Wrapping Up the Week That Was in the AFC North Blog

So, you've read what I've had to say all week long about the AFC North, but what about you?

Here are a few choice comments (without alteration, so [sic] applies) from the most-read pieces in this here AFC North Blog this week.

On Monday, I wrapped up my countdown of the top 10 players in the AFC North based on 2011 performance, awarding the top spot to Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.

Commenter Matt Fitzgerald echoed the sentiment of many commenters on the entire project: surprise at the fact that I left off Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata:

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I love my Browns, and I agree with a lot of things here...but I'm surprised Haloti Ngata isn't in the top 10 and D'Qwell Jackson is. Jackson is underrated, but I feel like Ngata is the best defensive tackle in the NFL.

Then again, I guess it'd be interesting to see Jackson play on a defense where he doesn't have to make nearly every tackle!

Also, thank you for not putting Joe Flacco in the "honorable mentions" section!

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I completely understand the frustration over Ngata's not being on this list—he is, after all, one of the best nose tackles in the entire league. But when considering just 2011 performance, I didn't think he'd fit in the top 10.

There are a number of honorable mentions who didn't make the list that possess high levels of talent—but that's the nature of a top 10 list, especially in a division with so much talent.

Cleveland Browns fans are an especially vocal and involved group, so it's no surprise that my offseason fact-or-fiction column generated so much discussion.

Here, James R Lane responds to my contention that the Browns have yet to solve their problems at wide receiver:

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As for our receiving… I have been told that the “slot” is mostly being eliminated from our scheme for now. As many know, some versions of the West Coast offense often use a third receiver placed in the slot instead of a second tight end.

As a matter of fact we are doing just the opposite, we are going to be using more “flanker” and “split end” formations. Many times we are going to be seeing 2 RB’s, 2 TE’s, & 2 WR’s… with many times one of the WR’s being Josh Cribbs, essentially another RB and/or a TE. This is the point of all the TE’s and it explains our priority to hold on to Jackson and for the selection of Smelley.

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Lane goes on to break down some very fascinating information about the Browns' approach to the passing game this year; I highly recommend checking out his thorough and thoughtful response in full. 

Steelers fans are also very passionate about their team, as evidenced by the debate raging in Tuesday's piece examining the differences at running back between Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman.

Bert Schade thinks that Redman may struggle as the feature back and instead suggests another solution:

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So far in his career, Redman has shown he can provide some assistance to the running game. And that is all. Until he can produce full time and maintain ball security it is extremely unfair to compare him to Mendenhall, a back who has been the feature runner. Fans always pull for the underdog until the talent deficit is brought to light. I think the Steelers will need to address the running game by committee this season and I would like to see Dwyer step up and become the kind of back he has the potential to be.

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When news broke that Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin had asked for a trade, I posited that the Cleveland Browns should look into him—though the odds were greatly against any such thing happening.

Rico Ibanez provides a succinct response, referencing the bad blood between Harvin and Cleveland offensive coordinator Brad Childress:

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And would you invite your Ex to move in with you? Harvin isn't worth the locker-room drama that would inevitably follow...next?

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James R Lane returns with this comment on my film breakdown of Browns receiver Greg Little's six dropped passes in last November's game against the Cincinnati Bengals:

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In this particular footage and game, Little played like he was scared. A combination of what player looks like if they are scared to take a hit or if they are going to be benched if they screw up. He did not play like he was comfortable at all, and you are right, a total lack of concentration.

As far as McCoy, he couldn’t have done any more for Little in this particular game, as the video makes it obvious. He hit him dead on his numbers, and on a couple of occasions it was during a collapsing of the O-Line. He threw one “high”, that was it, but many players could have caught that, if they could get their hands on it, like Little did.

I can only hope that not playing for 2 years, a new offensive scheme, and no time to build chemistry was the root cause of Little’s problems. But his dropped passes and mis-playing routes so far this year is not a good sign.

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Daymon Johnson uses the article to extrapolate that while Browns quarterback Colt McCoy had a rough year, it really wasn't quite as bad as we've all been led to believe:

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Multiply those drops by 13 games in which McCoy started, and one can easily see why Cleveland led the league in drops.........

They weren't all necessarily Little's fault, however. But, the fact remains that what the video above shows is exactly WHY Colt mcCoy had such a rough year and STILL only finished a couple hundred yards behind Andy Dalton, who clearly had a better team.....especially at the WR, RB and OL spots.

Dalton: 3398 YDS - 20 TD - 13 INT 
McCoy: 2733 YDS - 14 TD - 11 INT (13 games)

Let's figure what McCoy's numbers would have likely been had he started 16 games, and not been injured. We'll do this by using McCoy's averages through his first 13 games. Shockingly, his numbers look like this:

3363 YDS - 18 TD - 12 INT

At those numbers, guess what folks, McCoy would have finished a mere 247 yards and 1 TD shy of what Flacco was priased for doing last season, by many around here and national pundits, when he obviously had a MUCH, MUCH better WR corps, RB and D......whilst Colt played on arguably one of the worst teams in the NFL, and certainly the worst offense in the league......

 

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Thanks, everyone, for reading this week.

Keep reading and leaving those comments, and you might find your words featured here next Friday!

Follow @FBALL_Andrea

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