The Tribune

By INIGO 'NAUGHTY' ZENICAZELAYA

TRAINING camps open this weekend and early next week, across the NFL.

The most glorious time on the sports calendar is finally upon us. And as we creep closer and closer to KICK OFF SUNDAY 2017, over the coming weeks I will preview each division in the NFL as the teams head into training camp, bringing you up close with the hottest camp battles while keeping you informed of the latest breaking news and transactions.

• We kick things off this week with the AFC NORTH, with the AFC SOUTH on deck for next week’s column:

BALTIMORE

RAVENS -

Training camp report dates: rookies (July 19) and veterans (July 26).

Location: Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Hottest position

battle in camp -

Offensive Line:

The Ravens will field a legitimate competition in the middle of their offensive line. With O lineman Jeremy Zuttah’s trade to the 49ers, Baltimore will allow Ryan Jensen and John Urschel to battle for the starting job, after the duo took most of the reps this offseason.

With right tackle also up in the air after the free-agency loss of Rickey Wagner, Baltimore’s line will be a hotspot for competition all camp long.

Biggest offseason

addition - WR Jeremy Maclin: There are plenty of questions to be answered at wide receiver too, but the addition of Maclin does wonders for this position group. Expected to start in the slot, the former Eagles and Chiefs star will function as the centrepiece of the passing game with Breshad Perriman and Mike Wallace out wide. If the team can milk a breakout season from Perriman, the Ravens have a chance to make up for the loss of TE Dennis Pita.

Plainly put, if not for the signing of Maclin, we’d point to this pass-catching group as a burning concern.

BIGGEST Camp

Question Mark -

Who will replace Tavon Young at cornerback?

In the wake of Young suffering a season-ending knee injury, the Ravens are searching for a starter in the slot. With Brandon Carr and Jimmy Smith locked into outside roles, look for Lardarius Webb, Brandon Boykin and second-year cover man Maurice Canady to compete for the nickel role.

Canady impressed during the offseason, with coordinator Dean Pees saying in June: “The guy makes plays. That is the whole bottom line on defence.”

First-rounder Marlon Humphrey adds depth, but the future starter, however Humphrey isn’t expected to play a major role out of the gate.

The safety duo of Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson should be one of the AFC’s best.

CINCINNATI

BENGALS -

Training camp report dates: rookies (July 25) and veterans (July 27).

Location: Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

Hottest position

battle in camp -

Jeremy Hill versus Joe Mixon.

Mixon has drawn rave reviews so far so it’s fair to ask how long this battle will last.

With Giovani Bernard still recovering from a November ACL tear, it’s likely the Bengals will use a combination of Mixon and Hill to open the campaign, but Cincinnati went into the offseason determined to find an upgrade over Hill, who is coming off an inconsistent 2016.

I have Mixon as the starter on opening day.

Biggest offseason

addition - Newcomer to watch -WR John Ross: Like the Panthers in the NFC South, the Bengals used the draft to massively upgrade their speed on offence.

Mixon gives the team a devastating runner who can double as a legitimate pass-catching asset, while Ross blew people away with 4.22 40 speed. Shoulder surgery could delay his participation for camp, but Ross promises to be a weapon across from Pro Bowler A.J. Green.

BIGGEST Camp

Question Mark --

Will the O-line mesh?

Quarterback Andy Dalton was unmercifully banged around last season to the tune of 41 sacks.

(Only Buffalo’s Tyrod Taylor took more 42), an ominous stat for a Bengals line that proceeded to lose reliable guard Kevin Zeitler and Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth in free agency.

With disappointing 2015 first-rounder Cedric Ogbuehi slotted to take over the blind-side role and up-and-down Jake Fisher on the right bookend, the Bengals have more questions than answers up front.

CLEVELAND

BROWNS -

Training camp report dates: rookies (July 23) and veterans (July 26).

Location: Browns Training Complex in Berea, Ohio.

Hottest position

battle in camp -

Cody Kessler vs. Brock Osweiler vs. DeShone Kizer.

The Browns have a quarterback situation. I’m shocked and awed Osweiler is still on the roster, but I don’t expect him to make the team let alone win the starting job.

Look for Kizer, who has a legitimate shot to start sooner than later, if he impresses coach Hue Jackson.

Biggest offseason

addition - Newcomer to watch: DE Myles Garrett

The roster-churning Browns have a million “newcomers” every season, but Garrett is something different. A rare physical freak, the first overall pick in April’s draft gives Cleveland a player to be a cornerstone on defence for years to come.

As long as the left foot sprain, sustained in mini-camp, doesn’t delay his launch, Garrett will hit camp as the immediate focal point for the defence.

BIGGEST Camp

Question Mark - Will this defence be any different?

The addition of coordinator Gregg Williams has produced its share of juicy quotes out of Cleveland. “He tells us that we have been losing here for a reason, and he is here to change it,” cornerback Joe Haden said.

Williams has enjoyed success in the NFL but his scheme fell apart with the Rams last season.

While the Browns have intriguing pieces -- Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah, Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey -- in the front seven, the secondary is a major concern.

PITTSBURGH

STEELERS -

Training camp report date: rookies and veterans (July 27).

Location: Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Hottest position

battle in camp -

The Steelers have come close to the Super Bowl for the last half a dozen years or so, because of a Ben Roethlisberger-led offence littered with star power.

Beyond Le’Veon Bell in the backfield, the receiving corps -- led by the all world Antonio Brown -- is ready to light up the scoreboard and stat sheet. Martavius Bryant returning from his year-long suspension. Bryant is a front-runner to start alongside Brown, but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the pecking order shakes out with Sammie Coates and second-rounder JuJu Smith-Schuster.

This Steeler offence will score in bunches on a weekly basis.

Biggest offseason

addition - Newcomer to watch: OLB T.J. Watt. It’s unclear how big a role Watt will have with the Steelers’ defence as a rookie, but the surname alone will guarantee plenty of buzz for the pass-rushing prospect and brother of J.J. With the Wisconsin product slotted for snaps behind Bud Dupree and James Harrison, the Steelers have a player they can get creative with right away in 2017. Pittsburgh rarely rushes along defensive rookies, but this could be an exception.

BIGGEST Camp

Question Mark - Where

is the mind at?

In spite of Pittsburgh’s questions in the secondary, the Steelers truly believe they can take down the Patriots?

This is arguably the most talented roster in the conference -- maybe the NFL -- but like with the Packers in the NFC, it has become the norm to wonder how Pittsburgh will unravel come January. Teams don’t think this way, trained instead to take a week-by-week approach to the challenges ahead. But if you look at it objectively over the past five seasons or so, the Steelers have crashed and burnt at the worst possible moments.

Until next week, play hard and go home...

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net