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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2016)
AFC NORTH JOE FLACCO ANDY DALTON JOSH GORDON BEN ROETHLISBERGER RAVENS JUST TRYING TO GET HEALTHY CAN CINCY END PLAYOFF LOSING STREAK? A NEW ERA BEGINS IN CLEVELAND BIG BEN STILL DRIVING STEELER OFFENSE Coach: John Harbaugh 2015 Record: 5-11 Injuries plagued the Ravens’ 2015 season but none was more significant than the torn ACL suffered by quarterback Joe Flacco. How a big-armed deep thrower such as Flacco responds this season will be closely watched, especially since at the time of the injury he was having his worst season to date. Yet another question is the Achilles injury of linebacker Terrell Suggs, who is just as important to the Ravens’ defense as Flacco is to the offense. Coach: Marv Lewis 2015 Record: 12-4 The Bengals are the last team anyone wants to see on their schedule, at least until the playoffs. They lost their fifth straight playoff game in 2015 after handily winning the AFC North, and getting over that hump is their main goal. But quarterback Andy Dalton will be working with a pair of rookie receivers, and tight end Tyler Eifert is coming off ankle surgery. The defense may have to pick up some of the slack. Coach: Mike Pettine 2015 Record: 3-13 Seven different quarterbacks have started for the Browns in the past three seasons, including two first round picks. Now it’s time for the Robert Griffin III era to begin, coincidentally with that of new head coach Mike Pettine. Most notable, however, will be the return of talented receiver Josh Gordon, who after being suspended for the entire 2015 season and four games this season, will get another chance from the NFL. The Browns could use some good news. Coach: Mike Tomlin 2015 Record: 10-6 As long as Big Ben Roethlisberger is on the field, the Steelers offense is one to be reckoned with. Still, having running back Le’Veon Bell on the field, who will start the season serving a four-game suspension, would take some pressure off the aging quarterback. The Steelers’ top three draft picks were on defense, including Miami cornerback Artie Burns, as they seek to improve from being ranked 21st in 2015, when they earned a wild card playoff berth. AFC SOUTH ANDREW LUCK J.J. WATT BLAKE BORTLES MARCUS MARIOTA COLTS ADD TO LUCK’S SUPPORTING CAST TEXANS GET OFFENSIVE IN THE OFFSEASON BORTLES LIGHTS IT UP FOR JAGS TITANS IMPROVED BACKFIELD SUPPORTS MARIOTA Coach: Chuck Pagano 2015 Record: 8-8 Quarterback Andrew Luck’s injury- plagued 2015 season resulted in the Colts missing the playoffs for the first time since he joined the team in 2011. They recognized his significance in the offseason by making him the highest paid player in the NFL. The Colts also drafted heavily on the offensive side of the ball, including grabbing Alabama center Ryan Kelly with the 18th overall pick to deliver the ball to Luck for years to come. Coach: Bill O’Brien 2015 Record: 9-7 It remains to be seen what the effects of offseason back surgery will be on menacing defensive end J.J. Watt, but no one expects him to be 100 percent. Still, the Texans are moving forward with revamping their offense and made headlines when they signed quarterback Brock Osweiler away from Denver. They also grabbed two receivers, including Ohio State’s Braxton Miller, a running back and a center in the draft and signed Miami free agent running back Lamar Miller. Coach: Gus Bradley 2015 Record: 5-11 Things are supposed to be getting better in Jacksonville and it could be happening, albeit at a slow pace. Quarterback Blake Bortles tore it up in 2015 throwing for 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns in a record- breaking season. But the lack of a rushing attack left the Jags’ offense as one-dimensional and low scoring. This team’s top six draft picks were all defenders, including Florida State stud cornerback Jalen Ramsey, taken fifth overall. Coach: Ken Whisenhunt 2015 Record: 3-13 The Titans are satisfied with the progress made by rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota in 2015. And, they may have had the best offseason in the NFL by giving him a supporting cast. They traded down in the draft to boost their roster, including picking Alabama running back Derek Henry who will share the backfield with 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray, acquired by trade. This could be one of the most improved teams in the league. 2016 NFL PREVIEW pg 5
