Sporting News, The: AFC North

CLEVELAND BROWNS

CAMP PRIORITY: The club must learn to stop the run. This has been a problem since 1999 and was one of coach Butch Davis' top priorities when he was hired in 2001. Davis knows that when you can't stop the run, you have a hard time winning because you can't get your defense off the field.

POSITION BATTLE: There is a three-person battle at weakside linebacker involving Warrick Holdman, Kevin Bentley and Ben Taylor. Holdman, in his sixth season, has the inside track on the job because of his ability in pass coverage and experience. He would provide a veteran anchor alongside third-year MLB Andra Davis and second-year SLB Chaun Thompson. Bentley was the starter last year and is the best athlete, but he is easily fooled by play-action passes. Taylor knows how to play the game and is always around the ball, but he lacks speed and athleticism.

ON THE SPOT: The team made DT Gerard Warren the third overall pick in the 2001 draft because it thought he could be a run stopper, but it hasn't worked out. He plays hard on Sundays but doesn't work hard enough in practice or the offseason. This is his fourth season: It's time for him to be the dominating player he was in college.

HONING THEIR GAMES: WR Quincy Morgan needs to catch the ball more consistently. Morgan makes the tough catches, but when the ball is on target, he tries to run before he gets it.... SS Robert Griffifth was signed to make plays in the running game, but he is shying away from contact and not wrapping up tightly. He needs to square up and be more aggressive, but he is 33 and might be getting hesitant as he gets older.

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL: WR Dennis Northcutt should have a big season. QB Jeff Garcia is an accomplished short passer, and Northcutt's specialty is turning short catches into big plays.... LE Courtney Brown is healthy after three seasons of injuries and needs to start playing like the No. 1 overall pick he was in 2000. If he doesn't, Ebenezer Ekuben could replace him as a starter.... DT Michael Myers (6-2, 292) could be the surprise of camp. He's a big, strong guy with a good motor and also can step in if Warren continues to underachieve.... FB Terrelle Smith was a big addition; he gives the team the bullish lead blocker it needs. Look for the Browns to have more of a running mentality with Smith clearing the way.... Rookie Adimchinobe Echemandu could contribute more than expected as the third-down back. He's quick, strong and can run between the tackles.--Steve King

Berea, Ohio

REPORTING DATE: July 30

TRACKING THE CAMPS The Browns hold training camp at their year-round facility, which is located in Berea, a suburb south of Cleveland. Fans park at Baldwin-Wallace College and walk several blocks to camp. Some residents along the way sell food and drinks. One teenage girl, living outside the entrance, paid for a school trip to Washington, D.C. with her sales. The west side of the complex borders the back yards of several homes and a church. If you listen closely on Sunday mornings, you can hear hymns being sung. Several years ago, a crew putting a roof on the church spent its lunch and coffee breaks watching practice. Some kids use ladders or chairs to help them peer over the fence to watch camp. It's an interesting combination--the big-money NFL coexisting with small-town America.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

CAMP PRIORITY: The team needs to find impact players on defense and improve the league's 28th-ranked unit so it can put the explosive offense in better position to score. The defense fell apart late last season, but depth shouldn't be a problem this year because the team added three starters--MLB Nate Webster, FS Kim Herring and LCB Deltha O'Neal---and drafted seven defenders. The club is thin at tackle, but veteran LBs Kevin Hardy, Brian Simmons and Webster have enough talent to stop the run. That should allow LE Duane Clemons and RE Justin Smith to rush the quarterback.

POSITION BATTLE: Herring isn't intimidating in coverage and struggles against the run, but he is likely to win his battle with rookie FS Madieu Williams because Herring is more technically sound and experienced. Williams is more physical and has good sideline-to-sideline range and ball skills. He is quick enough to cover the slot receiver and tough enough to cover a tight end. He will push to be the nickel back because of his versatility and talent.

ON THE SPOT: O'Neal's overaggressive, gambling style got him benched in Denver. But he's worked hard to clean up his technique and regain the confidence that made him a Pro Bowl selection in 2001. He's studying more film and making the proper adjustments, leaving him in better position to make plays. O'Neal has terrific quickness and shows outstanding ball skills. Discipline is the key for him.

HONING THEIR GAMES: WR Kelley Washington can defeat press coverage but must learn to run precise routes. If he improves his concentration and times his jumps properly, he'll be a devastating weapon in the end zone.... RG Robbie Williams needs to become a more refined pass protector by learning to take proper angles and getting better leverage.

CAMP CONFIDENTLAL: QB Carson Palmer must develop quickly for the club to end a 13-year playoff drought. He knows the offense, but his timing with WRs Chad Johnson, P0t0t Warrick and Washington must improve.... Undersized DTs John Tbemt0n and Tony Williams must absorb multiple blockers so Webster can make plays all over the field.... CBs Tory James and O'Neal, along with rookies Keiwan Ratliff and Greg Brooks, will attempt to re-route receivers at the line of scrimmage.... The Bengals can be summed up in four words: potent offense, shaky defense. The offense might have to resort to ball control in an effort to keep the defense off the field.--Chick Ludwig

Georgetown, Ky.

REPORTING DATE: July 30

TRACKING THE CAMPS You'll find team president Mike Brown jogging the practice fields at night, but you won't see him turning on the air conditioner in his dormitory room. He abhors the luxury. Brown, who used to sneak into the Cleveland Browns dorm as a kid to play the card game Hearts with Bill Willis and Marion Motley, spends his free time reading and listening to Cincinnati Reds games on the radio ... with his dorm windows open.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

CAMP PRIORITY: The Ravens must improve their passing game. A better passing game would take pressure off RB Jamal Lewis and the dominant defense. The Ravens don't need a flashy attack, just a solid one that consists of play-action, short and intermediate passes and occasionally a deep pass to keep defenses honest.

POSITION BATTLE: Starting RG Bennie Anderson and C Mike Flynn return, and Casey Rabach will push both. Rabach's chances are greater of replacing Anderson than Flynn. Anderson's weight ballooned during the offseason, which didn't please coach Brian Billick. Rabach has more speed and quickness than Anderson, which allows him to block better past the line of scrimmage. Anderson has more bulk and power, which trump Rabach's speed because the Ravens don't pull or trap a lot. At center, Rabach is just as good as Flynn, but Flynn is one of line coach Jim Colletto's favorites and one of the team's hardest workers. Rabach will be more impressive than Anderson early in camp, but as Anderson works into shape, he'll improve and the team will get him into the lineup. Look for Anderson and Flynn to be the starters by the opener.

ON THE SPOT: No player on the roster will feel more pressure than QB Kyle Boller, who must develop touch, improve his mechanics and become more consistent. Last year, Boiler wasted body movement and held the ball too long. He also threw short and intermediate passes too hard.

HONING THEIR GAMES: To become a great player, CB Gary Baxter needs to improve in zone coverage and recognize routes better. Baxter has the size and speed to excel; another year of experience should put him over the top.... DT Anthony Weaver came on strong at the end of last season, and he should be able to pick up where he left off. Weaver made improvements in using his hands to get opposing linemen off his body. If Weaver adds bulk, he could become an outstanding lineman.

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL: The most important offseason personnel move was hiring Jim Fassel to work with the offense. Fassel and Billick complement each other. Billick is a great motivator; Fassel's strength is in schemes .... WR Kevin Johnson lacks the speed the Ravens would like on the outside, but he'll make key third-down catches. The offense will be loaded with safe passes.... The team probably will blitz more because OLBs Peter Boulware and Terrell Suggs blitz well and CBs Chris McAlister and Baxter can play man-to-man.--Mike Preston

Westminster, Md.

REPORTING DATE: July 29

TRACKING THE CAMPS To find the team's ugliest player, the Ravens have a "King Ugly" contest every year in training camp. The winner gets a trophy, and the runner-up gets cash (a donation is a voting requirement). Some players lobby for votes, but the award isn't just for players. Assistant coaches have won it, and reporters have been nominated. The nominees' photos, which can be recent or from, say, high school, college or social events, are put on a bulletin board. The contest is not meant to be offensive--it breaks the boredom of training camp, and the Ravens have had a lot of fun with it over the years.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

CAMP PRIORITY The team needs to establish a new identity and a new attitude before the regular season. It got rid of a number of starters, particularly on defense, and the replacements need to perform at a higher level. In particular, OLB Clark Haggans, SS Troy Polamalu and FS Chris Hope need to play enough in the preseason to be ready for the regular season, especially with a new defensive coordinator in Dick LeBeau.

POSITION BATTLE: The biggest battle again will be at right tackle. Oliver ROSS is the starter, but the team is hoping rookie Max Stalks will take over. Starks is big (6-7, 343) and has good feet for a player his size. He is a good pass blocker but needs to work on his run blocking. It's important that Starks be the starter because Ross then can do what he does best--back up both tackle positions.

ON THE SPOT: After two years of watching from the sideline, Hope has an opportunity to replace Brent Alexander (Giants), and he must take advantage of it. Hope is faster, stronger and more athletic than Alexander and can make plays.

HONING THE GAMES: ILB Kendrell Bell must prove to LeBeau that he can cover receivers, or he'll become a two-down player. The team wants Bell on the field all the time, but he needs to he more comfortable in coverage.... WR Plaxico Burress needs to be more dangerous in the red zone, and the way to do that is to learn how to run a fade pattern. Burress is an ideal target because of his size (6-5, 229), but he has poor field awareness and does not position his body well enough to ward off defenders.... Polamalu must adjust to playing closer to the line of scrimmage after being the nickel back as a rookie. He played close to the line in college, which allowed him to showcase his hitting ability.

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL: The coaches are convinced the biggest problem last season was injuries and poor play on the offensive line. LT Marvel Smith missed 11 games with a pinched nerve in his neck, which forced the team to juggle the line. RG Kendall Simmons (diabetes) also needs to show he's healthy and that he has regained his aggressive approach.... The team must remain committed to making RB Duce Staley the feature back and not allow the presence of RB Jerome Bettis to detract from the plan.... The Steelers loaded up on cornerbacks in the offseason, signing veterans Terry Fair (Panthers), Willie Williams (Seahawks) and Shane Walton (Rams). But only one spot is available unless the team gets rid of Chad Scott for financial reasons. Scott and Deshea Townsend are the starters, and Ike Taylor, rookie Ricardo Colclough and Chidi Iwuoma are the backups. Iwuoma is a special teams standout. Walton likely will win the final spot.--Gerry Dulac

Latrobe, Pa.

REPORTING DATE: July 30

TRACKING THE CAMPS Training camp is supposed to be about getting in shape, but Steelers players take a ride instead of walking from their dorm rooms to the dining hall. They are shuttled in golf carts because coach Bill Cowher wants the players to conserve as much energy as possible. After lunch or dinner, they are shuttled back to the dorms. Imagine how much better Mean Joe Greene would have been if he hadn't had to walk to the cafeteria.