AFC Central Capsules
• RAVENS  • BENGALS  • BROWNS  • JAGUARS  • STEELERS  • TITANS
• SURVEY: Which team will win the AFC Central?

Compiled by David Larimer
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, Sept. 7, 2001; Page H7

• Roster • Schedule

Baltimore Ravens
Coach: Brian Billick, 20-12 in two seasons with Ravens (beat New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV in 2000). Key acquisitions: RB Terry Allen (free agency), QB Elvis Grbac (Chiefs), TE Todd Heap (first-round draft pick, Arizona State), T Leon Searcy (Jaguars), T Erik Williams (Cowboys).
Key losses: QB Trent Dilfer (Seahawks), S Kim Herring (Rams), RB Priest Holmes (Chiefs), RB Jamal Lewis (out for season with torn ACL).
Outlook: Injuries already have nicked the defending champs, as Searcy starts the season with torn triceps, not to mention Lewis, who rushed for 1,364 yards last season. New starter Grbac has only one star receiver in the slowing, but still effective Shannon Sharpe, but the team hopes that talented Heap and WR Travis Taylor add to that. As for the record-setting defense, S Corey Harris should fill in well for Herring.
One to watch: Grbac is the Ravens’ fifth opening day quarterback in five seasons, and without question the most anticipated. He is coming off his best season, and is expected to give the Ravens a more effective, consistent passing game than Dilfer—but should not be expected to provide the same leadership.

• Roster • Schedule

Cincinnati Bengals
Coach: Dick LeBeau, 4-9 in one season with Bengals. Key acquisitions: QB Jon Kitna (Seahawks), FB Lorenzo Neal (Titans), DE Justin Smith (first-round draft pick, Missouri), T Richmond Webb (Dolphins).
Key losses: DE Michael Bankston (free agency).
Outlook: Cincinnati has one of the NFL’s better linebacking groups in Takeo Spikes, Brian Simmons and Steve Foley. Pro Bowl RB Corey Dillon—who set the NFL single-game record with 278 yards rushing last October—signed a five-year contract in the offseason and has a good blocking back in Neal. Deep threat WR Darnay Scott, back after missing last season with a broken leg, and Peter Warrick, head an improved group of wideouts. There’s a potential boondoggle at quarterback, and Smith is embroiled in a contract holdout, but it’s a start.
One to watch: Respectability hangs upon Kitna, who ran out of favor in Seattle. Kitna, whose 75.6 quarterback rating in 2000 is 24-karat gold compared to washed-up Scott Mitchell (50.8 QB rating) and third-year bust Akili Smith (52.8), “won” the starting job in training camp, but the fact that he didn’t have it upon joining the team is evidence of lack of faith in him.

• Roster • Schedule

Cleveland Browns
Coach: Butch Davis, first season. Key acquisitions: G Tre Johnson (Redskins), WR Quincy Morgan (second-round draft pick, Kansas State), LB Dwayne Rudd (Vikings), DT Mark Smith (Cardinals), T Ross Verba (Packers), DT Gerard Warren (first-round draft pick, Florida).
Key losses: LB Doug Colman (free agency), FB Marc Edwards (Patriots), QB Doug Pederson (Packers).
Outlook: The Browns are still building, but the hiring of Davis is evidence that they won’t accept being overmatched for a third straight season. Franchise QB Tim Couch has missed 10 games with injuries in his two seasons, but no quarterback has taken more abuse—66 sacks and many more knockdowns in 22 games, thanks in part to a weak running game and offensive line. The signings of Verba and the oft-injured Johnson should help. The defensive line, featuring Warren, Smith, DEs Courtney Brown and Keith McKenzie and DT Orpheus Roye, is a good foundation.
One to watch: Brown switches from left end to right after a promising rookie season in which he recorded 4½ sacks and was among the league leaders in tackles by a lineman. He will face a far better crop of opposing tackles this year, however.

• Roster • Schedule

Jacksonville Jaguars
Coach: Tom Coughlin, 56-40 in six seasons with Jaguars. Key acquisitions: DT Marcus Stroud (first-round draft pick, Georgia), T Maurice Williams (second-round draft pick, Michigan), WR Sean Dawkins (Seahawks).
Key losses: P Bryan Barker (Redskins), LB Lonnie Marts (free agency), T Leon Searcy (Ravens), FB Daimon Shelton (Bears), DE Joel Smeenge (retired), QB Jamie Martin (Rams).
Outlook: Last season the Jaguars boasted a 3,000-yard passer (QB Mark Brunell), a 1,400-yard rusher (RB Fred Taylor) and two 1,000-yard receivers (WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell) but didn’t contend for the playoffs. The culprits were a rash of injuries and a lack of depth. There could be similar problems this season: In order to keep its stars, Jacksonville released 22 veterans and restructured several contracts but may have as many as 18 rookies.
One to watch: Taylor would be a Pro Bowl player if he could only stay healthy—he has 3,354 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns in three seasons, but has never started more than 13 games in a season. He must be more durable this year—backups Stacey Mack and Shyrone Stith have a total of 240 career yards rushing.

• Roster • Schedule

Pittsburgh Steelers
Coach: Bill Cowher, 86-58 in nine seasons with Steelers. Key acquisitions: LB Kendrell Bell (second-round draft pick, Georgia), C Jeff Hartings (Lions), LB Mike Jones (Rams), DT Casey Hampton (first-round draft pick, Texas).
Key losses: C Dermontti Dawson (free agency), DE Kevin Henry (free agency), RB Richard Huntley (Panthers), LB Levon Kirkland (Seahawks), LB Mike Vrabel (Patriots).
Outlook: At brand-new Heinz Field, the Steelers hope to build on last season’s 9-4 finish, and hope to avoid again resembling a soap opera while doing it. Rugged RB Jerome Bettis, who recorded his fifth straight 1,000-yard season despite nagging injuries, is still the main cog in the offense. The defense is anchored by excellent LBs Joey Porter, Jason Gildon and Earl Holmes, as well as the promising Bell, who figures to replace Kirkland.
One to watch: After 2½ seasons of inconsistent-to-awful play and waning faith from coaches, teammates and fans, QB Kordell Stewart showed newfound guts and maturity late last year, and finally is the unquestioned starter. Will he flourish under new offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey?

• Roster • Schedule

Tennessee Titans
Coach: Jeff Fisher, 58-44 in seven seasons with Oilers/Titans (lost to Baltimore in second round of playoffs in 2000). Key acquisitions: DE Kevin Carter (Rams), DB Andre Dyson (second-round draft pick, Utah), K Joe Nedney (Panthers).
Key losses: K Al Del Greco (free agency), DE Kenny Holmes (Giants), FB Lorenzo Neal (Bengals), WR Carl Pickens (retired), S Marcus Robertson (Seahawks), WR Yancey Thigpen (free agency).
Outlook: Departed Del Greco, the goat in two home losses to the Ravens last season—their first two defeats at Adelphia Coliseum—was the fall guy, but the Titans scored one or fewer offensive touchdowns in seven games. Even so, there are two very good tight ends in Frank Wycheck and Erron Kinney. But the defense, the NFL’s top-ranked last year, is even better on paper with Carter forming a frightening bookend to DE Jevon Kearse.
One to watch: In five seasons workhorse RB Eddie George has not rushed for less than 1,294 yards and has never missed a game. Last season was his best (1,509 yards rushing, 14 touchdowns), but one wonders how long he can hold up under his huge workload (352.6 carries per season, league-high 403 carries in ’00)