ESPN NFL

The AFC North blog wanted to know what the fans thought about the drafts for each of the division teams. Now, let's compare your grades against the ones given by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The picks: CB Dre Kirkpatrick (first round), G Kevin Zeitler (first round), DT Devon Still (second round), WR Mohamed Sanu (third round), DT Brandon Thompson (third round), TE Orson Charles (fourth round), CB Shaun Prater (fifth round), WR Marvin Jones (fifth round), S George Iloka (fifth round), RB Dan "Boom" Herron (sixth round).

Kiper's grade: A-minus

Fans' grade: A (42 percent in the SportsNation poll)

Fans' comments:

Adam from Dayton: Bengals Draft Grade: A -- I thought that the Bengals did an excellent job in adding depth. The one "head scratcher" that seemed to come about this year was trading their second first round pick when they could have got David DeCastro, the highest-rated guard. Granted they received an extra pick and still grabbed a very big and strong guard a few picks later in Kevin Zeitler with that trade, I think it really boiled down to the fact they could have got the best guard, instead all of Bengal Nation saw him go to the Steelers. All-in-all, everyone knows the AFC North is an old-school run -first division, so beefing up the D-Line with a couple of huge, strong, and athletic linemen was a sound way to go and I for one am happy to see the new blood that the team has. These Bengals have tapped into the fountain of youth rather quickly, yet they are getting better and being built for the future.

Andheez: I went for an A. Kirkpatrick is solid. Zeitler is a beast. Some publications had Still as the top DT pre-combine. Not sold on Sanu, but I think the Charles pick was fantastic. I am not one to ostracize someone for a DUI. Prater, Iloka and Herron probably won't stick, but sounds like Jones was a nice find.

mann_usmc: I give the Bengals a C. Here we go drafting a CB in the first round again. Keep Johnathan Joseph and you can fill other spots (safety). The next four picks draw a big question mark. If you're going to draft an OG, then why not take the best prospect in a decade in DeCastro? You pass on him and allow the Steelers to draft him and all you gain is a third-round pick. That is a big miss in my opinion. Secondly, you draft two DTs when you already have Domata Peko and Geno Atkins. Sure these guys provide depth, but I would think that with my second-round and third-round picks to be a contributor. I wouldn't use draft picks that high for backups.

---

CLEVELAND BROWNS

The picks: RB Trent Richardson (first round), QB Brandon Weeden (first round), OT Mitchell Schwartz (second round), NT John Hughes (third round), WR Travis Benjamin (fourth round), LB James-Michael Johnson (fourth round), G Ryan Miller (fifth round), LB Emmanuel Acho (sixth round), DL Billy Winn (sixth round), CB Trevin Wade (seventh round), TE-FB Brad Smelley (seventh round).

Kiper's grade: B-minus

Fans' grade: B (38 percent)

Fans' comments:

Kovacs from Dallas: This draft is an A if Weeden works out but probably a low B or high C if he doesn't. Worst case the draft added two starters at key positions, RB and RT, and much-needed depth at areas where it was badly needed, DT and LB. If that's the worst case it's still a nice-looking haul.

Kyle from Columbus, Ohio: The Browns did a pretty good job of filling some holes and adding some depth. I really like the T. Richardson pick, but I think they reached a little for B. Weeden. My only complaint is that if you decide to take a first-round QB, you have to give him some weapons. T. Benjamin looks like a special-team guy, who may help out in the slot.

JBT1MIAMI: Simple D-minus. I'm still waiting for any fan to address why it's not an issue that Trent Richardson didn't compete at the combine because he had his knee scoped. How is he any better injury-wise than [Montario] Hardesty, knowing he's also had both ankles reconstructed. Why no issue with this? Why not just trade for [Rashard] Mendenhall if it's no issue. He's proven on the pro level. Think Steelers believe this kind of thing is an issue with running backs? I guess it's like training a dog, people have to separate emotional attachment of drafting a hyped running back, and learn about calm reasoning. Emotions just gave the Browns a 3-13 record.

---

BALTIMORE RAVENS

The picks: OLB Courtney Upshaw (second round), OT-G Kelechi Osemele (second round), RB Bernard Pierce (third round), C-G Gino Gradkowski (fourth round), S Christian Thompson (fourth round), CB Asa Jackson (fifth round), WR Tommy Streeter (sixth round), DT DeAngelo Tyson (seventh round).

Kiper's grade: B

Fans' grade: B (40 percent)

Fans' comments:

Shadowwolf1001: It's really toss-up. There are some strong picks here that would warrant an A, but there are also some picks I'm not too sure about which probably warrant a B. I'd have to vote B-plus with the potential of an A grade later on.

jdille123: C-plus. Ozzie [Newsome] must have taken this one off. Still got some good talent, but he usually does better.

youmadbromad: I gave them a D because they did not draft a new FG kicker.

Dave from Mansfield, Ohio: I'm giving the Raven a 'B.' They came into the draft with holes at LB, OT, OG and filled all of these needs. However while Upshaw should help feel the void left by Terrell Suggs, Kelechi Osemele should step in and start at guard and hopefully Gino Gradkowski develops as the replacement for Matt Birk. Plus Tommy Streeter has the potential to be a huge steal if his football skills catch up to his physical stature and speed.

---

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The picks: G David DeCastro (first round), OT Mike Adams (second round), ILB Sean Spence (third round), NT Alameda Ta'amu (fourth round), RB Chris Rainey (fifth round), WR Toney Clemons (seventh round), TE David Paulson (seventh round), CB Terrence Frederick (seventh round), G Kelvin Beachum (seventh round).

Kiper's grade: B

Fans' grade: A (61 percent)

Fans' comments:

WhoDeyAJGreen: As a Bengal fan (obviously) and an OSU football fan, I graded them as a A-minus. Great value picks while also filling needs. The player that will make the difference between an A-minus and A-plus is Mike Adams. If he can get his [act] together, then they had one heck of a draft from top to bottom.

The Bengals made the AFC North's biggest move in free agency so far, re-signing safety Reggie Nelson, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Why is it so big? Cincinnati pointed to Nelson as its top priority in free agency and didn't lose him in a battle with the New York Jets. The Bengals also kept Nelson at a time when it would be hard to replace him (the safety position is weak in free agency and the draft) and didn't let him leave like cornerback Johnathan Joseph a year ago.

Nelson, 28, has gone from a first-round bust with Jacksonville to an coveted defensive back in Cincinnati. He was considered the second-best safety in free agency, and that's why the Jets tried to lure him there in a two-day visit.

Even though he isn't a Pro Bowl defender, Nelson made his presence known. He led the Bengals with four interceptions and ranked third in tackles. Nelson also broke up eight passes, forced two fumbles and recorded two sacks.

Keeping Nelson was a solid move considering the Bengals didn't take the easy way out and use the franchise tag on him. Although the details for Nelson's deal weren't immediately available, using a $6.2 million tag on Nelson would have been overspending for him (this wasn't a case of the Bengals being frugal).

After a slow start to free agency, the Bengals have been heating up this weekend in using the second-most salary-cap space in the NFL. Cincinnati agreed to terms with guard Travelle Wharton, cornerback Jason Allen and now Nelson.

Monday will be an important day for the Bengals, who host running backs Michael Bush and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Signing one of them would cross another item off the free-agent list for Cincinnati, which is parting ways with Cedric Benson.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

The agent for guard Ben Grubbs said he had a "positive" meeting with Ravens officials at the NFL combine, but the sides aren't close to reaching a deal. Free agency will begin in two weeks.

“He’s in the prime of his career and may or may not have another opportunity to sign another significant contract. He needs to be sure that he explores all his options," agent Pat Dye told the Baltimore Sun. "He loves it there [in Baltimore] and would welcome being back there, but anything that the Ravens present him, we would have to evaluate it in the context of what the market might bear to him."

Dye added, "Is that to say something might not happen before free agency starts? No, that’s not to say that at all. I would expect that we would be talking in the near future, but I don’t think a [deal] is imminent at this point.”

The Ravens have made it clear that they want to keep Grubbs. Head coach John Harbaugh recently said the team is "offering a lot of money" to the 2007 first-round pick.

“They expressed a very strong interest in having him back,” Dye said. “They gave us some definitive parameters that would reflect that they have a very strong interest.”

Hensley's slant: The Ravens should tell Grubbs that their offer gets pulled if he tests the free-agent market. That way, he would have to decide whether to take the Ravens' deal or risk getting less in free agency. Grubbs should get more money in free agency considering there are a lot of teams looking for guards this offseason: the Bears, Cowboys, Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs, Panthers, Colts and Titans.

BENGALS: Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis isn't confident that the team can find a top cornerback beyond the first round. “There’s research that says the best starting corners are first-round picks,” Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Year after year if you had 70 corners the best ones and almost all of them are going to be first-round guys.” The two cornerbacks linked to the Bengals in the first round are North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick. Hensley's slant: This isn't a surprise because the Bengals have always put a high priority on cornerbacks. They drafted Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph in the first round, so the Bengals likely will target another one this year because Hall is recovering from an Achilles injury and Nate Clements is entering his 12th season. There is a solid chance that Cincinnati will draft the second-best corner in the draft with one of its two first-round picks.

BROWNS: Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson earned his new contract through durability and determination. "Bottom line, he had a very, very good year on a very, very bad team. Not easy to do," Pluto wrote. "That's why it was good news to see him sign a new 5-year, $42.5 million deal ($19 million guaranteed) with the Browns. At first, that seemed a lot of money for a linebacker who will be 29 in September, a linebacker who played only six games in the previous two seasons. But Jackson proved himself in 2011, staying healthy and seemingly never even being tired." Hensley's slant: A day after Jackson signed his deal, linebacker Ahmad Brooks agreed to a six-year, $44.5 million contract with the 49ers that includes $17.5 million guaranteed. Does that make you feel better or worse about Jackson's deal?

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette doesn't think wide receiver Mike Wallace is going anywhere as a restricted free agent. "Why would another team pay all that money in order to convince him to sign and give their first-round pick to the Steelers?," Bouchette wrote. "Baltimore has practically announced it won't sign him and Cincinnati needs something else. That leaves New England and San Francisco? With the new rookie wage scale, those first-rounders became more valuable, too." Hensley's slant: The Ravens are out, and the Bengals would surprise me at this point, too. But I wouldn't rule out teams desperate for a deep threat like the Patriots and 49ers. New England coach Bill Belichick is always thinking outside the box.

In a thought-provoking Insider post, Mel Kiper Jr. revisits the 2006 NFL draft and looks how the first round would unfold based on what we know now.

Remember Haloti Ngata going to the Ravens at No. 12? Not this time. Kiper has him going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. Overall, the AFC North teams fared poorly in Kiper's re-draft.

Let's see which players Kiper would have going to the AFC North teams now:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Draft position: No. 12 (they were actually No. 13 but traded up with the Browns in 2006)

Player chosen in 2006: Haloti Ngata, DT

Kiper re-draft: Reggie Bush, RB (Saints-Dolphins)

End result: Bad for Ravens. Baltimore desperately needed a defensive tackle -- Ray Lewis was campaigning for one before this draft -- and the Ravens got extremely lucky when Ngata fell to them. Bush would have been a non-factor because he requires a creative scheme to thrive. Brian Billick didn't know what to do when he had Priest Holmes.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Draft position: No. 13

Player chosen in 2006: Kamerion Wimbley, DE-OLB

Kiper re-draft: Devin Hester, KR-PR-WR (Bears)

End result: Bad for Browns. Wimbley never lived up to expectations, and Hester is one of the greatest returners in NFL history. But the Browns already had Josh Cribbs at this time, and they couldn't stop anyone from running the ball. Selecting a linebacker like A.J. Hawk or DeMeco Ryans would have helped out more in the re-draft.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Draft position: No. 24

Player chosen in 2006: Johnathan Joseph, CB

Kiper re-draft: Eric Winston, OT (Texans)

End result: Bad for Bengals. Cincinnati really needed a young corner like Joseph, and it was set at the time at offensive tackle with Levi Jones and Willie Anderson. With Joseph off the board in Kiper's re-draft, I would've taken a safety like Donte Whitner for the Bengals.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Draft position: No. 25

Player chosen in 2006: Santonio Holmes, WR

Kiper re-draft: Marcedes Lewis, TE

End result: Bad for the Steelers. Who would've caught the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl without Holmes? Yes, he's no longer with the Steelers but Holmes gave them an average of 958 yards receiving in his four seasons including several clutch catches. Lewis doesn't make sense for Pittsburgh, which used a first-round pick on tight end Heath Miller in 2005.

As the regular season begins to wind down, it's time for the playoffs -- as well as draft talk -- to begin to heat up.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay offered his first 2012 mock draft Wednesday, with a draft order that projected the Cleveland Browns at No. 4 and 24 (from Atlanta), the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 18 (from Oakland) and 21, the Baltimore Ravens at No. 27 and the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 28.

You'll need an Insider subscription to view the entire draft, but here's a look at the AFC North part of it:

4. Cleveland Browns

Player: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Hensley's comment: The Browns are taking someone on the offensive side of the ball. That's obvious. The drafting of Richardson means a quick exit for Peyton Hillis.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

Player: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Hensley's comment: This makes a lot of sense because the Bengals are expected to part ways with longtime guard Bobbie Williams. If you believe Andy Dalton is your franchise quarterback, you need to start investing in offensive linemen.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Player: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Hensley's comment: Safety is a bigger need in the secondary, but coach Marvin Lewis knows the importance of having talented young cornerbacks. He used first-rounders on Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph.

24. Cleveland Browns

Hensley's comment: There's such a need for playmakers that it wouldn't be surprising to see the Browns use another first-rounder on offense. A downfield presence like South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery would be a solid pickup if he's still available.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Player: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Hensley's comment: The Ravens need a guard to replace free agent Ben Grubbs more than a tackle. Remember, left tackle Bryant McKinnie was signed to a two-year contract. This could be the year when the Ravens have to look at inside linebacker in the first round.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers

Player: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

CINCINNATI -- Thoughts on the Bengals-Texans game:

What it means: The Bengals’ playoff hopes took a major hit with a disastrous collapse. Cincinnati failed to hold onto a 13-point halftime lead and allowed the game-winning touchdown with two seconds remaining. The Bengals drop to 7-6, losing four out of their past five games. The Texans have won seven straight games.

Defense folds: If the Bengals miss the playoffs, they’ll look back at how their defense allowed a former third-string quarterback (T.J. Yates) to drive 80 yards for a touchdown in the final minutes of the game. The key play was a pass interference penalty on Adam Jones, which gave the Texans first-and-goal at the Cincinnati 6. Houston’s game-winning touchdown was a 6-yard completion to an uncovered Kevin Walter over the middle.

Offense disappears: The Bengals' defense can’t shoulder all of the blame. Cincinnati’s offense was shut out in the fourth quarter and was held to 22 yards.

Rough homecoming: Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who left Cincinnati as a free agent before the season, had a frustrating first game back at Paul Brown Stadium. He dropped an interception at the 1-yard line with no one between him and the 99 yards to the end zone. Then, on the same drive in the third quarter, Joseph had a 25-yard pass interference penalty (defending A.J. Green) and gave up a 36-yard pass to Green.

Empty feeling: There were only 41,202 at today's game, which is the second-smallest crowd in the 11-year history of Paul Brown Stadium. That means there were 24,333 empty seats.

What's next: The Bengals look for their first road win since Nov. 6 when they travel to St. Louis (2-10).

If you have a question about the AFC North, send it to my mailbag. It's Saturday morning, so let's open up some mail ...

Edgar from Austin, Texas, writes: Love the blog. It helps me keep up on my Browns and the team I hate, Steelers. My question is this: Do you think Colt McCoy could be the future for the Browns if they give him a better supporting cast? I mean, the offensive line is a joke, the running game has been terrible especially with the injuries (good thing Peyton Hillis didn't get that extension), and the receiving corps is average at best. How good of a chance do you think the Browns have at grabbing both Justin Blackmon and Trent Richardson in the first round with those pair of draft picks they got last year?

Jamison Hensley, from AFC Headquarters, responds: There's no doubt that McCoy would be putting up better numbers with a strong supporting cast. It's obvious that the Browns lack playmakers. Just look at that Thursday night game: the Steelers have wide receivers who can turn short passes into touchdowns and the Browns have wide receivers who have trouble catching short passes. The problem is, McCoy hasn't shown the ability to stretch the field on a consistent basis and has made some poor decisions and throws (and that has no bearing on his supporting cast). The Browns' biggest decision is figuring out whether they are a better offense with more playmakers around McCoy or a better offense with another quarterback who can elevate the play of those surrounding him.

---

Taylor from Baltimore writes: How confident can the Ravens be with kicker Billy Cundiff who has struggled mightly after signing a big contract in the offseason?

Hensley responds: The Ravens should still be confident in Cundiff, who could miss Sunday's game with a calf injury. Most of his misses have come from pushing the ball wide right from the right hash mark, which is a technique issue and a correctable flaw. The eight misses, though, are alarming since he was nearly automatic last season. Still, Cundiff is 12 of 13 this year in the second half (including 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter), which tells me that he can be counted on to make the pressure kicks.

---

Erik from Charlotte, N.C.: After reading your article on James Harrison's "vicious" hit to Colt McCoy I just wanted to clarify something. You act as if Harrison is continuing his "illegal"style of play that he penalized frequently for through midseason last year. But since his last personal foul penalty on Fitzpatrick on Nov 28th 2010, Harrison has played in 16 games including playoffs and 2011 season and this is his first personal foul penalty in 16 games. That's equivalent to a whole season with one personal foul penalty. So don't you think to act as if he hasn't learned and should be suspended is a little overboard? Did you write the same article saying Dunta Robinson of the Falcons should be suspended for his "vicious" concussion causing hit after he did it again earlier this year after doing the same thing last year? Or did you say Ray Lewis should be suspended for his "vicious" hit on Hines Ward that caused a concussion earlier this year?

Hensley responds: It's going to take longer than one season to show Harrison has changed his ways or changed his reputation for that matter. Harrison was fined $125,000 last season for illegal hits. If I lost that amount of money, there is no way I would do that act again and I wouldn't come close to putting myself in a situation where they could fine me again. All Harrison had to do was lead with his shoulder. That way, there would be no gray area. Instead, you could see him lowering his helmet and striking McCoy with the crown of it. Now, the reason I didn't suggest Ray Lewis shouldn't be suspended earlier this season is simple -- Lewis is not a repeat offender. Players who commit the same mistake over and over again are subject to more severe discipline each time.

---

Adam from Columbus, Ohio: Do you think A.J. Green is a bad matchup for Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph? I feel A.J. could have a big day if the line holds. Also, do you think the Bengals would have any interest in Jonathan Stewart next year or do you not see that really being a good fit?

Hensley responds: Green is going to be a bad matchup for any cornerback in this league. When he is focused on running precise routes (and not committing carless penalties), it's tough for any cornerback to shut him down for an entire game. Green can leap over defenders to make the catch and is physical and fast enough to break big plays after making the catch. Joseph is having a strong season with the Texans, but Green is the best receiver suiting up on that field Sunday. As for the running back spot, the Bengals need to get younger and faster at that position. Stewart would be an intriguing possibility. He doesn't have great elusiveness but he has legitimate speed. Plus, he's 24 and doesn't have a lot of wear and tear being the backup in Carolina. There's only one problem: Stewart isn't a free agent until 2013. The Bengals have been building this offense through the draft and should stick with that philosophy by picking a running back at some point next April.

---

Steve from Chicago: Love the blog. Looking to February: If you had to predict today, who will be playing in the Super Bowl? It's hard to imagine the Packers blowing it at this point, but in my opinion, a healthy Steelers team is just as unstoppable. What are the chances of a Super Bowl XLV rematch?

Hensley responds: I've been saying for the past month that there are four teams that have separated themselves in my estimation. The Packers, Ravens, Steelers and Saints have been my favorites to make it to Indianapolis in February. I would be shocked if a team other than these four makes it to the Super Bowl. As for the exact matchup, I will wait until the end of the regular season before revealing that.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Browns running back Peyton Hillis is expected to play in tonight's game at Pittsburgh, a league source told NFL.com.

Hillis injured his hip four days against Baltimore and has been limited all week in practice. He's officially listed as questionable.

This would mark the third straight time that Hillis has suited up after missing five games. Two weeks ago at Cincinnati, Hillis rushed for 65 yards. Last Sunday, he totaled 97 yards (45 yards rushing and a 52-yard catch).

Hensley's slant: This is big news for the Browns because they can't risk putting the ball in the hands of banged-up quarterback Colt McCoy all game. In his first meeting against Pittsburgh last year, Hillis had a respectable 90 total yards, although he averaged only 3.4 yards per carry. The Steelers rank seventh against the run this season.

BENGALS: Former Cincinnati cornerback Johnathan Joseph returns to town with Houston and the NFL's top-ranked defense. He is tied for fourth among AFC defenders with 14 passes broken up. In explaining why he left the Bengals in free agency, Joseph told The Cincinnati Enquirer: "[The contract] was definitely better here. That was one of the main things I had to consider was the guarantee and the financial situation that was offered here and a lot of other things that they had in place at the moment that didn’t look so well in Cincinnati at the time." Hensley's slant: In a critical game for the Bengals' postseason hopes, Joseph will figure into one of the biggest matchups of the game. Joseph, a first-round pick of the Bengals in 2006, will line up against wide receiver A.J. Green, the Bengals' top pick in 2011. In seven wins this season, Green has averaged 19.2 yards per catch and has scored four touchdowns.

RAVENS: Baltimore, which plays the Colts on Sunday, acknowledged being fearful of a winless opponent. "Because I lost to a 0-for team,” outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said, via The Baltimore Sun. The last time the Ravens met a winless opponent in December was 2007, when they fell to an 0-13 Dolphins team in overtime. Hensley's slant: Whether they have to draw on that memory or the ones of losing at Jacksonville and Seattle this season, the Ravens shouldn't have a problem with finding motivation to play the Colts. Taking teams lightly hasn't really shown up at home (outside of that close call against Arizona). The Ravens have been dominant at M&T Bank Stadium and are looking to set a franchise record with their ninth straight home win. This won't be a repeat of 2007 in Miami.

STEELERS: Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who isn't expected to play tonight, addressed his offseason comments that the Ravens wouldn't reach a Super Bowl with Joe Flacco as their quarter. "I'll be wrong if I say a team like Baltimore or Cincinnati or the Jets or anybody else that we play against -- I'd be wrong to say that they're going to the Super Bowl because if I say that, that means we're not going to the Super Bowl," Woodley told NFL Total Access on Tuesday. "And I would never say that because going into the matchup, that means I'm already saying we're gonna lose the game. I plan on playing football in February no matter who we play." Hensley's slant: Never felt Woodley was slighting Flacco because he should believe his team -- and no one else's - is going to the Super Bowl every year. And the way the postseason seedings are shaping up, it looks like Woodley might have a chance to back up his words against Flacco and the Ravens next month in either the divisional round or the AFC championship game.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 11:

Struggles against Bengals: Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has yet to figure out the Bengals' Cover 2 defense. In his past four games against Cincinnati, he's thrown two touchdowns and nine interceptions. His quarterback rating against the Bengals during that stretch is 52.8. The worst regular-season game of his career came at Cincinnati a year ago when he was picked off four times. What works in Flacco's favor this time is the Bengals' cornerbacks are different. Johnathan Joseph went to Houston as a free agent, and Leon Hall went down with a season-ending injury last Sunday. He'll be throwing against Nate Clements and Kelly Jennings on Sunday.

Struggles against the run: If you're the Cleveland Browns, one of the last running backs you want to face is Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew, who has gained 100 yards rushing in two of his past three games. Comparatively, the Browns have allowed an NFL-worst six running backs to crack 100 yards in eight games this season. No other defense has allowed more than four running backs to do this, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The struggles on run defense are surprising because the Browns have been so strong up the middle with defensive tackles Ahtyba Rubin and Phillip Taylor along with middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. Cleveland ranks 30th in run defense.

Protecting the rookie: A major reason why Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has succeeded this season has been his offensive line. The Bengals have allowed 13 sacks for the season, which is tied for third fewest in the NFL, and have given up just two over the past four games. The Bengals' protection will get tested by the Ravens, one of the most aggressive defenses this year. Baltimore has recorded the third most sacks in the league with 27. At Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, where teams are often forced to use the silent count, the Ravens have had 16 sacks in four games.

Not cooking at home: The Browns have gone back-to-back home games without scoring a touchdown, and the last time they've gone three straight without reaching the end zone at home was the end of the 2008 season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The last Browns touchdown at Cleveland was seven weeks ago against Tennessee. The touchdown drought at Cleveland Browns Stadium has lasted 25 consecutive drives. That's only four short of the winless Colts, who have the NFL's longest current one at home (according to STATS LLC). Cleveland plays Sunday against the Jaguars, who have allowed the sixth-fewest points in the league (18.4 points).

Grounded by the 4-3: The Ravens are 1-3 against teams that play the 4-3 defense (the only win coming at St. Louis). The biggest problem has been running against the four-man front. In losses to Tennessee, Jacksonville and Seattle -- all of which run the 4-3 -- Baltimore's running backs have averaged 38 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry. The Ravens have yet to score a rushing touchdown against a 4-3 defense this season. Now comes the showdown with the Bengals, who just happen to line up in the 4-3 defense. Cincinnati has the NFL's second best run defense, holding teams to 86.8 yards on the ground.

The Cincinnati Bengals reached a four-year, $39 million contract extension with cornerback Leon Hall, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The deal will keep Hall in Cincinnati through 2015.

Here are some thoughts on the signing:

• Losing Johnathan Joseph definitely helped Hall in these negotiations. Last summer the Bengals tried extending Joseph, who was entering the final year of his deal. But the team low-balled the corner and eventually couldn't re-sign him. Joseph bolted to the Houston Texans this summer. This year the Bengals learned their lesson and offered Hall market value. Hall will average nearly $10 million per season.
• The next step is on Hall. He is now the Bengals' top cornerback with Joseph gone. Hall is certainly being paid like a No. 1 corner and has to prove it on the field. Look for Cincinnati to put Hall on the opponent's best receiver throughout the season to see how Hall handles those duties.
• Cincinnati will go into the season with the cornerback trio of Hall, Nate Clements and Kelly Jennings. If Jennings learns the defense quickly, it could be a decent group. The Bengals are not counting on Adam Jones (neck) to start the season. But Jones could eventually bring more athleticism and speed to the Bengals' secondary when he gets healthy.

The Cincinnati Bengals made another trade, acquiring former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Kelly Jennings. Cincinnati shipped defensive tackle Clinton McDonald to Seattle.

Here are some thoughts on the move:

• Jennings is fast, and that's the most important part of this deal. Cincinnati lacks speed on defense and in the secondary. The Bengals lost their best pure athlete in Johnathan Joseph in free agency. Jennings can be the speedster in the secondary Cincinnati needs.
• Jennings is a former first-round pick with a lot of starting experience. Therefore, he can step in if Leon Hall or Nate Clements is injured. Cincinnati doesn't have a lot of experience on its bench behind the starters. Adam Jones is a former starter but is out with a neck injury.
• You also wonder what this means for Jones. The Bengals traded for an experienced veteran less than two weeks before the regular season. That could be a sign they're not optimistic about Jones' chances early in the season. Jones had a second neck surgery in June. He may be a candidate for the physically unable to perform list (PUP) to start the season.

Last summer, the Cincinnati Bengals began contract negotiations with then-No. 1 cornerback Johnathan Joseph. It seemed like a good-faith effort to keep Joseph in Cincinnati long term before he became an unrestricted free agent in 2011.

But the Bengals never offered Joseph the type of deal he was looking for. Joseph eventually became an unrestricted free agent and bolted to the Houston Texans, leaving a big hole in Cincinnati's secondary.

One year later, ESPN.com's AFC North blog has learned the Bengals will soon begin contract discussions with new No. 1 cornerback Leon Hall. Like Joseph in 2010, Hall is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Will the outcome be different? Or will history repeat itself in Cincinnati?

It's hard to build a consistent winner if the Bengals continue to let their top draft picks get away. Joseph and Hall were back-to-back first-round draft picks in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The pair developed together and gradually helped lead the Bengals to a playoff bid and AFC North title in 2009.

Joseph and Hall had the potential to be one of the NFL's top corner duos for many years. Now, half of that pair is split.

The good news is Cincinnati has more than enough cap room this summer to make a solid pitch to Hall. The 26-year-old corner has 18 career interceptions for the Bengals and hasn’t missed a game in four seasons.

The purge in Cincinnati is well-documented. With Joseph, Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco gone, Hall is one of the few core players left from Cincinnati’s most recent playoff team.

There are no guarantees. But it appears the Bengals are interested in making Hall a part of their future.

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- It's a new era in Cincinnati. But will it result in more victories?

That's the question facing the new-look Cincinnati Bengals this season.

Cincinnati hit the reset button after a disappointing 4-12 campaign in 2010. The Bengals moved on from the Carson Palmer-Chad Ochocinco era, replacing them with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and No. 4 overall pick A.J. Green.

But going young often brings growing pains. That was evident in Cincinnati's lackluster 34-3 loss to the Detroit Lions in Friday's preseason opener. The Bengals' starters and backups looked shell-shocked and were dominated on offense, defense and special teams.

"It's our first step in a long, long journey," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told reporters Friday night. "There's a lot of work to do. I knew it coming in. Now we have a chance to coach off the tape and make corrections off the tape and get after it quickly."

The rebuilding Bengals have nowhere to go but up this season. They were ranked last in ESPN.com's preseason Power Rankings.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Is Andy Dalton ready?

Palmer's unexpected retirement in January thrust Dalton into the starting lineup as a rookie.

This is unfamiliar territory for Lewis. Lewis sat Palmer, a No. 1 overall pick, during his entire rookie year in 2003.

I asked Lewis this week about his different approach with rookie quarterbacks.

"The football team that I took over in 2003 couldn't afford to lose games because of the quarterback," Lewis said. "They had a guy who had been in the seat and a lot of people were very, very comfortable with. Jon [Kitna] had done some good things, so it was a different situation.

"This football team is put together differently. They're tough, they're physical, they know how to go out there and compete. I didn't know those things coming in 2003. I know what this team is made of now. I know where the leaders are. I didn't know those guys then."

The Bengals hope to get immediate results from Dalton. He made some rookie mistakes in practice during the week and looked shaky in his preseason debut. Dalton's first throw was an interception. His third pass attempt was a sack. He finished with 69 passing yards and a pick.

Overall, Dalton is confident and has good presence. But things will not come together overnight.

2. How is Cincinnati’s new West Coast offense?

The West Coast offense is known for its precision passing. But expect a heavy dose of tailback Cedric Benson in Cincinnati's system.

First-year offensive coordinator Jay Gruden acknowledged that he wants a power running game to protect his rookie quarterback. Benson is coming off back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons. He is the most reliable offensive commodity the Bengals have.

If Benson runs well, it should open things up for Cincinnati's passing game. Gruden is particularly high on starting receivers Green and Jerome Simpson.

Look for Cincinnati's opponents to stack the box against the run this season. But Gruden will not be afraid to take shots downfield with Simpson and Green, based on what I've seen in practice.

"Those two guys on the outside are very athletic," Gruden said. "You almost have to take a different approach as a quarterback when those two guys are running down the field. If a defensive back has his back turned, you have to give [the receiver] a chance. A lot of times you want to tell a quarterback, 'It's either us or nobody.' But with these two guys you can throw it up high and let them go get it."

3. Can the defense rebound?

The Bengals were No. 4 in total defense in 2009. That led to a playoff run.

In 2010, Cincinnati's defense dropped to No. 15. The Bengals finished 4-12 last season.

The success of the defense is vital. The Bengals return veterans such as cornerback Leon Hall, defensive lineman Domata Peko, safety Chris Crocker and third-year linebacker Rey Maualuga. The team also added cornerback Nate Clements to replace Johnathan Joseph and new linebackers Manny Lawson and Thomas Howard.

Improving the pass rush will be key. The Bengals only had 27 sacks in 16 games last season. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap accounted for 9.5 of those sacks.

Speed on defense also is an issue. Cincinnati is not very fast in the front seven or in the secondary.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I went into Bengals camp unfamiliar with Colin Cochart. But by the end of the week, the undrafted rookie tight end from South Dakota State was one of my favorite players.

Cochart is an aggressive blocker, which is a valued commodity. He blocked in every practice as though it was the Super Bowl. That got under some teammates' skin and caused some extra pushing and shoving.

Cochart's blocking makes him a sleeper to make the Bengals as a third tight end behind Jermaine Gresham and Bo Scaife.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

I wanted to see more from backup running back Bernard Scott. But he has been sidelined most of training camp with a hamstring injury.

Many players across the league, particularly speedy ones, are suffering hamstring injuries after the lockout. Scott showed flashes in past seasons. But he needs to stay healthy and be more reliable to back up Benson this season.

OBSERVATION DECK

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Carlos OsorioReceiver A.J. Green, a first-round draft pick, has looked as good as advertised so far in camp.
• Green is the real deal. He is an extremely good athlete with great hands and the ability to go up and get the football. But he needs to work on is his routes. Green relied mostly on athleticism in high school and college. He needs to be more precise getting out of his cuts to get the most out of Cincinnati's West Coast offense. There is little margin for error at the NFL level.
• Former 2009 first-round pick Andre Smith is in much better shape this year. He is down to 335 pounds. Smith's quickness, footwork and endurance have improved. This is his first full training camp. He missed the first two camps because of a contract dispute and prior injuries. Smith's weight loss also takes pressure off his surgically repaired foot.
• Veteran backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski looks to be a decent signing. Gradkowski knows the West Coast offense and is making plays in camp. The Bengals are counting on Dalton to be the starter. Dalton's ceiling is higher. But right now there isn't a wide gap separating Cincinnati's top two quarterbacks.
• Simpson looks ready to bust out. He was one of the best players in practice last week and continues to make highlight-reel catches, even when covered by defenders. Simpson has been quiet for three seasons in Cincinnati. But he finished strong in the final month of last season. Simpson has to prove he can be productive for 16 games.
• The Bengals can use a healthy Adam Jones this season. The backup cornerback will miss all of training camp after neck surgery. Jones is by far Cincinnati's best athlete in the secondary. It doesn't appear the commissioner will act on Jones' offseason arrest for disorderly conduct. Jones says he was wrongfully arrested.
• Michael Johnson looks more comfortable back at defensive end. The Bengals experimented with moving Johnson to outside linebacker last season, but he never looked comfortable standing up. Now, Johnson is making more plays in training camp at his natural position. He was listed as a starter on the team's first depth chart.
• Maualuga is another player who looks better at his natural position of middle linebacker. He has good instincts and is a force against the run. Maualuga sheds blocks well and gets to ball carriers. He had two tackles for loss Friday against Detroit. The past two seasons Maualuga often was forced to cover tight ends in pass coverage and struggled.

Two of the top free agents in the AFC North signed with the Houston Texans this past week. Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph and former Cleveland Browns fullback Lawrence Vickers agreed to multiyear deals and are expected to lead Houston's playoff push in 2011.

But that road will include two stops against familiar foes. Vickers and Houston will play at home against the Browns on Nov. 6, and Joseph will return to Cincinnati to play the Bengals on Dec. 11 at Paul Brown Stadium. Both contests could be important if any of these three teams are in contention late in the season.

Vickers and Joseph were fan favorites and wanted to stay with their respective teams. Fans of the Browns and Bengals were upset that both players left, and they will get a shot later this year to add salt to the wound.