Well! Just reading the title again is getting me excited.
So I promised cuts and rosters, and by gum, I’m going to deliver them. I’m just going to cater to my internal slacker – let’s call him Lazy Man – and let him find assorted links and things that might or might not interest you guys.
Rest assured, it will all be about football. Because here at AFCN SKA, we only consider material that speaks of and considers football in all of its forums and intricacies. That’s because this is a football website, where we only discuss football and football-related activities.
Baltimore Ravens
Here’s the final 53-man roster. There were no real surprises; other than a shift or two at the back end of the WR and S rooms, the offensive and defensive rosters have plenty of balance and a nice mix of youth and experience. The retooled offensive line and the edge rush will be the Ravens’ biggest areas of scrutiny, as several key players are expected to show progress after attrition and age led to their ascension into the starting lineup.
Players to watch:
- S Kyle Hamilton – touted as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Hamilton has displayed his considerable “toolbox” enough to affect opposing offensive game plans
- DT Travis Jones – a real possibility to “break out” this year, as Jones is allegedly the strongest member of the team and has shown a steady uptick in production
- WR Zay Flowers – Arguably last season’s (lowercase) goat per his costly playoff fumble, Flowers seems geared to deliver a big year
Prediction: 11-6. The offense will take a step back early as the new offensive line gets acclimated.
Cleveland Browns
Again, the final 53-man roster. Also no real surprises; the concerns for the Browns center on injuries and availability. QB Deshaun Watson was a marked injury worry prior to the Browns trading for him; although the team has restructured his deal more than once to accommodate the rest of the roster, one wonders how much longer they can afford to do so with such limited production.
Players to watch:
- WR Jerry Jeudy – the team has needed a consistent option at WR opposite star WR Amari Cooper for several years, and Jeudy might be that guy
- LB Devin Bush – yes, that Devin Bush. The former Steeler gets one last chance to start, and this defense is good enough to cover for any deficiencies that may crop up. Should he fail, rookie Nathaniel Watson stands ready to step in.
- RBs Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. – The combo of these two proved effective covering for the injured Nick Chubb last season, and while Chubb is expected back by Week 9, extra depth never hurts, especially at a contact position.
Prediction: 10-7. Watson just doesn’t seem trustworthy, but that defense sure does.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals’ 53-man roster. While the Browns are recovering from last season’s injuries, the Bengals are addressing contract concerns and holdouts from both of their star WRs. While the standoff between WR Ja’Marr Chase and the team appears to be moving towards a resolution, the hard line the team took with franchise-tagged WR Tee Higgins may bite them this-coming offseason, where Higgins is expected to test free agency.
Players to watch:
- QB Joe Burrow – might seem like an obvious choice, but Burrow is recovering from an injury-plagued season and may need a few games to get up to speed
- RB Zack Moss – Moss replaces former #1 RB Joe Mixon and should easily improve on Mixon’s numbers. His experience in Indianapolis filling in for All-Pro RB Jonathan Taylor makes him an ideal candidate for this scenario
- OT Amarius Mims – the massive tackle project returned to practice Monday; it will be interesting to see how the team handles his development going forward
Prediction: 10-7. The Bengals are notoriously slow starters in the toughest division in the NFL.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Here’s the Steelers’ 53-man roster. The obvious concerns, of course, begin at QB for the Steelers, who are trusting former All-Pro Russell Wilson to reassert his Seattle legacy after a couple of forgettable years in Denver. He’ll be backed up by former Bears QB Justin Fields, who presents challenges of his own. Should both fail, the team has Kyle Allen in reserve, who actually has starting experience.
Players to watch:
- OT Troy Fautanu – given the team’s problems along the line, rookie Fautanu is expected to step in and stabilize RT, although second-year OT Broderick Jones is there currently
- LB Patrick Queen – the former Raven has proven to be a solid tackler and anticipator, but has been suspect in coverage. His speed remains his best asset
- DE Cam Heyward – No one questions his heart and determination, but recent injuries may indicate Heyward’s body just can’t take the poundings it used to
Prediction: 7-10. Head coach Mike Tomlin’s non-losing streak finally ends, and Pittsburgh fans couldn’t be happier about it.
Wow. Lazy Man was even lazier than I anticipated. Not even sure if the math works out on the predictions. Oh well.
LFG.
