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Here are some AFC North evening notes:

Eagles free-agent guard Evan Mathis left the Ravens facility without a contract but he did have dinner plans. He will sit down with general manager Ozzie Newsome tonight and remain in Baltimore tomorrow.

That looks like a positive sign for the Ravens, who are looking for an immediate replacement for Ben Grubbs (who signed today with the New Orleans Saints).

It won't be considered a scintillating move, but it was a smart one for the Cleveland Browns to re-sign cornerback Dimitri Patterson.

I expect a potential ripple effect from the Browns keeping Patterson. Judging by the size of his contract -- three years for $16 million with $6 million guaranteed, according to the Akron Beacon Journal -- the expectation is for Patterson to go from nickel back to starter.

Patterson, 28, would push Sheldon Brown, who got picked on by quarterbacks last season, to nickel back or to a different position entirely. The Browns could move Brown to safety depending on their faith in speedy Buster Skrine becoming the No. 3 cornerback. Shifting Brown to safety would eliminate the need for Cleveland to re-sign free agent Mike Adams, who is visiting the Denver Broncos.

Excelling last season as the nickel back, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Patterson broke up 12 passes and made 26 tackles. While keeping Patterson is a solid move for the Browns -- I had him as the ninth-best free agent available in the AFC North -- it doesn't preclude them from using the fourth overall pick on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

The Browns continue to be the most active AFC North team in signing free agents, adding defensive end Frostee Rucker and retaining Patterson, tight end Alex Smith and offensive lineman John Greco.

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

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

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed will likely end up in the Hall of Fame. But both aren't playing at their usual high level lately.

That has prompted Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston to broach the sensitive topic of sitting Lewis and Reed during portions of the game. He described them as liabilities as every-down players.

"You can't hide them any longer," Preston wrote. "They're still playing well enough for the Ravens to win most of their games, but are playing poorly enough where they might cost them deep into the postseason."

Preston said the problems with Lewis are physical while it's mental with Reed. "The guess here is that Harbaugh won't do anything," Preston wrote. "He'll continue to play as usual because he doesn't believe the changes would be so significant that it's worth risking team chemistry."

Hensley's slant: As Preston pointed out, this criticism will likely fuel Lewis and Reed to bounce back with a strong playoff run. It also helps these 30-something stars that they're getting a first-round bye in the playoffs. There will be a point where the Ravens will have to address this issue with their aging players. But doing so in the playoffs is not the appropriate time.

BENGALS: The team enjoyed its best home atmosphere of the season when it played before a sellout crowd of 63,439 at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. It marked the Bengals' second sellout of the season, but the first one featured thousands of Steelers fans in the seats. This time, it was a dominant home crowd. “We were talking on the sidelines how we felt like we were in one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL,” defensive tackle Domata Peko told the team's website. “They were jumping today and we really appreciate them.” Hensley's slant: It was such a loud crowd that the Ravens had to use a silent count on offense. But the fans left in droves midway through the fourth quarter, when the Bengals were driving down the field to possibly tie the game. I guess this represents baby steps.

BROWNS: Veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown believes Pat Shurmur is the right coach to turn around the Browns despite his 4-12 record this season, saying Shurmur did a "tremendous job" in dealing with being a head coach for the first time. "He dealt with the situations to the best of my knowledge the best he could, and he kept this football team fighting," Brown said, via the Akron Beacon Journal. "And for me, that's how I judge a head coach. If a football team goes out there and competes their tail off week in and week out through thick and thin, which it was very thick this year, but we didn’t quit. So that tells me the leader is in place, and the guys believe in him, and they will fight for him." Hensley's slant: Outside of getting Cleveland to score more points, Shurmur's biggest challenge is to get the Browns to become more disciplined. There were too many costly -- and sloppy errors -- like not being ready for the snap in the season opener to not spiking the ball in the final seconds of the first half in Week 16. But it was a good sign that the Browns were fighting and being competitive in the final three games, which were each lost by six points or less.

STEELERS: Anthony Madison, a 30-year-old cornerback, will re-sign with Pittsburgh today, according to his web site (via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Injuries to Keenan Lewis (hamstring) and rookie Cortez Allen (shoulder) have left the Steelers with three healthy cornerbacks: Ike Taylor, William Gay and Bryant McFadden. There will be even more of a need for a defensive back if safety Ryan Clark sits out the game because of the risk of playing with sickle cell in high altitudes. Hensley's slant: If there is a week when you don't need defensive backs, it would be this one. When you play Tim Tebow and the Broncos, it's more important to have healthy linebackers than cornerbacks. It's tough to get scared when the opposing quarterback completed six passes in his previous game.

Here are the most interesting stories Friday in the AFC North:

• Can the Pittsburgh Steelers protect quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this season?

Morning take: Roethlisberger is annually among the most sacked quarterbacks in the league, and part of it is due to holding the ball too long. I'm not big on Pittsburgh's offensive line, but it hasn't hurt the team's success in the past.

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton is learning on the fly.

Morning take: Dalton's progress will be the biggest story for the Bengals in 2011. I like the many weapons around him, which should help his transition.

• New Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard believes he can fit in well with the defense.

Morning take: Pollard is a big hitter, which is needed on any defense. He will compete with Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura to start opposite free safety Ed Reed.

• Cleveland Browns cornerback Dimitri Patterson is getting a look at nickelback.

Morning take: The Browns are thin at corner. Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown are the starters. But Patterson, rookie Buster Skrine or someone else needs to step up in reserve roles.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday in the AFC North:

• Pat Kirwan of NFL.com wonders if the Baltimore Ravens are ready to supplant the Pittsburgh Steelers in the division.

Morning take: I won't make any predictions before free agency and training camp, but this is shaping up to be a two-team race in the AFC North. The Week 1 matchup will be a huge tone-setter for both teams.

• The Wall Street Journal takes an in-depth look at the costly contract Hamilton County (Ohio) has with the Cincinnati Bengals to build and maintain Paul Brown Stadium.

Morning take: This is a very sore topic for Cincinnati residents and Bengals fans. Adding salt to the wound is the fact the Bengals routinely put out a losing product and hasn't won a playoff game in 20 years, leaving many in Hamilton County feeling empty.

• Mike Duffy from BaltimoreRavens.com asks an interesting question: Who is Baltimore's biggest non-Steelers rival?

Morning take: There are several good candidates, but I have to go with Indianapolis. Not only do the Colts regularly break the Ravens' hearts, but the history of the Colts moving to Indy adds to the furor.

• Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports corner Sheldon Brown and linebacker Scott Fujita are teaching teammates the 4-3 defense.

Morning take: Cleveland is playing a 4-3 for the first time since 2005. It's not going to be an easy transition, but it's wise for veterans in the know to help the other players.

Here are the player reps for each AFC North team, according to the NFLPA:

Baltimore Ravens: WR Derrick Mason

Alternates: CB Chris Carr, C Matt Birk

Skinny: Mason is one of the most experienced and outspoken players on the Ravens. Therefore he fits great in this role. Carr and Birk are also two great alternatives from Baltimore.

Cincinnati Bengals: LT Andrew Whitworth

Alternates: G Bobbie Williams, TE Reggie Kelly

Skinny: This trio comprises Cincinnati's locker room leaders. Whitworth has taken an increased role and is usually the one who briefs the rest of the Bengals on player issues. Williams and Kelly are both elder statesmen and combine for 25 years of NFL experience.

Cleveland Browns: TE Robert Royal

Alternates: OT Tony Pashos, CB Sheldon Brown, TE Ben Watson

Skinny: Lately the Browns have been a strange team when it comes to union reps. With three regime changes the past few years, it's been a rotating door. Royal was recently released by the Browns, meaning Cleveland will have another player rep next season. All the alternatives spent their first year with the Browns in 2010.

Pittsburgh Steelers: S Ryan Clark

Alternates: WR Antwaan Randle El, LT Max Starks

Skinny: Like Mason, Clark is never afraid to speak his mind. He recently had a lot to say on the pending NFL lockout during Super Bowl week. Randle El and Starks are both intelligent alternatives, as well.

The Cleveland Browns received reaction from around the NFL this evening on the hire of new head coach Pat Shurmur.

Browns CB Sheldon Brown

"As a rookie coming into the National Football League (in 2002), he was our quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia. I knew he demanded a lot of respect, for one, Donovan McNabb was the guy that was already established there and Donovan had the utmost respect for Coach Shurmur. He is a sharp guy. He always took notes in meetings and he was one of those guys that (Eagles head coach) Andy (Reid) could depend on to get the guys ready to play, motivate and do well on game days. That's what you are looking for when you are looking for a coach.”

Eagles head coach Andy Reid

"I'm extremely proud of and happy for Pat Shurmur and his family. He is a proven commodity in the NFL and has paid his dues as a successful assistant coach. Pat is smart, very well organized and has a great command and great feel for the ins and outs of the business of pro football. I believe, to a man, all of the players and coaches that have worked with and for Pat Shurmur have the utmost respect for him as a person and as a coach. And I'm right at the top of that list. He'll do a great job for the city of Cleveland as their head football coach."

Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb

"I think it is a great choice for the Cleveland Browns. Pat Shurmur is a hard-working, dedicated and determined individual who demands perfection from all his players. The team will love playing for him."

Here are the most interesting stories Friday in the AFC North:

• Amid criticism, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians talks about his approach.

Morning take: Despite injuries on the offensive line, Pittsburgh's offense needs to play more efficiently. Sunday's contest against the Oakland Raiders is a big game for this group.

• Baltimore Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin is emerging as a leader in the locker room.

Morning take: Boldin's toughness and leadership are great fits in Baltimore, especially since it comes on the offensive side of the ball on a defensively oriented team.

• Cleveland Browns starting cornerback Sheldon Brown (neck, shoulder) is optimistic that he will be ready to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Morning take: Brown's veteran presence would be a nice boost and provide depth. But it also prevents Joe Haden from starting, and I think it’s time for the coaches to find Haden more playing time.

• New Cincinnati Bengals kicker Aaron Pettrey prepares for his debut.

Morning take: Based on Cincinnati's recent push for Jeff Reed, Pettrey is on a short leash. He needs to make the most of this opportunity.

In one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory, one thing is clear in the AFC North: Pass defense is the division's Achilles' heel.

An 0-4 Week 10 highlighted the AFC North's secondary woes. Whether it was Tom Brady picking apart the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roddy White running circles around the Baltimore Ravens, or Santonio Holmes zipping by the Cleveland Browns in overtime, it was an ugly week for defensive backs in the division.

Can anything be done about the AFC North's flimsy pass defense? We teamed with Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson to diagnose the problem and offer some solutions.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

Total defense: No. 9

Pass defense: No. 26

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "All their cornerbacks are mid-round picks, and that's what they do. They bring in mid-round corners and spend first-round picks on other positions and groom them for a year or two. Pittsburgh's cornerbacks play a lot of 'off coverage,' and a team like New England can exploit that. The Patriots took what they gave them with short and intermediate passes, and it's a really bad fit for the Steelers. They've been successful giving you a lot of the smaller stuff. But what worries me is the pass rush has fallen off a little bit." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Pittsburgh has by far the NFL's best run defense at 63.2 yards per game. At the beginning of the season, opponents were banging their heads against the wall trying to establish the run in the first half, and that played right into Pittsburgh's hands. Now teams have adjusted and determined it's better to throw for 5-7 yards on first and second down instead of trying to get it on the ground. This is where the Steelers have to adjust. More press coverage would help. Although that's not Pittsburgh's identity, mixing in cornerbacks playing closer to the line of scrimmage could reduce the short and intermediate passes against its defense. Also, taking a look at young cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and/or Crezdon Butler may not be a bad idea in sub packages, where William Gay has really struggled.

Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Total defense: No. 10

Pass defense: No. 13

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "They have very average corners, and I think they only have one pass-rusher. They need a LaMarr Woodley-James Harrison pairing. The Ravens have Terrell Suggs, but they don't have the other guy. They drafted Sergio Kindle and he got hurt, obviously. Baltimore has one pass-rusher who is very good, but you can take Suggs away by chipping him or keeping your better players on him. So, to me, they need either one better corner or a better pass-rusher. But with the combination Baltimore has now, it's going to be a liability." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Don't be fooled by Baltimore's No. 13 ranking. The Ravens were No. 1 against the pass through the first several games, which is an indication of how much they are struggling. As Williamson mentioned, the Ravens are in a tough spot. Baltimore says it has four or five starting-caliber cornerbacks, but none is playing like a No. 1 corner. I don't like the musical chairs Baltimore is playing with Lardarius Webb, Fabian Washington, Josh Wilson and Chris Carr. The Ravens need to pick who they believe are their two best players and go with them. Being shuffled in and out of the lineup has seemingly thrown everyone off rhythm and perhaps made each cornerback unsure of his role in the defense. Suggs had his first multi-sack game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, and that could go a long way to helping the pass rush. Getting safety Ed Reed 100 percent healthy as well will be a major boost. There is hope for this pass defense despite a midseason slump.

Cleveland Browns (3-6)

Total defense: No. 24

Pass defense: No. 23

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think the Browns are a well-coached defense. They are physical in the front seven and obviously want to stop the run first. But the Joe Hadens of the world, and Eric Wright and T.J. Ward are working to get better. So I tend to think inexperience is the issue as opposed to these guys just can't get it done. In the case with Baltimore and the Steelers, and lately with the Browns, if you're going to game plan against these defenses, you're going to throw." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Indeed, the blitz-heavy Browns are being tested through the air and giving up too many big pass plays. That is a major reason they are 3-6. Wright has been the biggest culprit and admitted as much to the media this week. But Cleveland plays hard on defense. The Browns' secondary simply needs experience and to avoid mistakes at the worst possible times, such as overtime last week against the New York Jets. Haden, Cleveland's first-round pick, is starting to improve, and it's time to insert him into the starting lineup permanently. With Sheldon Brown (shoulder) injured, Haden could start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-7)

Total defense: No. 15

Pass defense: No. 12

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think they're weak at safety, but they're very strong at corner. I also thought Adam Jones looked great when he played. It looked like he was coming back to form [before a season-ending neck injury]. But injuries have taken a toll, and the pass rush is worse than people even realize. I think that deserves a lot of blame. They don't have anybody exceeding expectations as a pass-rusher. I know Carlos Dunlap got a lot more snaps this past week, and it may be time to see what he has. For Michael Johnson and a lot of those young guys, it may be time to put those guys in." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: I have the least amount of worries about the Bengals' pass defense. It still has the highest rating in the division despite the worst pass rush. Health has been an issue, too. If cornerback Johnathan Joseph and veteran safety Chris Crocker can remain in the lineup the rest of the season, that's two starters who will provide stability. The pass rush looks pretty hopeless, and I don't see much potential to improve. With the exception of Dunlap, who is very raw, there isn't a natural pass-rusher on the Bengals' defense. That should be a major priority in next year's draft. Cincinnati showed signs of playing good pass defense last week against the Indianapolis Colts, and it needs to build off that. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had some trouble against this secondary, and that's a good sign.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday in the AFC North:

• Ken Murray of the Baltimore Sun reports the Ravens used a mini-bye week to diagnose their issues.

Morning take: I want to see how Baltimore improved its pass defense. It started well but has tailed off in recent weeks.

• Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes releasing kicker Jeff Reed was a mistake for the Steelers.

Morning take: The move wasn't as sudden as people think. Reed has missed field goals all season and had off-field issues in the spring. The combination led to his release.

• Steve Wyche from NFL.com says the 2-7 Cincinnati Bengals are among the NFL's biggest disappointments.

Morning take: Click here.

• Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes about the Browns signing fill-ins Eric King at cornerback and returner Clifton Smith.

Morning take: With Sheldon Brown (shoulder) and Josh Cribbs (toes) both ailing, the Browns need insurance in case one or both players can't go Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is back. But is he all the way back? Not quite.

The AFC North blog covered Roethlisberger's 2010 debut Sunday against the Cleveland Browns and later broke down the game film of every throw to grade his performance. It's a new feature that we will do periodically in the blog.

Points are awarded or deducted on a five-point scale, depending on how Roethlisberger performed each play. Here is what we found:

Roethlisberger's first drive

• Roethlisberger's first throw was a quick out to tailback Rashard Mendenhall, who gains 3 yards to get a first down. Nice play call to get Roethlisberger warmed up. (+1 point)
• Good pump fake by Roethlisberger and read to spot receiver Antwaan Randle El in single coverage deep against cornerback Sheldon Brown. Roethlisberger causes Brown to bite and draws a pass interference penalty. (+2 points)
• Browns blitz to Roethlisberger's left. He sees it, shuffles to the right to buy an extra second to hit Mendenhall out of the backfield, who gains 4 yards. (+1 point)
• On third down, the Browns field seven defensive backs, four linebackers and zero defensive linemen. Roethlisberger is confused by the formation and calls a timeout. (-2 points)
• Browns bring same formation after the timeout. Cleveland only rushes three and Roethlisberger's pass intended for Mewelde Moore sails high and into the hands of Browns rookie cornerback Joe Haden, who returns it 62 yards. (-5 points)

Grade for drive: -3 points

Second drive

• Roethlisberger throws another quick hitch to receiver Hines Ward for 3 yards. Basic play to get Roethlisberger back in rhythm after the pick. (+1 point)
• Good hook route by receiver Mike Wallace. Roethlisberger throws it in the open area of Cleveland's zone for 11 yards. (+2 points)
• Browns read the screen play and it's not there. Roethlisberger scrambles for 5 yards to make something out of a broken play. (+1 point)
• On third-and-13, Cleveland rushes three and Roethlisberger still finds rookie receiver Emmanuel Sanders for 22 yards. Ball has good zip. Sanders is celebrating his first NFL catch as though he won the Super Bowl. (+3 points)
• Browns blitz again and Roethlisberger holds the ball a little too long this time, which he's prone to do. He barely avoids the sack by throwing the ball out of bounds. (-1 point)
• Browns blitz again and Matt Roth goes untouched to the quarterback. Roethlisberger shows great strength and toughness by taking a hit and still getting enough on the ball downfield to Mike Wallace for a 29-yard touchdown. Not many quarterbacks can make that play. (+5 points)

Grade for drive: +11 points

Third drive

• Roethlisberger throws a pass a little high but Ward catches it for 7 yards. Some basic timing throws are sailing on Roethlisberger. (+1 point)
• Pass protection breaks down and Browns linebacker Chris Gocong wraps Roethlisberger up but can't make the tackle. Roethlisberger still looking down the field, throws incomplete and gets hit by three Browns in the process. He tries too hard to make something happen. (-2 points)
• Steelers max protect against Cleveland's blitz and Roethlisberger has time. Just overthrows Ward for what could have been a big gain on third down. Pittsburgh punts. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: -2 points

Fourth drive

• In the first throw of the second half, Browns blitz and Roethlisberger finds Ward open on the hot route for 10 yards and a first down. Good read and throw. (+2 points)
• Mendenhall picks up the safety blitz with a great block on T.J. Ward. Roethlisberger finds Hines Ward, who beats Wright for 26 yards. Roethlisberger is picking on Wright for big plays. (+3 points)
• Another screen call doesn't work and Roethlisberger throws it away. It's apparent the Browns did a good job of studying Pittsburgh's screen game this week. (-1 point)
• On a long third down, Roethlisberger tries to force the ball into double coverage and it's batted away. Poor read, poor throw. Steelers punt. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: +3 points

Fifth drive

• Deep in Pittsburgh's territory, Roethlisberger eludes the cornerback blitz and finds Wallace, who blows by the safety with ease for 50 yards. Roethlisberger took a tough shot on the arm but the throw was still on a rope. It's another play not many quarterbacks can make under that kind of duress. (+4 points)
• On next play, Roethlisberger drops in a touch pass to tight end Heath Miller for 36 yards against Cleveland's zone. Last two passes accounted for 86 yards. (+4 points)
• On the same hot read from the previous drive, Roethlisberger points out the pre-snap blitz and finds Ward on a square in against -- guess who? -- Wright. Ward easily shakes off Wright's attempt to strip the ball and barrels in for an 8-yard touchdown. Three sterling throws and the best drive of the day for Roethlisberger. (+4 points)

Grade for drive: +12 points

Sixth drive

• Roethlisberger stands patient in the pocket and finds Sanders again for 15 yards and the first down. Sanders doesn't celebrate his second career catch like he did his first. (+2 points)
• Randle El runs a quick out to the sideline and Roethlisberger throws it to the wrong (inside) shoulder. Randle El still makes the catch but is hit pretty hard by Brown. (+1 point)
• Browns continue to blitz on third down, and the pressure forces Roethlisberger to throw an incomplete pass to Randle El. Steelers punt. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: +2 points

Seventh drive

• Steelers come out in a tight run formation and fool the Browns badly with a play-action pass. Wallace streaks down right sideline but Roethlisberger misses him by throwing several yards out of bounds. Roethlisberger smiles to the sideline, because he can't believe how badly he missed the open target. (-3 points)
• On third down Roethlisberger throws too high again for Ward. Rust is definitely a factor. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: -4 points

Eighth drive

• After Browns receiver Chansi Stuckey fumbles the punt, Roethlisberger finds Mendenhall coming out of the backfield three plays later for a first down. Mendenhall runs it in on next play to give Pittsburgh a 21-3 lead. (+1 point)

Grade for drive: +1 point

Ninth drive

• Steelers running out the clock on first and second down. But Roethlisberger throws incomplete to Miller on third down. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: -1 point

Tenth drive

• Steelers stay aggressive on final possession. On third down Roethlisberger finds Miller, who beats Brown in the corner of the end zone for final pass of the day. Steelers win, 28-10. (+3 points)

Grade for drive: +3 points

Roethlisberger's game grade: +22 points

AFC North blog's analysis: This was a great starting point to build on for Roethlisberger, who had not played in a meaningful game since January. As you can see above, there were some vintage plays but also several missed throws that Roethlisberger will probably make once he gets back in midseason form. I've covered plenty of Roethlisberger's starts over the past three seasons, and this was more of a B-level performance by his standards. When Roethlisberger gets back on his "A" game, the Steelers will be very tough to beat.

Here are the most interesting stories Thursday in the AFC North:

• Baltimore Ravens right tackle Jared Gaither (back) could return for the season opener against the New York Jets.

Morning take: The Ravens have been banged up at right tackle this preseason. Gaither is the best of the bunch but is dealing with his back injury and adding weight.

• Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Maurkice Pouncey will get his chance to win the starting job at center.

Morning take: This is a good move by Pittsburgh. Pouncey is a better center than guard. So it can only help the rookie to keep him at his natural position.

• Veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown has been a good pickup for the Cleveland Browns.

Morning take: Browns general manager Tom Heckert was familiar with Brown from their time together in Philadelphia. Cleveland was wise to add a veteran to the mix of young players in its secondary.

• Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers is focusing on making big plays this year.

Morning take: Rivers was solid last season, recording a career-high 101 tackles. But Cincinnati's defense overall could use more splash plays such as sacks and turnovers.

BEREA, Ohio--The AFC North blog continues its summer tour by visiting its third training camp in the division. After checking out the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, it's time to spend some quality time this week with the Cleveland Browns.

There are a lot of question marks surrounding this year's Browns, who are trying to climb out of the basement of the division. Here are five things I'll be looking for:

1. How is Jake Delhomme progressing?

Skinny: There are a lot of nervous Clevelanders when it comes to Delhomme. He's coming off the worst year of his career, and it will be interesting to see how sharp he looks in camp this week to provide clues of whether he can bounce back.

2. Will the receivers step up?

Skinny: Somebody has to catch Delhomme's passes, and the receivers expected to do so are mostly unproven. This group will have to grow up fast this summer to be productive. Otherwise, it could be a tough year offensively.

3. Can the Browns' defense lead?

Skinny: With so many questions on offense, Cleveland's defense is expected to be the strength of this team, particularly early in the season. The Browns spent a lot of resources and draft picks to add depth at linebacker (Scott Fujita, Chris Gocong) and the secondary (Sheldon Brown, T.J. Ward, Joe Haden). This unit needs to set the tone.

4. Will Joe Haden get up to speed?

Skinny: Haden, the No. 7 overall pick, looked unsure of himself in minicamp. But the Browns are expecting more reps to speed up Haden's learning curve to the point where he will play a solid role in the secondary this season.

5. What's next for Josh Cribbs?

Skinny: Coming off a new contract extension, the Browns appear interested in getting Cribbs involved in as many ways as possible. He's playing in the Wildcat, at receiver, and even played a little defense in last weekend's scrimmage. It will be interesting to see what the Browns' coaching staff has in store for Cribbs.

In case you missed it, here is a recap of this week's AFC North chat:

Sergey P. from Florida writes: Since Cleveland is going to have a huge battle for corner positions, is it a possibility that they move Sheldon Brown into a free safety position, have T.J. Ward as a strong safety, and put [Eric] Wright and [Joe] Haden as their starting corners?

James Walker: Eric Mangini says he has no plans to move Sheldon Brown to safety. The Browns traded for him to play cornerback. Joe Haden will likely be the nickel corner to start the season, where there isn't so much pressure on him right away.

Biggie from MD writes: What do you think of Cinci's running game with Cedric Benson's possible suspension? First four games aren't the easiest with the exception of the Browns.

Walker: It would be a big blow if Benson misses games. For a stretch last season, running the ball was all the Bengals could do on offense. I anticipate Cincinnati being more balanced this year. But taking Benson out of the offense would certainly hurt.