WAR ROOM STRATEGIC PLANS OF THE AFC CENTRAL TEAMS
By: Dave-Te' Thomas

BALTIMORE RAVENS

The way the Ravens see it, they added a first rounder to the roster with the signing of right offensive tackle Leon Searcy. With Harry Swayne on the decline, Searcy joins Jonathan Ogden in forming one of the best tackle tandems in the league. Look for Swayne to switch to right guard to be a temporary patch there, until the team can develop a potential early round draft pick at that slot. Michigan's STEVE HUTCHINSON could be the answer at #31, but if he's gone, the team will wait until later to go for guard help. Losing Kim Herring to the Rams leaves a dent at the safety positions, especially with Rod Woodson getting on in years, making Florida State's DERRICK GIBSON and Arizona State's ADAM ARCHULETA prime first round targets. However, the team has been very impressed with Kansas State's JARROD COOPER and feel they can get him later in the draft (second).

A pass rushing defensive end would be nice, but the offensive line and secondary are more pressing needs. With one pick in every round, look for the team to add second day depth at fullback, outside linebacker, on the offensive line and possibly at running back, especially if that guy is a return specialist and third-down type like Kansas State's DAVID ALLEN.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... I'd take DERRICK GIBSON in a flash with the first round pick, even if Steve Hutchinson is there to help my offensive line. If I get Gibson, I then pop on versatile blocker MIKE GANDY (Notre Dame) in the second, or if I took Hutchinson earlier, I snatch up safety JARROD COOPER at #62. I then look for a relentless edge rusher like Texas Christian's AARON SCHOBEL in the third round, knowing that I am taking him a little bit earlier than I should, but also knowing that he won't be there for me to take at the end of the fourth.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The team is hoping that Arizona stays the course and goes for defensive line help with the second overall pick, leaving mammoth left offensive tackle LEONARD DAVIS Cincinnati bound at #4. If Davis is gone, the team won't use the fourth pick on Florida's KENYATTA WALKER, as they already have a finesse-type blocker on board in Rod Jones and are looking to replace him with a mauler. With veteran John Jackson re-signing, the team feels it is either Davis or look to fill another position need in the first. They could opt for pass rusher JUSTIN SMITH (Missouri) if Davis is gone, planting him at right end.

The secondary is another problem area, so look for help there on the first day of the draft. If they pass on Smith in the first, they look at Southern Mississippi's CEDRIC SCOTT, Maryland's KRIS JENKINS or Nebraska's KYLE VANDEN BOSCH some time on the draft's first day. With only one pick in each round, the team would still like to add depth at free safety (preferably a starter), right cornerback, left outside linebacker, left offensive guard and wide receiver. The team has shown a keen interest in Iowa wide out KEVIN KASPER, but feel he'll be gone by the fourth round.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... Take Davis and jump for joy. If he's gone, I'd entertain trade offers, if I can stay in the top ten and then take Kenyatta Walker with that pick, but not at #4. I then look at KRIS JENKINS to solve my defensive line problems in the second round and snatch a swingman blocker like Tulane's BERNARD ROBERTSON to plug holes at guard/center or go for Memphis safety IDREES BASHIR in the third.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Gut feeling is that the team will trade down a bit and grab Butch Davis' boy, DAN MORGAN (Miami) to play linebacker, despite the presence of Jamir Miller, Wali Rainer and Dwayne Rudd on the roster. Logic says they go for a running back at #3, but I am not convinced that TCU's LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON is worth that lofty choice. Even with Curtis Enis, a running back is a prime need. Me? Personally, I'd take LEONARD DAVIS and move Roman Oben inside to guard with the third choice, but little that Cleveland does makes much sense, anyway.

The team would like a big, quick receiver early in the draft to team with speedy Kevin Johnson, who proved he's not a go-to type of guy. The offensive line needs attention, but boy, that secondary could use a major overhaul. The defensive line could use a plugger, but you have to ask if Florida's uninspired GERARD WARREN is worth the #3 pick.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... I screw up Cincinnati's draft plans, take LEONARD DAVIS at left tackle in the first, snatch tailback ANTHONY THOMAS at #33 if Miami receiver REGGIE WAYNE is not there in the second round and then go for either receiver REGGIE GERMANY (Ohio State, if I did not get Wayne) or fullback/tailback DAN ALEXANDER (Nebraska) in the third.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
This team needs to replace their starting right tackle, Leon Searcy, with no questions asked. If Florida's KENYATTA WALKER is there, they take him at #13. If not, they will then concentrate on finding either a strongside outside linebacker (Miami's DAN MORGAN) or left defensive end (Florida State's JAMAL REYNOLDS) with that choice. The team has an extra third rounder and four picks in the seventh, but are missing fourth and sixth round choices.

They need help quickly on both lines, a weakside outside linebacker and possibly a strongside one, if Kevin Hardy becomes a salary cap casualty. They also need help at safety and to a lesser extend, look for a receiver or two, a fullback and offensive line depth on the draft's second day.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... If Kenyatta Walker is gone, I will not cry if Miami linebacker DAN MORGAN is still around. If I got Walker first, I turn my attention to linebacker and take Florida State's TOMMY POLLEY at #43. If I got Morgan earlier, I hope that a right tackle of Michigan's MAURICE WILLIAMS is still there at #43. In the third round, I look to improve my secondary or pass rush. Safeties that would fit are Kansas State's JARROD COOPER or Memphis' IDREES BASHIR, while Southern Mississippi's CEDRIC SCOTT or Texas Christian's AARON SCHOBEL will fit my need for a defensive end there.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Unlike previous drafts, the Steelers know the future is now, so look for them to draft with a play-first, suffer later type of philosophy. The team is without a third rounder, so they must make sure that their first two picks step into the lineup immediately. It's a no brainer that the defensive line needs an overhaul and losing Levon Kirkland creates a huge hole (literally) at inside linebacker. Getting a pass rusher still remains the primary need, but unless a player like Florida State's JAMAL REYNOLDS or California's ANDRE CARTER slide, there are only suspects left for the #16 pick.

The team also needs to add depth at the offensive tackle positions, with Michigan's tandem of JEFF BACKUS and MAURICE WILLIAMS getting a lot of attention. They also could use a quarterback in case Kordell Stewart does his annual self-destruction, but outside of Michael Vick, no one is worth a first day choice (sorry Drew Brees fans). The team will also look to add a few bodies to the secondary, especially at safety, where Scott Shields did not pan out. With no third rounder, it will be tough to trade up for a quality defensive lineman in the first, so that thought process quickly gets tossed out. The team needs outside linebacker help, but could solve that shortly, as rumors say they may ink Super Bowl hero and former St. Louis Ram outside 'backer Mike Jones.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... One of only four teams using a 3-4 defense, I would snatch Miami defensive tackle DAMIONE LEWIS at #16, and plant him at left end, which is nothing more than a glorified defensive tackle position in this defensive alignment. I would then opt for an inside linebacker like Georgia's KENDRELL BELL in the second and hope that a safety like North Carolina State's ADRIAN WILSON will still be there when I pick again at #112 (fourth). Another strong possibility in the second round could be Washington safety HAKIM AKBAR, a crunching hitter in the Rodney Harrison (Chargers) mold.

TENNESSEE TITANS

The Titans already made the best pick in the draft (sorry Chargers fans) by trading their first rounder (#29) for All-Pro defensive end Kevin Carter, giving them the best pass rushing tandem in football, with Carter and Jevin Kearse. Rams coach Mike Martz trashed Carter, but anyone that sees what Martz is doing in St. Louis knows that this guy is a good coordinator who has let power get to that little head of his. Meanwhile, Jeff Fisher is smiling from ear-to-ear. I mean, hey folks, even with the number one pick, name a better defensive end in this draft that you'd take over Carter.

Having plugged the defensive line hole created by Kenny Holmes' departure to the Giants with Carter, Fisher now can turn his attention to shoring up the receiving coprps next. Big receivers like Texas A&M's ROBERT FERGUSON or Iowa's KEVIN KASPER may be a reach at #60 (second), but neither will be around when the team picks again in the third round (#90). Look for the team to find blocking help and a third round back in the backfield on the draft's second day. They will also look for a cornerback (Kevin Dyson's brother, ANDRE) in the third round and are also scouring around for safety help on the draft's second say. They also will shop for a tight end later in the draft, while adding some warm bodies on both lines. They lost their first rounder in the Carter deal, but have an extra sixth to work with.

IF I WAS THEIR GM... The second round has to bring me a receiver in the ROBERT FERGUSON mold. If not, I go for a swingman in my backfield and take fullback/halfback DAN ALEXANDER (Nebraska) or go crazy if Arizona State's safety ADAM ARCHULETA happens to slide to #60. In the third round, I look at cornerback ANDRE DYSON or if I did not get a running back earlier, consider what Tennessee's TRAVIS HENRY can do spelling Eddie George in the backfield.

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