During the month of August, Last Word On Pro Football will be breaking down every division in the league by position. Below is an analysis of every AFC North defense. There is “the best” of each unit, followed by “the rest” in descending order.
2019 AFC North Breakdown by Position: The Offense
2019 AFC North Breakdown by Position: The Defense and Special Teams
Defensive Line:
The Best: Cincinnati Bengals
The Rest: Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens
The Bengals have a great group of edge rushers. Carlos Dunlap isn’t the same pass rusher he was in his prime,(13.5 sacks in 2015) but he can still get after the quarterback. Dunlap has had at least 7.5 sacks every season going back to 2013. He is one of the most consistent sack artists in the NFL. Carl Lawson is a technician with pass rush moves and makes tackles look silly on his way to the quarterback. He tallied 8.5 sacks in his only season of full play.
Jordan Willis showed flashes as a pass rusher and just a powerful defender as a whole. Sam Hubbard is starting because of his consistency and ability against the run. Geno Atkins is possibly the most disruptive defensive lineman in this division which propels the Bengals. Atkins also has 71 sacks, 96 tackles for loss, and 9 forced fumbles in 9 seasons. Andrew Billings is a reliable nose tackle and run defender in this defense.
Myles Garrett is already one of the best edge rushers in the NFL at age 23. He is a true physical specimen who will terrorize quarterbacks for years to come. In Garrett’s first full season he racked up 13.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. The Browns managed to trade for Oliver Vernon from the New York Giants. Vernon brings a consistent defensive end that can generate pressure. Vernon is at his best defending against the run and will work well alongside Garrett. Larry Ogunjobi has proven to be a disruptive pass rusher. He showed major improvement in 2018 from his rookie year. He started all 16 games and gad 5.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Sheldon Richardson was a good pass rusher during his stint with the Jets from 2013-2016. After leaving New York his numbers have dipped.
The Steelers defensive line is very talented and well-rounded. Cameron Heyward finished with 8 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Stephon Tuitt had 5.5 sacks with 20 quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss. Javon Hargrave is the run-stopping nose tackle. He had 49 tackles and was able to get after the quarterback also with 6.5 sacks. This defensive line is so good because everyone can do both. All three down lineman can both rush the passer and clog the running lanes. The defensive line is the strength of their defense and they take pride in it.
One of the best run-stopping units in the game. Michael Pierce is an old fashioned nose tackle that destroys blockers and always holds his gap. Pierce can split a double team and stay square to the line of the scrimmage making a play on the back. Brandon Williams is also a run-stopping specialist. They are all great at keeping gap integrity and shutting down running lanes. In Harbaugh’s 3-4 defense they are not relied on to get pressure on the QB. That pressure comes from the edge. These run defending lineman don’t have the ability to rush the passer because of their size. Wormley will also start, he only started 8 games so he has a lot of room to grow as a player.
Linebackers:
The Best: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Rest: Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
The combination of the two young stars gives the Steelers the edge here. TJ Watt is a force and one of the best edge defenders in the league. He finished with 13 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Watt can get a sack in a clutch situation or drop back into coverage and he moves surprisingly well. This makes him the perfect outside linebacker for a 3-4 scheme because of his versatility. Devin Bush will be an elite linebacker in the NFL shortly. Once the NFL game slows down for him a little then he’ll start putting up numbers. His speed, tackling ability and coverage skills make him a unique prospect. Either Vince Williams or Mark Barron will start alongside him once he secures his spot. Barron is faster and better in coverage but Williams is better against the run.
Christian Kirksey is a very proficient run defender that racks up tackles. He finished with 143 and 138 tackles respectively in the 2016 and 2017 season. Kirksey only played in seven games in 2018 due to a hamstring injury so hopefully, he can return to his previous form. Middle linebacker Joe Schobert eclipsed 100 tackles in the past two seasons. Genard Avery has shined in his hybrid role in this defense. He is an outside linebacker and a situational pass rusher and finished with 5.5 sacks in 2018. The question mark with this group as a whole in their ability to cover.
Pernell McPhee is not as explosive of an athlete as he used to be. He still has that grown man strength an is a force against the run. He sets the edge on outside run plays very well and takes on blocks and is unselfish in that matter. Matt Judon is a strong run defender also but he offers more production as a pass rusher. He has 15 sacks in the past two seasons and is the best pass rusher on the team. Patrick Onwuasor is an inside linebacker but is effective in rushing the passer on a blitz. He had 5.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits. The inside linebacker spot has a gaping hole where CJ Mosely left. Kenny Young will most likely start alongside Onwuasor but he has virtually no experience. He only started 3 games last season.
The linebacker position was a major weakness for the Bengals in 2018. Both Nick Vigil and Preston Brown missed time with injury in 2018. No one really stepped up to handle the workload. The two starting safety’s led the team in tackles by far, both having over 110. Vigil made tackles during the games he was active but it is always next man up. The two starting linebackers were missing last year so it is hard to evaluate the group. Germaine Pratt has a real chance of breaking out and starting for the Bengals. He went way too low in the draft, was a difference-maker in college.
Cornerback:
The Best: Cleveland Browns
The Rest: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers
Denzel Ward has emerged as one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL. He displayed elite coverage and finished the season with three interceptions and 11 passes deflected. He is only entering his second season so he also has a lot of room to grow as a player. Greedy Williams has so much potential but the question is whether he will overcome his motor and tackling issues. In college, he would take plays off or give up on plays or look disinterested and completely avoid making a tackle. Although he has exceptional length and coverage skills. Terrance Mitchell will be starting opposite of Ward for now and is a reliable option but if Greedy meets his potential, he’ll be starting in no time. TJ Carrie is a veteran and longtime slot corner in the NFL. He’ll provide stability and consistency on this young defense.
The Ravens have a very deep corner group. They are able to rotate Carr, Humphrey, and Smith and the outside corner spots. Both Brandon Carr and Jimmy Smith are physical veteran corners that have a lot of experience in this league. Humphrey has quietly emerged as a star in this league and one of the best corners in the game. He is such a fluid athlete and mirrors receivers in man coverage so well. Tavon Young has emerged over the past few years as the Ravens slot corner. He has been very reliable in coverage and was just signed to a deal, making him the highest-paid slot corner. He went down with a potential season-ending injury so someone will have to step up and win the spot. One of the three outside corners could bump inside or Cyrus Jones or Anthony Everett could win the job.
William Jackson is the only standout player in this cornerback group. He has shown flashes that would point to him being a franchise shut down corner. He is a great athlete so he can recover even if he makes an error. Dre Kirkpatrick is a reliable second corner that can take the pressure off of Jackson. Kirkpatrick can also be a mentor of sorts because he is the more experienced corner. Darqueze Dennard is an above-average slot corner and a key part of this defense.
Joe Haden is an enigma at this point in his career. He might have lost a step at this age and isn’t capable of being a number one corner still. For now, Haden is the number one corner but the Steelers need to start grooming a replacement. Justin Layne could be the next number one but early indications are that he won’t see the field soon. Steven Nelson is starting opposite of Haden. Nelson may have improved from his time in Kansas City but if he hasn’t then that second outside corner spot will hurt the Steelers. Mike Hilton is one of the best young nickel corners in the league. Hilton comes up like a safety and can tackle well.
Safety:
The Best: Baltimore Ravens
The Rest: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Earl Thomas is the best free safety in the NFL. He has been terrorizing QB’s with his insane range for years. In Seattle’s Cover 3 heavy scheme he could essentially take away the middle of the field with his speed, fluidity, and ability to change direction. Thomas has 67 pass deflections and 28 interceptions over 9 seasons. Tony Jefferson has been a reliable run supporter since his breakout 2nd season. He was an undrafted free agent. He has had over 70 tackles in every season besides his rookie year. Jefferson needs to be playing closer to the line to make a play underneath while Thomas can patrol the middle of the field.
Jessie Bates is among the best young defensive backs in the entire NFL. He is an absolute game-changer and will be a franchise player. Bates had 7 passes deflected, 3 interceptions, and led the team in tackles with 111. That is the epitome of a well-rounded superstar free safety. Shawn Williams is also a well-rounded safety, he can cover as well as come up and hit. He was second on the team in tackles with 110, he also 5 interceptions and 9 passes deflected. This is a fun group of safety’s to watch that are both hybrid players.
Damarious Randall was drafted in 2015 by Green Bay and struggled early on in his career. He was playing cornerback and wasn’t able to find success. When traded to the Browns he moved back to his natural position of free safety. Randall thrived and became a key part of the Browns secondary. He’s always had a knack for interceptions, he has had at least three every year he’s been in the league. Morgan Burnett is a nine-year veteran and has always been a reliable run defender. At this point in his career, he has definitely lost a step speed-wise and isn’t as effective in coverage. Burnett surpassed 120 tackles in two separate seasons while in Green Bay.
The secondary in Pittsburgh is in bad shape. The jury is still out on Terrell Edmunds but most people still agree that it was a bad pick. Edmunds could still make leaps in his development since he is such a young player. Sean Davis had 80 tackles last season along with 1 interception and 7 passes deflected. Free safety isn’t a major weakness but it will have to be replaced eventually.
Special Teams:
The Best: Baltimore Ravens
The Rest: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns
The Baltimore Ravens have a clear edge in the kicking department. Justin Tucker is the best kicker in the NFL and has insane power. Sam Koch is a good punter, not a liability. Koch is consistent with his punts. Chris Moore is a decent returner but Justice Hill is listed as the backup. Hill is very elusive in the open field and would be interesting to see him return kicks.
Chris Boswell was a reliable kicker in 2018. He didn’t really miss kicks until it became longer than 40 yards. Jordan Berry was a good punter with good ball placement. Ryan Switzer offers open-field elusiveness in the return game. Switzer has shown flashes of becoming a capable returner.
Randy Bullock is a long-time veteran of the league. He won’t be a liability for the team but he won’t drill it from far out. Kevin Huber will continue being the holder and punter for the 2019 campaign. Alex Erickson will return for a third year straight despite the first two being underwhelming.
Jamie Gillan A.K.A the Swedish hammer won the punting job over veteran Britton Colquitt. Gillan is known for his booming punts and laying powerful hits on returners. Austin Seibert is starting kicker and trying to improve on his previous seasons. Dontrell Hilliard is starting at kick and punter returner and doesn’t offer much.
Coaching:
The Best: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Rest: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches of all time. He had a 125–66–1 record or 65% winning percentage. Tomlin was the youngest coach to ever lead their team to a super bowl victory. The Steelers became engulfed in a winning culture and the team was able to consistently win for a long period of time. Mike Tomlin created a winning culture and always had wealth of talent in Pittsburgh which led to consistent winning.
Freddie Kitchens was a very surprising hire at the time. He has never even served as a coordinator until midway through the 2018 season when Todd Haley left. He did have a ton of success with Baker in those eight games and the team went 5-3. The Browns were basing their head coaching hire off of eight games of great play-calling. Steve Wilks was a good addition to have a veteran defensive coordinator that is more experienced. Wilks will find ways for these talented pass rushers to get after the quarterback. Kitchens seems like a good hire from the Browns but there is such a small sample size of his playcalling to know if he will be consistent.
John Harbaugh is a Super Bowl-winning coach that has been consistent in his entire career. He posted a 104–72 regular season record which is about a 60% win percentage. Harbaugh’s postseason record was also very positive at 10-6. Greg Roman was promoted to offensive coordinator and will hope to find creative ways to get Lamar big plays. Harbaugh has proven time and time again that he is just a winner. No matter what talent you give him to work with, he will be consistent.
Zac Taylor is unproven. He did not call plays in LA so all that is there is the McVay connection and apparently he did well in interviews. It was such a surprising hire because of a lack of experience. Taylor’s offense looked good in the pre-season but that is meaningless. The jury is still out on Taylor, way too early to know if he can coach.
2019 AFC North Breakdown by Position: The Offense
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