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If you look at various rule changes over the years and the two teams playing in Super Bowl XLIV, one thing is clear:



The NFL wants offense and scoring — and plenty of it.



So what does this mean for the future of the AFC North?



It’s one of the few divisions which, from top to bottom, continues to try to win championships with great defense and a strong running game. Last season, three of the four teams in the AFC North had 1,000-yard rushers and top-five defenses. Yet none of those teams finished with more than 10 wins or got within striking distance of capturing this year’s Super Bowl title.



The Baltimore Ravens were the only team to advance past the wild-card round. Then they were dominated by the Indianapolis Colts, 20-3, the following week.



Want more evidence that the NFL is a pass-happy league?



Consider that 27 out of 32 teams passed the football more than they ran in 2009. Of the five teams that ran the football 50 percent or more, only the New York Jets won in the playoffs.



“I certainly think it’s a quarterback-driven league and it’s a pass-first league,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “You need to be able to do those things very well.”



Steelers ahead of the curve



When it comes to the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers, directly or indirectly, were ahead of the curve.



Despite their lengthy history of ground-and-pound football, the Steelers began passing the ball more often than running it the past two seasons. That included most of their title run in 2008 when the fate of the season rested on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s arm down to the last drive in Super Bowl XLIII.



According to ESPN Stats & Information, Pittsburgh had the highest pass percentage in the division this past season by a sizable margin. The Steelers threw the football 57.8 percent of the time and ran just 42.2 percent of time.



As a result, Roethlisberger became Pittsburgh’s first 4,000-yard quarterback, and Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes also gained more than 1,000 yards receiving.



Many have criticized offensive coordinator Bruce Arians for gradually changing Pittsburgh’s longstanding identity. But the Steelers are adjusting with the times and remain ahead of the curve in the AFC North in terms of putting together a high-powered offense. Pittsburgh was ranked seventh offensively in the NFL last season.



“That Steeler offense is a handful for anyone, and they will probably be better than ever next year,” Williamson said. “They can throw with most teams, and I think they can run.”

(Read full post)

PFTV: Mike Florio examines what the Broncos should do in regards to problematic receiver Brandon Marshall next season. Can Josh McDaniels put up with those antics again? (NBC Sports)

PFTV: Mike Florio examines what the Broncos should do in regards to problematic receiver Brandon Marshall next season. Can Josh McDaniels put up with those antics again? (NBC Sports)

Mike Florio examines what the Broncos should do in regards to WR Brandon Marshall next season. (NBC Sports)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills staged a media meet-and-greet with new head coach Chan Gailey and his coordinators Thursday afternoon in Ralph Wilson Stadium.



For the first time since they’ve been hired, offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins, defensive coordinator George Edwards and special-teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven spoke with reporters.



Mostly, it was a chance to get a feel for their philosophies, but there was a little news to report.



Gailey finalized his staff by announcing he had retained DeMontie Cross as inside linebackers coach and has assigned Bob Sanders to outside linebackers and newcomer Giff Smith to the defensive line.



Sanders coached Buffalo’s defensive line last year after serving as the Green Bay Packers‘ defensive coordinator. Smith coached with Gailey at Georgia Tech.



Gailey also said he has spoken to two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel, who’s considering retirement.



“I took from the conversation he has not decided,” Gailey said. “I think that’s going to come with time. He’s going to have to make a decision.



“We know what a great player he is. You know you’d like to have him on the Bills if we could make that happen. We’ll see what he decides. I don’t want to speak for him.”



Gailey also acknowledged rumors the Bills are interested in trading for a veteran quarterback, perhaps Michael Vick. But Gailey didn’t have much info to share. He said he hasn’t gotten through the evaluation process with the quarterbacks on his roster: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards and Brian Brohm.



“This is a quarterback-driven league at this point,” Gailey said. “It hasn’t always been that way, but it seems to have become moreso in the last decade or so. You have to have a quality player there. It does not have to be a big-name player. You just have to have quality production. That’s the decision you’re trying to make.”



I’ll post Edwards’ thoughts on the move from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 scheme, but in the meantime, here is a rundown of the Bills’ revamped coaching staff for 2010.

Thursday is the first day teams can place the franchise and the transition tag on players as we enter a strange year and a likely uncapped season approaching.



Teams have until Feb. 25 to make a decision. Under the new system, teams will be able to tag two players. Previously, teams could use one tag or the other but not both. Putting the franchise tag on players allows teams to get compensation back if the player is signed by another team. Usually, players who are given the franchise tag do not go anywhere. Putting the transition tag on a player gives teams a chance to match an offer.



While much of the free agent market will be concentrated on the restricted class, there are some interesting franchise/transition tag possibilities in Oakland. Defensive end Richard Seymour and kicker Sebastian Janikowski are both unrestricted free agents. The Raiders have talked to both players about long-term deals.



If extension can’t be arranged, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the franchise and transition tags are used on Seymour and Janikowski. Oakland values both players.



For defensive ends, the franchise tag is $12.398 million and the transition tag is $10.193 million. For kickers, the franchise tag is $2.814 million and the transition tag is $2.629. I expect the Raiders to find a way to keep both Seymour and Janikowski.



Denver and San Diego have several big-name players who will likely be restricted free agents. Denver has to deal with Elvis Dumervil, Brandon Marshall, Kyle Orton and Tony Scheffler. San Diego has to deal with new deals for Vincent Jackson, Marcus McNeill, Shawne Merriman and Darren Sproles.



Both teams can essentially use the franchise tags on restricted free agents with high tenders that would require a first and third-round pick in return for players signing elsewhere. The top candidates in the AFC West for high tenders are Dumervil, Jackson, Marshall and McNeill.

Will there be teams lining up to sign Plaxico Burress for the 2011 season? (NBC Sports)

PFT’s Mike Florio is already making predictions for Super Bowl XLV. (NBC Sports)

PFT’s Mike Florio is already making predictions for Super Bowl XLV. (NBC Sports)

Mike Florio takes a look at the issues in Carolina between the Panthers and Julius Peppers. (NBC Sports)