AFC North offensive coordinators in focus

[oldschooler]

[b][size="5"][color="#000000"]AFC North offensive coordinators in focus[/color][/size][/b]
July, 9, 2010
By James Walker


Offensive coordinators Bruce Arians, Cam Cameron, Bob Bratkowski and Brian Daboll have something in common: They're lightning rods for fans throughout the AFC North.

They are among the most talked about assistants in the division, and in many ways it's a very tough spot to be in. When things go right, the players executed. But when things go wrong, it's the offensive coordinators who get blamed for poor play calling. All four face different challenges in 2010.

Here's a look at the coordinators for each team:

[b]Offensive coordinator:[/b] Bruce Arians

[b]Team:[/b] [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit"][color="#225db7"]Pittsburgh Steelers[/color][/url]

[b]Offensive ranking in '09:[/b] No. 7

[b]Biggest challenge:[/b] The start of the season will be trying for the Steelers as star quarterback [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5536"][color="#225db7"]Ben Roethlisberger[/color][/url] serves his conditional six-game suspension. With good behavior Roethlisberger could return after four games, which is the expected outcome. But Pittsburgh has had the luxury of Roethlisberger making magic out of broken plays and will need to be more structured and conventional to win during the first month of the season. Expect [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/13695/on-the-radar-bruce-arians"][color="#225db7"]Arians to earn his money[/color][/url] trying to scheme without his best offensive player.

[b]Biggest strength:[/b] Even with the trade of [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9611"][color="#225db7"]Santonio Holmes[/color][/url], the Steelers still have a good group of veteran skill players. [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1494"][color="#225db7"]Hines Ward[/color][/url] is coming off another 1,000-yard season, [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8444"][color="#225db7"]Heath Miller[/color][/url] is the top tight end in the division, and tailback [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11257"][color="#225db7"]Rashard Mendenhall[/color][/url] is a budding talent. Also look out for second-year receiver [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12601"][color="#225db7"]Mike Wallace[/color][/url]. The NFL game didn't seem too big for him as a rookie, and Wallace seems primed to [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/13547/on-the-radar-mike-wallace"][color="#225db7"]break out in his first year as a starter[/color][/url].

[b]Biggest weakness:[/b] For Pittsburgh, it's scoring touchdowns. Despite a 4,000-yard quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers, the Steelers averaged 23 points per game last season. That's not a bad number, but you would expect more points with the amount of yards Arians' unit produced last year. The offensive line struggled mightily in the red zone, and [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9717"][color="#225db7"]Willie Colon[/color][/url]'s season-ending [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14373/what-are-steelers-options-at-ot"][color="#608fd6"]Achilles injury doesn't help[/color][/url]. Mendenhall also needs to get better at getting the tough yards, especially with Roethlisberger not in the fold early.

[b]Forecast:[/b] I don't have particularly high hopes for Pittsburgh's offense with [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4465"][color="#225db7"]Byron Leftwich[/color][/url] or [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11390"][color="#225db7"]Dennis Dixon[/color][/url] under center. Teams will stack the box against Mendenhall until Pittsburgh proves it can pass. The offensive line also has questions. But once Roethlisberger comes back, this unit is talented enough to get hot in the second half of the season. But will it be too late?

[b]

Offensive coordinator:[/b] Bob Bratkowski

[b]Team:[/b] [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cin"][color="#608fd6"]Cincinnati Bengals[/color][/url]

[b]Offensive ranking in '09:[/b] No. 24

[b]Biggest challenge:[/b] The biggest hurdle facing Bratkowski and the Bengals' offense is creating balance. It was very one-dimensional last year, particularly late in the season. Outside of Pro Bowl receiver [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2584"][color="#225db7"]Chad Ochocinco[/color][/url], there were no legitimate threats in the passing game. As a result, Cincinnati overhauled its offense via the draft and free agency by adding receivers [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3591"][color="#225db7"]Antonio Bryant[/color][/url], [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12594"][color="#225db7"]Jordan Shipley[/color][/url] and tight end [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=13228"][color="#225db7"]Jermaine Gresham[/color][/url].

[b]Biggest strength:[/b] Despite the flashy additions in the passing game, the running game remains the most proven commodity for Cincinnati. [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8419"][color="#225db7"]Cedric Benson[/color][/url] is coming off a career year and his first 1,000-yard season, and [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12724"][color="#225db7"]Bernard Scott[/color][/url] and [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10496"][color="#225db7"]Brian Leonard[/color][/url] are decent backup options. The Bengals' offensive line also is very good at controlling and moving the line of scrimmage. But the unit wasn't as solid in pass protection for quarterback [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4459"][color="#225db7"]Carson Palmer[/color][/url].

[b]Biggest weakness:[/b] Right now the biggest question for Cincinnati's offense is at fullback. The Bengals have finally moved forward without [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4576"][color="#225db7"]Jeremi Johnson[/color][/url], who was constantly battling weight problems. Now the unproven [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12743"][color="#225db7"]Fui Vakapuna[/color][/url] looks like the early favorite to win the job. Look for Cincinnati to run a lot of multiple-receiver and tight end sets this year. So the fullback position may not be as important.

[b]Forecast:[/b] The Bengals will rely on a lot of new parts, including Bryant, Gresham and Shipley. But if a majority of these options pan out, Cincinnati could be a dangerous unit. Benson's off-field issues may be something to watch in case [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14471/big-question-cedric-benson-suspension"][color="#608fd6"]a suspension is looming[/color][/url]. But other than that, expect Bratkowski and the Bengals to be much better than last year's No. 24 ranking.

[b]Offensive coordinator:[/b] Cam Cameron

[b]Team:[/b] [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=bal"][color="#225db7"]Baltimore Ravens[/color][/url]

[b]Offensive ranking in '09:[/b] No. 13

[b]Biggest challenge:[/b] [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/11934/can-cam-cameron-keep-everyone-happy"][color="#225db7"]Managing egos will be a unique challenge[/color][/url] for Cameron. With the exception of quarterback [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11252"][color="#225db7"]Joe Flacco[/color][/url], every starting skill player for Baltimore has been to the Pro Bowl. That's a lot of talent and a lot of players who want the ball. [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4512"][color="#225db7"]Anquan Boldin[/color][/url], [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11289"][color="#225db7"]Ray Rice[/color][/url], [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1263"][color="#225db7"]Derrick Mason[/color][/url], [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10580"][color="#225db7"]Le'Ron McClain[/color][/url], [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=2579"][color="#225db7"]Todd Heap[/color][/url] and [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4481"][color="#225db7"]Willis McGahee[/color][/url] all feel they can help the team win. But there will be weeks when Cameron must tell Boldin he's a decoy and games when Rice will get only 10 carries. How will they react? Winning solves a lot of problems. But if this team experiences a significant losing streak, look out.

[b]Biggest strength:[/b] Versatility is something that Baltimore's offense has lacked in the past. But that's no longer the case. The Ravens should be able to win games on the ground and through the air this year, which was the goal this offseason for general manager Ozzie Newsome. [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/10214/boldin-will-help-develop-flacco"][color="#225db7"]Boldin's acquisition was huge for the passing game[/color][/url], and Rice still hasn't reached his ceiling as an NFL running back. Cameron believes Baltimore has the potential to be [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/13032/cam-cameron-ravens-offense-can-be-elite"][color="#225db7"]a top-five scoring offense[/color][/url], and on paper there's no reason to doubt that.

[b]Biggest weakness:[/b] There aren't many weaknesses on this unit. But if I had to nitpick, Baltimore's depth on the offensive line isn't the greatest. Injuries happen all the time in the trenches. An injury at offensive tackle to [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12621"][color="#225db7"]Michael Oher[/color][/url] or [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10705"][color="#225db7"]Jared Gaither[/color][/url], for example, would result in a significant drop-off in talent.

[b]Forecast:[/b] There is a lot of [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14140/big-question-ravens-hype"][color="#608fd6"]preseason hype surrounding the Ravens[/color][/url], and the offense shares those extremely high expectations. This unit has talent, depth and a developing third-year quarterback in Flacco, who, if healthy, should put up career-best numbers this season. As long as Cameron can get everyone to play nice and share the football, this offense should be one of the NFL's most effective units.



.[b]Offensive coordinator:[/b] Brian Daboll

[b]Team:[/b] [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle"][color="#225db7"]Cleveland Browns[/color][/url]

[b]Offensive ranking in '09:[/b] No. 32

[b]Biggest challenge:[/b] The Browns do not have a lot of talent to work with offensively. During Cleveland's four-game winning streak to end last season, Daboll had to get by with a lot of running and Wildcat formations with [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9270"][color="#225db7"]Josh Cribbs[/color][/url]. Much of Cleveland's success will hinge on veteran quarterback [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=1693"][color="#225db7"]Jake Delhomme[/color][/url], who had more than twice as many interceptions (18) last year than touchdowns (eight). If Daboll can get a bounce-back season out of Delhomme, that will be a good starting point for Cleveland's offense to improve.

[b]Biggest strength:[/b] The left side of the offensive line is one of the NFL's best. [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10448"][color="#225db7"]Joe Thomas[/color][/url] is considered by many to be the [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/13759/is-joe-thomas-the-nfls-best-lt"][color="#225db7"]best left tackle in football[/color][/url], and [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4491"][color="#225db7"]Eric Steinbach[/color][/url] has been a quality guard for years. Cleveland also hit in last year's draft with first-round pick [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12616"][color="#225db7"]Alex Mack[/color][/url], who appears to be one of the league's up-and-coming centers. This trio provides some stability to an otherwise unstable offense.

[b]Biggest weakness:[/b] Cleveland's offense has several holes but the biggest is at wide receiver. [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12581"][color="#225db7"]Mohamed Massaquoi[/color][/url] had a decent rookie year, but he's likely not ready to be a No. 1 receiver. [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12592"][color="#225db7"]Brian Robiskie[/color][/url] had a good offseason but remains unproven, and [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10678"][color="#225db7"]Chansi Stuckey[/color][/url] isn't a game-breaker. [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14562/browns-sign-bobby-engram"][color="#225db7"]The Browns this week also added[/color][/url] veteran [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=937"][color="#225db7"]Bobby Engram[/color][/url], who turned 37 this year. A case can be made that this is the [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/12755/who-will-catch-passes-in-cleveland"][color="#225db7"]worst group of receivers in the league[/color][/url].

[b]Forecast:[/b] The Browns were ranked last in '09, so there's nowhere to go but up. There are a lot of question marks, and I don't see enough upgrades across the board to be optimistic about this unit. Whether Delhomme at this stage of his career is an upgrade over [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10466"][color="#225db7"]Brady Quinn[/color][/url] and [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8627"][color="#225db7"]Derek Anderson[/color][/url] also remains to be seen.






[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14593/afc-north-offensive-coordinators-in-focus"]http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14593/afc-north-offensive-coordinators-in-focus[/url]

[Oldcat]

Its pretty good if the biggest weakness they can come up with for the Bengals is at fullback.

While the article tries to throw water on the Ravens a little, it still is buying into the hype. The team
has never, in its history, had a passing attack that was better than adequate. At times, that was enough to win.
But they have tried before to grab receivers and QBs to get a lot better, and more or less treaded water. Maybe
this will be the year, but I wouldn't bet on it until I see them become an offense-first team.

[BengalRep85-9]

Ray rice is the ravens ENTIRE offense. Mason and mclain are about 100 years old, heap is constantly injured, and mcgahee is a shell of what he used to be.
Boldin is a very good WR but how good will he be without fitzgerald drawing double coverage every play?
Without rice, Flacco would struggle to throw for 1500 yards.

How does Flacco get hyped up so much? His deep ball is TERRIBLE, and who couldn't take one read then dump it off to rice and watch him break 8 tackles?

Flacco is COMPLETELY overrated.

[Mikey6866]

[quote name='BengalRep85-9' date='09 July 2010 - 09:28 PM' timestamp='1278725304' post='896510']
Ray rice is the ravens ENTIRE offense. Mason and mclain are about 100 years old, heap is constantly injured, and mcgahee is a shell of what he used to be.
Boldin is a very good WR but how good will he be without fitzgerald drawing double coverage every play?
Without rice, Flacco would struggle to throw for 1500 yards.

How does Flacco get hyped up so much? His deep ball is TERRIBLE, and who couldn't take one read then dump it off to rice and watch him break 8 tackles?

Flacco is COMPLETELY overrated.
[/quote]

Mcclain is 25 dude. Flacco is one of the most overrated players in the entire league tho...gotta agree with u there. I dont agree with the 1500 yards but definately not nearly as good as the media would make u think.

[BengalRep85-9]

[quote name='Mikey6866' date='10 July 2010 - 09:38 PM' timestamp='1278812326' post='896593']
Mcclain is 25 dude. Flacco is one of the most overrated players in the entire league tho...gotta agree with u there. I dont agree with the 1500 yards but definately not nearly as good as the media would make u think.
[/quote]
I thought they had an older fullback, thought it was him, guess I was wrong.
But either way, you take away rice, you take away their offense.

[scharm]

The biggest strength of the Bengals offense is you have the big 3 in place. Carson, Chad, and Benson. I think it's not unrealistic to think these guys can put up pro bowl years together.

I'm not sure you can say that about any other AFC North offense.


The biggest weakness of the Bengals offense, IMO is while the big 3 will perform well enough to afford the support casting opportunities to make plays. The supporting cast has very little Bengals snaps. Just about all of it is young and new to the Bengals.

Right now it's a big leap of faith to see if Gresham, Coffman, Bryant, Caldwell, Jones, and Simpson can make enough plays to keep defenses honest.

[high plains drifter]

Our biggest weakness is missing Jerimi Johnson? Whew, who knew? Funny how Brat ranks 17 notches behind one team he defeated twice last year and 11 notches behind the other team he defeated twice. How many more notches will he go down, if we split the season with someone in the AFC North? The media’s love affair with anyone but Cincinnati knows no bounds.

[PutWittyNameHere]

[quote name='high plains drifter' date='11 July 2010 - 10:09 AM' timestamp='1278860946' post='896635']
Our biggest weakness is missing Jerimi Johnson? Whew, who knew? Funny how Brat ranks 17 notches behind one team he defeated twice last year and 11 notches behind the other team he defeated twice. How many more notches will he go down, if we split the season with someone in the AFC North? The media’s love affair with anyone but Cincinnati knows no bounds.
[/quote]

You realize those rankings are based purely off of statistics without any input or interpretation from the author (or any other media member) whatsoever, right?

[high plains drifter]

[quote name='PutWittyNameHere' date='11 July 2010 - 11:15 AM' timestamp='1278868541' post='896641']
You realize those rankings are based purely off of statistics without any input or interpretation from the author (or any other media member) whatsoever, right?
[/quote]


The author has to select what the statistics mean. Someone has to develop a formula of some kind based on their value system. Just because it's all numbers does not preclude the originator's subjective value system.

[PutWittyNameHere]

[quote name='high plains drifter' date='11 July 2010 - 02:21 PM' timestamp='1278876113' post='896645']
The author has to select what the statistics mean. Someone has to develop a formula of some kind based on their value system. Just because it's all numbers does not preclude the originator's subjective value system.
[/quote]


You're missing the point. You're acting like Walker (the author) was going out of his way to slam the Bengals by showing that stat. He wasn't. Look at the Bengals' offensive rankings in just about whatever category you choose. They were easily behind the Steelers and Ravens.

Net Total Yards (the metric Walker Chose)
Bengals - 24th
Steelers - 7th
Ravens - 13th

Points
Bengals - 22nd
Steelers - 12th
Ravens - 9th

So where's this bias you're trying to point out? Yes, the Bengals swept the Ravens and Steelers. But that doesn't mean the Bengals offense was better throughout the course of the season. You're trying to equate offensive production exclusively with wins, and that doesn't work.

Furthermore, Walker gave a rather optimistic view of the Bengals' offensive outlook in 2010. Why would he do that if he was biased against the Bengals?

[|Bengal Migration|]

[quote name='high plains drifter' date='11 July 2010 - 11:09 PM' timestamp='1278860946' post='896635']
Our biggest weakness is missing Jerimi Johnson? Whew, who knew? Funny how Brat ranks 17 notches behind one team he defeated twice last year and 11 notches behind the other team he defeated twice. How many more notches will he go down, if we split the season with someone in the AFC North? The media’s love affair with anyone but Cincinnati knows no bounds.
[/quote]
Thank the Bengals D. Moron.

[high plains drifter]

[quote name='PutWittyNameHere' date='11 July 2010 - 02:22 PM' timestamp='1278879741' post='896648']
You're missing the point. You're acting like Walker (the author) was going out of his way to slam the Bengals by showing that stat. He wasn't. Look at the Bengals' offensive rankings in just about whatever category you choose. They were easily behind the Steelers and Ravens.

Net Total Yards (the metric Walker Chose)
Bengals - 24th
Steelers - 7th
Ravens - 13th

Points
Bengals - 22nd
Steelers - 12th
Ravens - 9th

So where's this bias you're trying to point out? Yes, the Bengals swept the Ravens and Steelers. But that doesn't mean the Bengals offense was better throughout the course of the season. You're trying to equate offensive production exclusively with wins, and that doesn't work.

Furthermore, Walker gave a rather optimistic view of the Bengals' offensive outlook in 2010. Why would he do that if he was biased against the Bengals?
[/quote]

Your so-called objective “statistics” would call for the Bengals to lose to both the Steelers and the Ravens in lopsided blowouts, yet somehow the lowly Bengals swept both teams twice. So, how good is this guy’s “statistical” scheme? I still think Walker is enamored with something that dumps on the Bengals. But it’s a free world and you can believe anything you chose.

[PutWittyNameHere]

[quote name='high plains drifter' date='11 July 2010 - 05:28 PM' timestamp='1278887329' post='896660']
Your so-called objective “statistics” would call for the Bengals to lose to both the Steelers and the Ravens in lopsided blowouts, yet somehow the lowly Bengals swept both teams twice. So, how good is this guy’s “statistical” scheme? I still think Walker is enamored with something that dumps on the Bengals. But it’s a free world and you can believe anything you chose.
[/quote]


My statistics don't say that at all, actually. All my statistics say is that the Bengal offense was worse than the Steeler and Raven offenses. As it turns out, offense is only one part of the equation and the Bengals had the consistently better defense (and probably the better special teams as well), and therefore, had the better teams.


By your logic, the top 8 offenses in each Conference should be the ones in the playoffs, and defense and special teams are meaningless.

[claptonrocks]

[quote name='BengalRep85-9' date='09 July 2010 - 09:28 PM' timestamp='1278725304' post='896510']
Ray rice is the ravens ENTIRE offense. Mason and mclain are about 100 years old, heap is constantly injured, and mcgahee is a shell of what he used to be.
Boldin is a very good WR but how good will he be without fitzgerald drawing double coverage every play?
Without rice, Flacco would struggle to throw for 1500 yards.

How does Flacco get hyped up so much? His deep ball is TERRIBLE, and who couldn't take one read then dump it off to rice and watch him break 8 tackles?

Flacco is COMPLETELY overrated.
[/quote]

Well hell....after reading your analysis of the Ravens offense Im to surmise that they'll be lucky to score at all for the most part...
Is the Bengal offense going to improve from last year?? Yes...they've upgraded weak links.
Are the Ravens going to stuggle offensively because all they have is Ray Rice?
NO.......your comment about McGahee being a "shell" of his former self...The man averaged 5 yrds a pop
and scored 12 ( count em dude 12 ) touchdowns...He's the Ravens version of Lendale White when he was
taking the pounding in close ....
Flacco has an outstanding offensive line which gives him "TIME" to checkdown ....funny how that makes
a mediocre QB effective isnt it?

They give Ray Rice the amount of touches he receives because it WORKS...running or catching the man moves the chains and if they burn him out in a couple two or three years then so be it...right now they want him to
carry the team and until he proves overwise they'll keep doing what theyre doing...