, but he's also got the requisite nasty streak, and fellow undrafted lineman Matt Cleveland was a three-year starter in college.

I'd say at this point that undrafted center Garth Gerhart may not stick, simply because of his underwhelming talents, and Jarrod Shaw and/or Dominic Alford could find themselves odd men out. 

Not many reports on the offensive line came out of OTAs and minicamp, but considering the Browns currently have 15 offensive linemen on their roster, the battle will be fierce in training camp, and clearly the bubble players will reveal themselves rapidly.

Nice and to the point there, I see. Well, as it currently stands, I see the AFC North going to the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. They've improved on both sides of the ball, all of their offseason losses were to their benefit and their schedule is relatively friendly.

The Bengals are a much-improved team, but I don't see them taking the division just yet—there's just too much youth on offense to think they'll come together effectively enough to win the AFC North this season. I think they're well on their way to 10 wins, but I don't see 10 wins being enough.

The Ravens have undergone a great deal of change this offseason as well, but unlike the Steelers, most of it has been negative.

They'll bounce back from losing Terrell Suggs for potentially the entire season, but I also see the defense having some struggles without him and I don't think quarterback Joe Flacco is going to show much improvement this year with Cam Cameron still calling the plays.

And the Browns? Well, they'll be better, but this is still a long-term rebuild they're in the midst of; though I think Cleveland will get to seven or eight wins this year, that's clearly not enough to win in the highly competitive AFC North.

So, I'm going Steelers for 2012. This prediction, of course, is subject to change.

That's it for this week's Mailbag. Tweet at me next Friday if you've a burning AFC North question you'd like me to answer.

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