Cleveland Browns

The Dawg Pound hasn’t had much to chew on these past few years.  Injuries, coaching changes, and the ever hanging cloud of being sold out to another state in the middle of the night have made for some dark days and rainy night.  Alikat is here to tell you ‘Pound Fans’– “I feel the sun comin’ and it’s comin’ on strong”! The Browns are still 1-2 years away from really making a run for things in this very tough division but they are closing fast. I like these Dawgs as one of my dark horses this year to make a lot of bettors very unhappy come Tuesday.

Romeo Crennel is a very sharp coach and getting his former player Willie McGinest, along with LeCharles Bentley and Joe Jurevicious to come out to Cleveland says a lot about the program he’s building. Look out for two draft picks I see making major contributions this season in Kamerion Wimbley and D’Qwell Jackson (gotta love the name D’Qwell). The pass defense was the 4th best in the league last year. They need to improve against the run but with another year under Romeo’s system and some great additions I see some ‘Bite’ in the D.

On the Offensive side you gotta love Kellen Winslow, jr., (I’ve always had a thing for Bad Boys and motorcycles). He’s had some time to grow up a little and I hear he really bonded this summer with QB Charlie Frye. This kid Frye has got some guts and with flashy WR Braylon Edwards coming back much sooner than expected along with RB Reuben Droughns you got the youth and moxie to make some magic this fall.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Whew! Just when you think it’s safe to come outside… Back you go–To the hospital that is.  As I’m writing this preview Big Ben is just getting comfy at home after his second trip in two months to the emergency room.  This time for an appendectomy.  This does not bode well for a team that has to endure the dreaded Super Bowl Curse as well as losing 3 big time players. ‘The Bus’ took his quick feet to NBC, Randle El left for the circus that is Dan Snyder’s SKINS and (FS) Chris Hope is in Vince Young country. Don’t underestimate Hope leaving. He gave the Craziest SS I’ve seen, Troy Polamalu, freedom to let his gorgeous hair down all over the AFC!

Despite a very tough start–Dolphins, Jags, Bengals, and Chargers the first four games the Champs should be consistent once again–It is the hallmark of Bill Cowher.  That Defense is just too nasty with LB’s Foote and ‘The Mouth’ Joey Porter anchoring what is one of the top three back 7’s in the league. Once Big Ben is feeling healthy again he and ‘Fly Boy’ Willie Parker along with Super Bowl MVP Heinz Ward will be stalking opponents the last half of the year.

This could very well be Cowher’s last season in Steel City (I hear he’s bought a house in North Carolina to be closer to his daughter–Now that’s a DADDY!) so you know he’d like nothing more than to ride off into the sunset ala John Elway. Even though he doesn’t have the ‘Bus’ to start up in December he’s got a QB that just knows how to win along with that bruising D.  I don’t see them repeating but they will be in the hunt come January.