The Impact Players: AFC North

In my continuing series on impact players for 2009, I make a stop in the AFC North. Four players who need to produce for their teams to be successful this fall.

Click HERE to read about the AFC East.

Click HERE to read about the NFC East.

The Impact Players: AFC North

Baltimore: QB Joe Flacco

A lot was expected from Flacco as a rookie — and even more will be expected from the quarterback in his second season.

Flacco’s numbers were solid for a rookie (2,971 yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTs), but those numbers will need to improve in ’09. The Ravens are a run-first offense that predicates its play calling on the field position it’s given by the ball-hawking defense. However, this team has to give Flacco more control of the offense and let him use his big arm to move the ball down the field in the vertical passing game. I believe Flacco has the ability to develop into a solid drop-back quarterback who uses the big play in the passing game to counter the downhill rushing attack of the Ravens’ backfield and continue to play off of one of the league’s best defenses.

This will be a big season in Flacco’s career from a developmental perspective, and if the Ravens want to avoid being swept by the Steelers again, he needs to become a quarterback who can take over in the fourth quarter and make plays.  

Cincinnati: WR Laveranues Coles

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is gone to Seattle — and so are his 92 catches, 904 yards and four TDs. As I’ve always said, it isn’t so much replacing personnel as it is replacing quality production — and that’s where Coles comes in.

The Bengals finally have a healthy Carson Palmer under center, and they addressed an area of concern on the offensive line when they made Alabama’s Andre Smith the No. 6 pick in April’s draft. But that doesn’t hide the fact that a lot will be expected from Coles, the former Redskins and Jets wide receiver. The knock on Coles is that he’s a lost a step in the vertical game, but then, when did Houshmandzadeh run past defensive backs?

I played two seasons with Coles in Washington, and I can attest to the fact that he’s one of the tougher football players on the field. But does he have enough left at this point in his career to become Palmer’s go-to guy in the intermediate passing game inside the numbers? That’s the question the Bengals need him to answer and hope that he can be like Housmandzadeh and complement their down-the-field threat — Chad Ochocinco.

Cleveland: RB Jerome Harrison

I fully expect the quarterback battle in Cleveland to get all of the headlines this summer, but that doesn’t hide the fact that RB Jamal Lewis is strictly a between-the-tackles runner who doesn’t provide much in terms of explosive plays.

If I’m the Browns, I start working Harrison into the rotation, giving him carries and using him out of the backfield in the passing game. Unlike Lewis — who’s a one-dimensional back at this point — Harrison has the ability to contribute in multiple ways on offense.

The Browns have major questions marks outside of Braylon Edwards at wide receiver, and they need to find another playmaker. Lewis may still be able to move the chains as a feature back, but without explosive weapons to work with, it doesn’t matter who’s lining up under center. Harrison averaged 7.2 yards a carry in ’08. Time to get him involved and open up the running game in Cleveland.

Pittsburgh: LB Lawrence Timmons

Lawrence Timmons’ time is now in Pittsburgh — and this defense needs him to step into the starting lineup and produce like a veteran.

I’ve made it no secret here at the NFP that the Steelers’ defense is the jewel of the NFL, and with veteran Larry Foote now in Detroit, Timmons steps into his role at the linebacker position. I expect this to be an easy transition for the defense because of its veteran presence. One thing about great defenses is that they fill spots with players who know the system and can produce in that same system.  And it helps that Timmons contributed with 65 tackles, five sacks and one interception in 2008.

But regardless of what we project Timmons to do in 2009, it will be his first season as a full-time starter, and until he shows that he can consistently produce in Dick LeBeau’s system every Sunday, we still have to keep an eye on his progress. I expect him to be a playmaker in Pittsburgh and produce -- because the defense is that good.

Next: The Impact Players of the NFC North

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