Who Are The Essential Players In The AFC NORTH ?

[86WARD]

Who Are The Essential Players in the AFC NORTH ?

The OTAs are complete, each team still has some injuries lingering from 2011, the rookies are either in camp or the contracts are being negotiated and then there's the new faces in new places guys...which brings up the question:

In the AFC North, what 3-4 players (per team) do you think are essential to each teams success in 2012?

These players could be guys returning from injury, could be a newly signed veteran, could be a rookie, could be a comeback player...

Discuss...

[SteveRobWhatever]

Bengals: 1. Andy Dalton, 2. Geno Atkins, 3. BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Dalton can't have a sophmore jinx. He needs to keep improving for this team to win. Geno Atkins has the potential to become one of the top players at his position. If he follows up last year with the way he played this year, then you have a cornerstone. Green-Ellis was brought in to be the #1 back right? Bernard Scott isn't going to beat him out is he? Green-Ellis was in the right system for him in New England, I am not sure if he's going to have the same type of success.

Browns: 1. Trent Richardson, 2. Brandon Weeden, 3. Greg Little
This season is all about what the top two picks can give them. Richardson is supposed to be the franchise back and Weeden is already talking Super Bowl. They are going to need to learn how to walk before they can run, and the Browns will have to weather the storm and deal with rookie mistakes. Greg Little to me is the best of the bunch at WR and might be ready to take the next step this year. I don't know if he's a number #1 though, and that might end up hurting the offense if they try to lean too much on him.

Ravens: 1. Ed Reed, 2. Joe Flacco, 3. Courtney Upshaw
Ed Reed is a unique player who does things others can't. Problem is he's on the downside of his career and injuries have really taken their toll. Does he even show up? We don't know. What I do know is an Ed Reed at less than 100% makes this defense a whole helluva lot better. Joe Flacco took the next step last year and should have beaten the Patriots if it wasn't for a teammate getting butterfingers. Was last year a one year fluke? Or did Flacco turn the corner? The Ravens will need him to keep last year's momentum going. Upshaw will have some huge shoes to fill in Terrell Suggs. How is the rookie going to do in that role and how will they make up for his inexperience? It doesn't help that some of the key cogs are getting long in the tooth. This team's window is small and Upshaw will need to buck up or be exposed as a liability.

Steelers: 1. Ben Roethlisberger, 2. Isaac Redman, 3. Mike Wallace
This is Big Ben's team first and foremost. The Steelers can't afford losing him and it's about time they try shoring up that line in front of him. Redman will have to fill in for Mendenhall. Can he be the top back? He better be, the alternatives aren't pretty right now. And what about Mike Wallace? He's a speed guy and last year another speed guy sat on his ass until he finally got a deal, then was ineffective for most of the year. Chris Johnson was out of shape most of the year and never recovered. Steeler fans better hope Wallace has some better self discipline because if he comes back and isn't at full speed then this hampers lots of what they want to do on offense.

[86WARD]

For the Steelers, I'd go O-Line for the first three...however they go, could be a good indication of how the Steelers offense could go. DeCastro, Adams, Gilbert will play major parts on how that line develops. Then how will Pouncey bounce back from his injury...word has been he feels great...hopefully that continues. Lastly, who will replace the leadership of Farrior on D, not to mention fill his spot on the D.