AFC Central: Jags best of jumbled division

The Associated Press

The Jacksonville Jaguars should not be thinking about a mere division championship. In the AFC Central, the Jaguars clearly are the class, and they should have designs on their first Super Bowl.

With new defensive coordinator Dom Capers, formerly the head coach in Carolina, the Jaguars will be innovative and aggressive. They already have a strong, balanced attack, and have proved they can win anywhere: Denver's last home loss, albeit in the 1996 playoffs, was to the Jags.

The rest of the AFC Central is a jumble, and the Jaguars could coast to the division crown. Don't count on it -- coach Tom Coughlin is too much a martinet to allow that to happen. Besides, home field advantage for the entire playoffs is a possibility.

Mark Brunell, if healthy, is a premier quarterback with a strong arm, excellent running skills, intelligence and experience. The left-hander operates behind a solid line featuring Tony Boselli and Leon Searcy at the tackles. He has Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, as good as any twosome in the league at receiver, and Fred Taylor was a sensation as a rookie running back.

The only question is depth, but that's not unusual these days.

Capers' schemes will help Bryce Paup flourish again. The linebacker with superb pass-rushing skills will come from every angle and every alignment, and Kevin Hardy also will benefit.

But the line must be more effective; free agent Gary Walker and rookie Larry Smith should help. The secondary almost surely will be better with Carnell Lake stolen away from rival Pittsburgh.

Tennessee, which has played in three different cities and stadiums the last three years -- all 8-8 seasons -- needs to make the playoffs to make coach Jeff Fisher feel secure. The new home, new name and new uniforms can't hide the old problems: a spotty defensive line, so-so linebacking and underachieving receivers.

It's time for QB Steve McNair to emerge. He has a franchise running back in Eddie George, who could be a 2,000-yard threat if McNair was more dangerous as a passer. That won't happen until McNair settles down in the pocket, and he'll also need a healthy Yancey Thigpen to throw to.

At least the offensive line is good, led by ageless Bruce Matthews.

The Titans also have a nice secondary, where Blaine Bishop is the standout. Watch for rookie DE Jevon Kearse, who has carried his tremendous surge into the backfield from college into the pros.

Under Bill Cowher, the Steelers made the playoffs six straight years. That streak died with a five-game slide at the end of 1998 as Pittsburgh began paying for not paying all those free agents who left.

What's left is the passion of Cowher, but it doesn't make up for lost talent. The Steelers desperately need a healthy, productive season from RB Jerome Bettis and for Kordell Stewart to recapture the flash of "Slash" on offense under new coordinator Kevin Gilbride. Having perhaps the best center in NFL history, Dermontti Dawson, won't help much if Bettis and Stewart don't come through.

Also needing to come through are linebackers Levon Kirkland inside and Jason Gildon outside. If the Steel Curtain is going to rise again in Pittsburgh, it will be lifted by them.

Baltimore, with the 26th-ranked offense, hired the latest "genius," Minnesota coordinator Brian Billick, as head coach. Billick guided the Vikings to the highest points total in league history, but he doesn't have those kinds of tools here.

In fact, the defense is far superior, thanks to a terrific linebacking unit of Ray Lewis, Pete Boulware and Jamie Sharper. End Michael McCrary can be dominating and the secondary should get juiced by rookie cornerback Chris McAlister.

When the Ravens have the ball, they'll rely on a journeyman quarterback, Scott Mitchell or Tony Banks, and game-breaking receiver Jermaine Lewis. The line has Jon Ogden, maybe the best tackle in the NFL, and guard Jeff Blackshear.

But there is no proven running back and the receiving corps is thin.

Cleveland would like nothing better than to do better than Baltimore, which used to be the Browns before moving three years ago. The expansionists might win five or six games, but for them to beat out the Ravens could be a stretch.

Coach Chris Palmer, like Billick an offensive mastermind, eventually will turn to top overall pick Tim Couch at quarterback.

For now, he has a better chance of winning with Ty Detmer throwing to exciting rookie Kevin Johnson and veteran Leslie Shepherd.

The line is good, anchored by, of course, the Browns (vet tackles Orlando and Lomas) and center Dave Wohlabaugh. But there's no clear choice at running back.

There are lots of familiar names on the defensive line -- John Jurkovic, Jerry Ball, Derrick Alexander, Roy Barker -- and in the secondary. But this team won't be very stingy.

The Bengals, known for being the stingiest of all teams in contract negotiations, were damaged by the inability to sign top pick Akili Smith until late August. Runner Corey Dillon must carry the offense with prime receiver Carl Pickens a holdout.

At least the defense is better than it has been in years, led by linebackers Takeo Spikes, Brian Simmons and Reinard Wilson.

Predictions: Jacksonville 12-4; Tennessee 9-7; Pittsburgh 9-7; Baltimore 7-9; Cleveland 5-11; Cincinnati 4-12.