When the Bears face four AFC Central Division teams this year, they will look across the field at familiar faces. Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomczak and Baltimore’s Jim Harbaugh used to quarterback the Bears. Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher returned punts and played defensive back for the Bears. Jacksonville receiver Keenan McCardell was on the Bears’ practice squad for a few days.
All those teams will try to use the Bears as a stepping stone, starting with Super Bowl contenders Jacksonville and Pittsburgh in the first two weeks. Playoff contender Tennessee gets the Bears at Vanderbilt at midseason. On Dec. 20, Harbaugh makes his first visit to Soldier Field since Dave Wannstedt told him he couldn’t play here anymore.
As if their own NFC Central weren’t problem enough, the Bears must open with teams that have been in the AFC title game the last four years. The Cincinnati Bengals are the only AFC Central team the Bears avoid and the only one without Bears ties.
The Jaguars and Steelers figure to go to the wire again, with the soon-to-be-renamed Oilers a lesser annoyance as playoff contender. The Bengals and Ravens bring up the rear after making quarterback changes.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Nobody reloads like the Steelers, who lose more big names and still win more big games than any other team. It’s a credit to football boss Tom Donahoe and coach Bill Cowher. If they make the playoffs, Cowher will break Paul Brown’s record of going in each of the first seven years he has coached.
Changes: Strong safety Carnell Lake replaces injured cornerback Chad Scott. Strong safety Lethon Flowers replaces departed Myron Bell, who was due to replace Lake. Cornerback Dewayne Washington replaces fired Donnell Woolford. Linebackers Carlos Emmons and Mike Vrabel replace Greg Lloyd. Receiver Will Blackwell replaces Yancey Thigpen. Left guard Will Wolford replaces left tackle John Jackson. Rookie Alan Faneca replaces Wolford. Vikings running backs coach Ray Sherman replaces offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.
Hopes: Kordell Stewart and Sherman need to click in Stewart’s second full season as the starting quarterback and Sherman’s first as a coordinator. If Jerome Bettis runs more than Stewart passes–curiously not the case in last year’s AFC championship loss to Denver–the Steelers have another shot at glory. The stout defensive middle of Joel Steed and linebackers Levon Kirkland and Earl Holmes could be enough to ease all the changes.
Doubts: It might be asking too much of Cowher and Donohoe to continue the magic act of pulling players (and coordinators) out of their heads every year. Injuries already have hit, with Scott, kick returner and receiver Henry Bailey, receiver Jahine Arnold and fullback Tim Lester down for all or part of the season.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
The Jacksonville-Pittsburgh rivalry is so tight and intense that the winner is expected to get a pass into the AFC title game. No guarantees, but the Bears’ first two opponents expect to get their seasons off to a fine start. They don’t meet until Nov. 22.
Changes: Bryce Paup brings his versatile pass-rushing skills from Buffalo to help a defense that finished 23rd. He enables linebacker Kevin Hardy to move from strong to weak side, where he can better use his mobility. Rookie Fred Taylor and holdover James Stewart take over for departed running back Natrone Means. Center Quentin Neujahr replaces injured Michael Cheever. Backup quarterback Rob Johnson was traded to Buffalo and replaced by Jamie Martin.
Hopes: Mark Brunell, hobbled at the start of last season by a knee injury, has the skill to take his quarterbacking to another level. And he led the AFC in passing efficiency last year. Second-year tight end Damon Jones could provide a dangerous deep threat. Third-year defensive end Tony Brackens is expected to break out.
Doubts: Last year, defensive tackles John Jurkovic, Kelvin Pritchett and Don Davey and middle linebacker Bryan Schwartz all went down with injuries, leaving the Jaguars vulnerable to the run. Against Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis and Tennessee’s Eddie George and Cincinnati’s Corey Dillon, that’s fatal.
TENNESSEE OILERS
Finding a home in Nashville after a disastrous interim year in Memphis will help. Vanderbilt is temporary, but at least it will allow coach Jeff Fisher to practice and play in the same town. Now if only the Oilers can feel comfortable until owner Bud Adams decides on a new nickname for 1999. Finding a home in the AFC Central befitting their talent also is a daunting task. They were 2-6 in the division last year, but might be favored elsewhere.
Changes: Top Pittsburgh receiver Yancey Thigpen, draft choice Kevin Dyson and underachieving Tampa tight end Jackie Harris give quarterback Steve McNair new targets. Ex-Packer Craig Hentrich is the world’s first million-dollar punter. Guard Jason Layman replaces Kevin Donnalley.
Hopes: In his first full year as a starter and third overall, McNair looked like a good athlete trying to play quarterback. Will better receivers enable him to challenge Brunell and Stewart? Eddie George needs to take even more advantage of an excellent line. His rushing average dropped from 4.1 to 3.9.
Doubts: Fisher’s athletic defensive linemen and average linebackers need to get more productive. He is counting on a rookie corner, Samari Rolle, to bolster the 27th-ranked pass defense.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Bengals finished 6-2 last season but lost quarterback Boomer Esiason to the Monday night football TV booth. They picked up Jets castoff Neil O’Donnell, who promptly beat out former Pro Bowler Jeff Blake for the job.
Changes: O’Donnell replaces the popular Esiason. Rookie linebackers Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons made the Bengals forget new Bears Rico McDonald and Andre Collins in training camp. Defensive linemen Clyde Simmons and Michael Bankston replace injured John Copeland and former No. 1 pick Dan Wilkinson, who was traded to Washington. Cornerback Thomas Randolph or rookie Artrell Hawkins challenges Corey Sawyer. Strong safety Myron Bell comes from Pittsburgh.
Hopes: Second-year running back Corey Dillon says he is aiming for a record 2,500 yards. Coach Bruce Coslet will be rooting. Receivers Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott used to click with Blake.
Doubts: Dumping Blake for a journeyman means the Bengals are starting over–again. Ex-Colt Paul Justin, among the crowd of ex-Bears quarterbacks still playing, might get a chance.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
A new stadium, a new quarterback, new running backs, new receivers and new cornerbacks probably add up to an old story.
Jim Harbaugh is reunited with Ted Marchibroda in an effort to recreate the 1995 AFC title run of the Indianapolis Colts.
Changes: Harbaugh replaces Vinny Testaverde. Running backs Errict Rhett and Roosevelt Potts replace Bam Morris. Kick returner Jermaine Lewis and rookie Pat Johnson replace receiver Derrick Alexander. Rod Woodson and rookie Duane Starks replace cornerbacks Antonio Langham and DeRon Jenkins. Center Wally Williams moves to left guard. Jeff Mitchell is the new center.
Hopes: Solid offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Williams should help give Harbaugh more protection than he got in Indy. Solid young defenders Michael McCrary, Peter Boulware, Ray Lewis and Jamie Sharper provide a good foundation.
Doubts: Too many changes at key positions in a division with too many good teams dooms the Ravens.
