AFC North Analysis: Bengals, Dalton try again

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to finish on top of the AFC North for the third straight year and give quarterback Andy Dalton a fourth chance to finally win a playoff game.

That is the unanimous prediction for 2014 by The Sports Xchange football staff, which also agreed that the Cleveland Browns will once again finish last, regardless of whom they play at quarterback.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens finished in a tie for second/third place.

Here is an in-depth, unit-by-unit look the AFC North as analyzed by reporters from The Sports Xchange who cover each team (using roster information as of Sept. 1):

1st — CINCINNATI BENGALS

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Andy Dalton. Backups – Jason Campbell, A.J. McCarron.

Dalton enters his fourth season with 30 career wins, three playoff appearances and a new $120 million contract, but no playoff victories. Dalton already owns franchise records for season passing yards and touchdowns due in large part to the large number of pass plays called by former offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. New offensive coordinator Hue Jackson will try to get the same production out of Dalton but with fewer opportunities. Campbell is a solid insurance policy and McCarron, the rookie from Alabama, is a project who will sit out the first six weeks while on the non-football injury list.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter – Giovani Bernard. Backups – Jeremy Hill, Cedric Peerman, Rex Burkhead.

Bernard is as electric as they come and is coming off a rookie season in which he had 1,209 yards from scrimmage despite platooning with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The Law Firm is gone, but Bernard will find himself a part of another tailback tandem in 2014 with the rookie Hill bringing a bigger, strong presence when he enters the game. The Bengals have worked hard at getting Hill involved in the passing game with 14 targets in the last three preseason games. If Hill can be a factor receiving the ball as well as running it, that will enable Jackson to have the use of his entire playbook regardless of who is in the game.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu. Backups – Marvin Jones, Dane Sanzenbacher, Brandon Tate, James Wright.

Green continues to put up bigger and bigger numbers every year without great production from the starting spot opposite him. The Bengals are hopeful the tandem of Jones and Sanu can emerge as stars and take some of the pressure off Green, but Jones is out until at least October with a broken foot. Sanu had one of the best camps of anyone on the team and appears poised for a breakout year. He lacks Jones’ speed but he offers the kind of versatility offensive coordinator Hue Jackson can have a lot of fun with, lining him up wide, in the slot or even in the backfield in Wildcat formation. Sanzenbacher always seems to make plays when his number is called, and that should be a lot more often while Jones is out. Tate’s value is primarily as a kick and punt returner, while the speedy rookie Wright is a dynamic player on teams as well and has big-play potential in the passing game.

TIGHT ENDS: Starters – Jermaine Gresham, Tyler Eifert. Backups – Alex Smith, Ryan Hewitt.

This is a contract year for Gresham, who has been a solid starter but never really lived up to his first-round pedigree. The presence of Eifert, another first-round pick, last year led to Gresham catching a career-low 46 passes, but as a tandem he and Eifert combined for 85 catches, 903 yards and six touchdowns, which is the kind of production any team outside of New England and New Orleans would love to have from its tight ends. Hewitt was the surprise of camp and the only undrafted player from the 2014 class to make the 53-man roster. He will used more as a fullback/h-back.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Andrew Whitworth, LG Clint Boling, C Russell Bodine, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Andre Smith. Backups – G/C Mike Pollak, G/C T.J. Johnson, T Marshall Newhouse, G/T Tanner Hawkinson.

Whitworth anchors a group that enters the season with plenty of promise and a couple of questions. Within minutes of trading up to draft Russell Bodine in the fourth round in May, the Bengals said they thought he could win the starting job and he has. Bodine has proved his has the physical tools, but that’s a lot of responsibility to put on a rookie’s plate. Andre Smith has emerged as one of the top tackles in the league during his six seasons, but his slow recovery from a concussion early in training camp leaves doubts about whether he’ll be ready to start the season. Newhouse, who protected quarterback Andy Dalton’s blind side at TCU, will be a capable replacement if Smith can’t go. Zeitler continues to improve after winning the starting job as a rookie two years ago, and he could push for a trip to the Pro Bowl soon. Pollak provides value and versatility and will be the one called on if Bodine struggles or Boling experiences any setbacks in his surgically repaired knee.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – DE Carlos Dunlap, DT Geno Atkins, DT Domata Peko, DE Wallace Gilberry. Backups – Margus Hunt, Brandon Thompson, Robert Geathers, Christo Bilukidi, Will Clarke.

Atkins returns from a torn ACL to provide a huge boost to what has been one of the best defensive lines in the game the last few years. Michael Johnson has moved on to Tampa, but Dunlap and Geathers shared the team lead in sacks last year with 7 1/2 each, and both are capable of hitting double digits in 2014.

Margus Hunt, a second-round pick in 2013, essentially redshirted his rookie season, but he has been one of the most impressive players in the preseason and could be poised for a huge year with the way the Bengals like to use an eight-man rotation up front. Rookie Will Clarke, a third-round pick built in the long, lanky mold of Dunlap, Hunt and Johnson, will get the chance to watch and learn this year the way Hunt did last year. Thompson did a solid job of filling in for Atkins last year, so there will not be much dropoff when he and Bilukidi, who beat out 2012 second-round pick Devon Still, take their turns in the rotation. The defensive line has been a major reason why the Bengals have ranked in the top 10 defensively three years in a row and four of the last five, including a franchise-best third last year.

LINEBACKERS: Starters – Vontaze Burfict, Rey Maualuga, Emmanuel Lamur. Backups – Vinny Rey, Jayson DiManche, Sean Porter, Marquis Flowers.

Burfict has emerged from an undesirable, undrafted free agent to a Pro Bowler and the leading tackler in the NFL who was rewarded with a four-year, $20 million contract extension a few days before the opener. As good as he has been, the Bengals believe there is still plenty of upside. Maualuga, on the other hand, is a six-year veteran who has plateaued into a serviceable run stopper in base packages. Lamur is the wild card. The Bengals had huge plans to use the rookie undrafted free agent as the cover linebacker in nickel packages last year, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the preseason finale against Indianapolis. He’s healthy again and poised to be an impact player this year.

Rey provides great depth as he can play any of three spots. Last year when Maualuga missed a couple of games with a knee injury, Rey stepped in and had one of the greatest starting debuts in franchise history with 13 tackles, three sacks and interception against Baltimore. DiManche made a huge impact on special teams last year and will used mainly in that role again this year, along with Flowers.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – CB Leon Hall, CB Terence Newman, S Reggie Nelson, S George Iloka. Backups – CB Adam Jones, CB Darqueze Dennard, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, S Shawn Williams, S Taylor Mays.

Five first-round picks at cornerback. Newman has re-energized his career since coming to Cincinnati in 2012 and hardly looks like a 35-year-old veteran of 12 NFL seasons. Hall is coming back from his second Achilles surgery in three years, and while that may sound daunting, he returned from the first one to have perhaps the best year of his career in 2012 and was playing a high level last year before going down. Jones did a great job filling in for Hall last year, although it took a toll on how often the Bengals could use his electric abilities as punt returner. Kirkpatrick has yet to live up to his first-round billing, but the coaches have been raving about Dennard since minicamp.

At safety, Nelson enters his eighth season as a steady, solid presence in the back end, and Iloka is hoping to improve from his first season as a starter in 2013. Iloka is a hitter who can cover well for his size, but he struggled to haul in some catchable interceptions last year after breaking his hand punching a teammate in the helmet during training camp. Fully healed, he could be on the verge of a big season. Williams has played a key role on special teams but has been used sparingly on defense. Mays floats between safety and nickel linebacker, a role he was thrust into last year when Emmaneul Lamur went down in the preseason finale.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Mike Nugent, P Kevin Huber, LS Clark Harris.

This consistently steady group enters its fifth year together. Huber set franchise records two years ago for net and gross yardage and was having another solid season last year before a crushing block Week 16 in Pittsburgh broke his neck and jaw. Nugent has made at least 81.8 percent of his field goals attempts the last three years, and Harris has never had an unplayable snap in his five seasons on the job. Special teams have the potential to win or lose a couple of games each year, but this group has a knack of only affecting outcomes in a positive manner.

2nd — PITTSBURGH STEELERS

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Ben Roethlisberger. Backups – Bruce Gradkowski, Landry Jones.

His bosses believe Roethlisberger is at the peak of his career and could be poised for his best season, especially running the no-huddle. They have to keep him safe because without him, they can mail in the rest of the season. Gradkowski can be fine one minute, inconsistent the next. Jones is consistently disappointing.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters — Le’Veon Bell, FB Will Johnson. Backups – LeGarrette Blount, Dri Archer.

Bell and Blount will get considerable use this season, although they are not going back to the old days of running the ball at will. Bell is the ideal back for their no-huddle because he can run, block and catch – he more receptions last year than any Steelers back in 19 years. Blount will get many of the short-yardage and goal-line carries. Tiny Archer is the x-factor and Johnson is an h-back who will be moved all over the place, including tight end.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Heath Miller. Backups – Matt Spaeth, Michael Palmer.

Only three this year rather than four because of Johnson’s versatility at fullback. Miller should bounce back for a big year after returning from ACL surgery performed at the end of the 2012 season. Spaeth and Palmer are mainly blockers and they use them a lot.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton. Backups – Lance Moore, Justin Brown, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Martavis Bryant.

After losing two of their top three to free agency (Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery), this is a relatively whole new group after Antonio Brown, who set the Steelers receiving record with 1,499 yards in 2013. They believe Wheaton can become a good split end with home run ability and a good route-runner. Moore and Justin Brown play in the slot. Heyward-Bey, who has failed with two teams after a first-round choice by Oakland, is an intriguing addition and looked good in the preseason.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Kelvin Beachum, LG Ramon Foster, C Maurkice Pouncey, RG David DeCastro, RT Marcus Gilbert. Backups – T Mike Adams, G Chris Hubbard, C Cody Wallace, G/T Wesley Johnson.

The Steelers have not had a stable line in quite some time due to injuries and lack of talent. This shapes up as their best and most consistent – provided they avoid the injuries that have crippled their lines for years. DeCastro could be their next Pro Bowler and Beachum is an underrated pass blocker for someone 6-3, 300. They have enough faith in Gilbert that they signed him to a long contract extension in August, as they did in June with Pouncey. Wallace also can play guard and Johnson, in a pinch, also can play center.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LDE Cam Thomas, NT Steve McLendon, RDE Cam Heyward. Backups – DE Brett Keisel, DE Stephon Tuitt, NT Daniel McCullers.

There are concerns here, which were shown when two weeks ago they re-signed Keisel, who turns 36 this month. McLendon took over at nose tackle last year and made no one forget Casey Hampton. He added 17 pounds but did not look the part this summer. Thomas can play there and McCullers is so big he cannot be moved out of there, but they do not seem ready to make a commitment to him as their nose tackle. Tuitt is on their sub packages as one of two inside linemen and eventually should start at end. Heyward played well in the second half of last season and they hope for more of the same for all of 2014.

LINEBACKERS: Starters – LOLB Jason Worilds, LILB Ryan Shazier, RILB Lawrence Timmons, ROLB Jarvis Jones. Backups – OLB Arthur Moats, ILB Vince Williams, Sean Spence, I/OLB Terence Garvin.

The Steelers are counting big-time on two young linebackers who have yet to show they can handle it. Rookie Ryan Shazier is their Mac linebacker and has such good quickness and speed they hope it can mask rookie mistakes. Jones, their first-round pick in 2013, must step it up at the premier pass-rush spot where he had just one sack as a rookie despite eight starts. Timmons moved to the Buck linebacker to make way for Shazier and does a good job. Worilds came on finally in the second half of his fourth season and earned a big payday because of it; now he must show he can keep it up and he looked good throughout the preseason.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – LCB Cortez Allen, SS Troy Polamalu, FS Mike Mitchell, RCB Ike Taylor. Backups – CB William Gay, S Will Allen, S Shamarko Thomas, CB Brice McCain, CB Antwon Blake, CB BW Webb.

Not a lot of improvement here over a poor 2013. Only one starter changed, Mitchell (for Ryan Clark) and he did not do well in the preseason and was hurt often. Taylor had his worst season in 2013 and returns at age 34. They thought so little of Allen that they did not sign him to an extension as he enters the final season of his contract. Gay has done well in the nickel and Thomas is supposed to be a future star. Webb was picked off waivers from the Cowboys last week, showing what they think of their backup corners.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Shaun Suisham, P Brad Wing, LS Greg Warren, KOR Dri Archer, PR Dri Archer.

Suisham is the most accurate kicker in Steelers history during his career. They signed him to a new contract this summer. He made 30 of his 32 field-goal attempts last season, 28 of 31 the previous season. He missed a few kicks this preseason but had a new holder and snapper for a time. Wing had a spotty preseason, but they had him working on hang time and directional kicks. Warren is recovering from surgery on his meniscus but will be ready for the opener and his 10th NFL season, all with the Steelers. Archer did not return punts in college but has done it aplenty this summer and should take that job from Antonio Brown.

3rd — BALTIMORE RAVENS

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Joe Flacco. Backups — Tyrod Taylor.

Flacco is looking to bounce back this season following a rough season where he didn’t excel following a blockbuster $120.6 million contract as he threw a franchise-record 22 interceptions. It was an uncharacteristic season for the Super Bowl XLVII Most Valuable Player. Some of the biggest priorities for the Ravens this year are providing Flacco with more time to throw and getting him into a comfort zone. He was sacked 48 times last season and clearly didn’t look comfortable. He has looked sharp during the preseason running offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak’s version of the West Coast offense. Taylor remains the backup heading into the final year of his rookie contract. He provides an athletic change of pace as insurance behind Flacco. Taylor had a strong preseason, easing concerns about his play.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Dennis Pitta. Backups – Owen Daniels, Crockett Gillmore.

Pitta has regained his old explosiveness after fully recovering from a fractured, dislocated hip that sidelined him for all but four games last season. He was signed to a five-year, $32 million contract in March and had an excellent training camp. The Ravens also signed Daniels to work in tandem with him. But Daniels has issues with his legs and doesn’t look explosive. He’s a major question mark. Raw as a receiver, Gillmore figures into the equation as a blocking tight end.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Steve Smith, Torrey Smith. Backups – Jacoby Jones, Marlon Brown, Michael Campanaro, Kamar Aiken, Deonte Thompson.

The addition of Steve Smith should give the Ravens an injection of toughness and experience the team have missed since trading Anquan Boldin. Smith looked great during the preseason.Torrey Smith should have more room to operate with Smith working underneath. Brown is a red-zone threat who led the team in touchdown catches as a rookie. Jones has speed and size working in his favor, but isn’t the most well-rounded receiver. Campanaro is an option out of the slot. Aiken and Thompson are reserves with some good physical qualities. Aiken is big and versatile. Thompson is the fastest player on the team.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Ray Rice, FB Kyle Juszczyk. Backups — Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro.

After a bad season and a two-game suspension he’ll serve to begin the season, Ray Rice has lost 20 pounds, which should help him regain his Pro Bowl form. Pierce wasn’t any better than Rice last season and is coming off rotator cuff surgery, but is healthy now and lost weight, too, and is down to 218 pounds after playing at 230 past year. Rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro is a 230-pound power back Juszczyk is a versatile, pass-catching fullback. His blocking remains unproven. Forsett is a potential third-down back.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Eugene Monroe, LG Kelechi Osemele, C Jeremy Zuttah, RG Marshal Yanda, RT Rick Wagner. Backups — T James Hurst, G John Urschel, C Gino Gradkowski, G John Urschel, T Ryan Jensen, T Jah Reid.

The Ravens re-signed Monroe as the cornerstone of their line to a $37.5 million contract. Osemele has made a complete recovery after undergoing back surgery last fall,regaining his power and quickness. Zuttah should be an upgrade at center after arriving via an offseason trade. Yanda is the lone Pro Bowl selection. He’s the mainstay of the line. Wagner is the biggest question mark as a first-time starter at right tackle, but had a solid training camp and won the job. Gradkowski is the primary backup inside after starting every game at center last season. Reid is the swing tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — NT Brandon Williams, DT Haloti Ngata, DE Chris Canty. Backups — DE DeAngelo Tyson, DT Timmy Jernigan.

The defensive line is transition with Arthur Jones leaving in free agency to join the Indianapolis Colts, but the vacated spot is in good hands with Ngata shifting over from nose guard. Jernigan is a gap-shooting whiz. Canty was far too quiet in his first season in Baltimore. Tyson is the primary backup to Canty after season-ending injuries to Brent Urban and Kapron Lewis-Moore.

LINEBACKERS: Starters — OLB Terrell Suggs, OLB Courtney Upshaw, ILB Daryl Smith, ILB C.J. Mosley. Backups — OLB Elvis Dumervil, ILB Arthur Brown, ILB Josh Bynes, ILB Albert McClellan, ILB Zach Orr, OLB Pernell McPhee.

Suggs made the Pro Bowl for the sixth time, but the Ravens want to see him become more productive for the entire season after watching him wear down last year with just two sacks in the final nine games. In a situational pass rusher role, Dumervil delivered 9.5 sacks before an ankle injury slowed him down. He bulked up to try to improve his durability. Upshaw unselfishly stuffs blockers and sets the edge at strong-side outside linebacker. Upshaw has lost weight since the spring. Although he’s been in the NFL for a decade, Smith is one of the most underrated all-around defenders in the NFL. Smith remains fast in pursuit, sharp in pass coverage and is a good blitzer, contributing 123 tackles, three interceptions and five sacks last year as he proved he has plenty of good football left in him. Mosley is a natural three-down linebacker who excels as a blitzer and in pass coverage.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — CB Lardarius Webb, CB Jimmy Smith, FS Darian Stewart, SS Matt Elam. Backups — CB Chykie Brown, CB Asa Jackson, FS Terrence Brooks, SS Anthony Levine, SS Brynden Trawick, FS Jeromy Miles.

The Ravens exercised a fifth-year option for 2011 first-round pick Smith, who has emerged as one of the better young cornerbacks in the game. Smith is recovering from a chest contusion and lung issues suffered during the preseason, but is expected to play in the opener. Webb was starting to get back his quickness and trust his surgically-repaired knee by the end of last season. However, he had a lower back injury that sidelined him for the entire preseason. Jackson is a talented nickel back, but is coming off a sprained ankle. The Ravens shifted Elam back to his natural strong safety position to capitalize on his aggressiveness. For now, Stewart is the free safety ahead of Brooks. Brown struggles with penalties.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Justin Tucker, P Sam Koch, LS Morgan Cox, RS Jacoby Jones.

This is one of the Ravens’ strongest units, led by Tucker, a Pro Bowl selection. Tucker emerged as a budding star last season with his clutch performances, including a franchise-record 61-yarder to beat the Detroit Lions as he booted six field goals. Tucker has become a reliable scoring weapon with his ability to hit long-distance field goals. Jones remains an explosive threat as a return man, helping the Ravens beat the Minnesota Vikings in the snow with a kickoff return for a touchdown last season. Koch remains the punter and is safe after some speculation about his status.The Ravens value the chemistry between Tucker, Koch, their holder, and reliable long snapper Cox.

4th — CLEVELAND BROWNS

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Brian Hoyer. Backup: Johnny Manziel.

Hoyer really struggled to advance the offense in preseason games. The offense was 0-for-9 on third down with him as quarterback before he finally converted. He did not post a touchdown against a first-team defense in the preseason. He will wear a brace on his surgically repaired right knee all season. He and the receivers are still trying to develop chemistry. Manziel is improving daily and practicing with more confidence. The Browns do not want to keep him in the pocket and eliminate his ability to run. He has shown he can gun the ball on 15-yard routes over the middle, but he needs to sharpen his throws on out patterns.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter – Ben Tate. Backups: Terrance West, Isaiah Crowell, Glenn Winston, FB Ray Agnew.

This by far is the most improved portion of the offense, but also the youngest. Tate is the only one in the group that isn’t a rookie. Tate hits the hole confidently and quickly and can run through tackles once he gets his legs churning. He will get most of his yardage running inside but can also catch the ball well on swing passes. West is still learning about the NFL. He has to be disciplined enough to stay with his blockers. He could evolve into the short-yardage specialist. Crowell will probably be inactive most Sundays until he learns, but he is a more powerful runner than West. Winston was signed on waivers from the 49ers on Aug. 31. Agnew is a pure fullback, and Kyle Shanahan likes backs that can block.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Jordan Cameron. Backups – Jim Dray, Gary Barnidge.

This is a huge season for Cameron. He is in his contract year and can cash in big if he duplicates his 80-catch season of a year ago. That won’t be easy because wide receiver Josh Gordon drew attention away from Cameron in 2013. With Josh Gordon suspended, teams can double Cameron and take their chances on wide receivers with single coverage. Dray is a blocking tight end but will also catch 25 or so passes. Barnidge will have to improve his blocking to take playing time from Dray.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins. Backups — LaRon Byrd, Travis Benjamin, Taylor Gabriel.

Byrd, with one career catch (2012 with Arizona) was claimed on waivers from the Cowboys on Aug. 31. This unit could change again once the regular season begins. The Browns would prefer Hawkins come off the bench to play the slot in three-receiver sets, but he will start opposite Austin because they do not have a replacement for Josh Gordon ready to go. The timing between Hoyer and Austin was off in preseason and practice. Austin was not targeted in the final preseason game. Hawkins is the Browns’ most reliable receiver, but they can’t center their offense on a 5-foot-7 target. Benjamin (5-10, 175) and Gabriel (5-8, 167) are similar players – small and quick with adequate hands. Byrd is 6-foot-4 but has played in four NFL games.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Joe Thomas, LG Joel Bitonio, C Alex Mack, RG John Greco, RT Mitchell Schwartz. Backups – T Ryan Seymour, G Paul McQuistan, G Caylin Hauptmann.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan needs quick, athletic and smart offensive linemen to play in his zone blocking scheme. Thomas is aiming for his eighth straight Pro Bowl. Bitonio stepped in at left guard in his first practice and Mack signed a mega contract in the offseason. Greco made a smooth transition from left guard to the right side. Schwartz struggled at times last year, but this coaching staff never considered replacing him. McQuistan is capable of starting and versatile enough to play anywhere on the line, but after that, Seymour and Hauptmann have not played in a regular-season game. Neither Thomas (eighth season), Mack (sixth) nor Schwartz (third season) has ever missed a snap. The challenge for the offensive line will be blocking for Manziel on passing plays if he is to get into a game. They have to know where he is. Hoyer will stay in the pocket most of the time.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LDE Phil Taylor, NT Ahtyba Rubin, RDE Desmond Bryant. Backups — NT Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, DE Billy Winn, RDE Armonty Bryant, DE/DT John Hughes.

The Browns will use a 3-4 base defense but have the flexibility to shift to a 4-3. The Bryant boys, unrelated, are capable of pressuring the quarterback every time they rush. Desmond Bryant missed half the preseason with a left wrist injury but hopes to be ready for the Steelers. Defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil wants to use all seven of his linemen in a rotation so the starters are fresh in the fourth quarter. Rubin and Taylor are difficult to run against. Kitchen plugs the middle when Rubin needs a breather. Hughes and Winn can play anywhere on the line. O’Neil loves to pressure the quarterback, but he said the key to making that happen is stopping the run on first and second down to set up third and long.

LINEBACKERS: Starters – SLB Paul Kruger, MLB Karlos Dansby, ILB Craig Robertson, WLB Barkevious Mingo. Backups — OLB Jabaal Sheard, OLB Eric Martin, ILB Tank Carder, ILB Chris Kirksey.

Mingo and Kruger combined for 10 sacks in 2013. That wasn’t enough production from the sixth pick in the 2013 draft and Kruger, the marquee free-agent pickup who signed for five years and $40 million. Kruger, Mingo and Sheard will rotate and will be on the field together in some pass-rush schemes. Dansby replaces D’Qwell Jackson inside. The Browns are counting on him for impact plays – not just to lead the team in tackles as Jackson did annually. Robertson and Kirksey will share time. The coaches are very impressed with the way Kirksey covers.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – LCB Joe Haden, RCB Justin Gilbert, SS Donte Whitner, FS Tashaun Gipson. Backups – RCB Buster Skrine, RCB Aaron Berry, CB K’Waun Williams, SS Johnson Bademosi, SS Jim Leonhard, FS Jordan Poyer, CB Pierre Desir, CB Robert Nelson.

General manager Ray Farmer kept 12 defensive backs. Many will play only special teams if they make it to Sunday, but adding Whitner in free agency and passing on wide receiver Sammy Watkins to draft Gilbert shows how important the secondary is to Farmer and coach Mike Pettine. The Browns gave up 29 passing touchdowns a year ago. That number has to improve if the Browns are to break their streak of six straight seasons with 11 or more losses. Gilbert gave up three touchdowns in preseason. Pettine told him to expect to be tested because quarterbacks will throw at him to avoid Haden on the other side. Skrine, coming off thumb surgery, will be the nickel back.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Billy Cundiff, P Spencer Lanning, LS Christian Yount, KR/PR Travis Benjamin.

Cundiff was 21 of 26 on field-goal tries in 2013 and five of six in preseason. His kickoffs more often than not end up as touchbacks. Lanning does not have the strongest leg, but he places the ball well and worked this summer on kicking punts from inside the 50 high so teammates can run down and down the ball inside the 5. Yount has been steady since he was first signed in 2011; he signed a five-year extension last year. Benjamin is dangerous enough to score a touchdown every time he returns a kick or punt. He returned a kick 86 yards last year (though he did not score) and a punt 79 yards for a touchdown before a torn ACL ended his season prematurely.