Smith Starts at LT

[BengalszoneBilly]

I'd rather keep keep Rey-Rey in the middle, tho. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Sound advice. I too would like to see the Bengals stop trying to change players positions coming out of college. It usually doesn't work out.

[volcom69]

Please keep rey in middle, and i think they will use Johnson at both end and at linebacker, and i cant wait to see Johnson play he looks like he is going to be a heck of a player. I love that pick.

[chrishcovga]

What I want to know is, why does Marvin and Jay Hayes smoke crack from the same pipe as Mike Brown ?? What's with this consistent thing about taking good college defensive ends and turning them into outside linebackers ??

Isn't that how we ruined David Pollack??? Now we want to turn another high talented player at defensive end, and push him outside too...??? If it ain't broke, stop trying to fix the damn thing!!

Seriously this is pissing me off!!! Why do they feel the need to put him at outside linebacker ??? If we're going to run a 3-4 defense, then dammit draft the players to do that. Make the change. Stop trying to have it both ways. Get one thing working right, and then experiment.

We've never landed the mammoth nose tackle it takes to run it, and we've drafted terribly at linebacker until the last 2 seasons, and it cost us high draft picks to do it.

So Mike Brown, because I know you read this stuff, because you're just the type of pompass ass so narcacistic to need the fricken attention in the first place, tell Marvin and company to stop f**king up good football players by playing them out of their natural position.

David Pollack was a Defensive End. Short arms or not, he DOMINATED the SEC year in an year out. Then we moved him to outside linebacker, he couldn't stay healthy, and ultimately got his neck broke.

If I'm Michael Johnson..... refuse to sign your contract, before Marvin and company ruin your promising career!!

Marvin wants that pass rushing OLB because that's what he did so successfully in Baltimore. Most people think that D was build around Ray Lewis, but it was really built around Boulware (who was a DE that converted to LB in the pros). He took two big nose tackles in Sam Adams and Goose to tie up all three interior O-linemen, this gave the ends one-on-one matchups with the OTs and allowed Ray Lewis to roam free, and, most importantly, with four D-linemen occupying all five O-linemen, it let Peter Boulware go up against tightends and fullbacks when he attacked the line of scrimmage.

I remember the Ravens 4-3 back then. Don't forget they also had McCrary another very good defensive end on the other side. But that's my point. Marvin has not drafted nor recruited through free agency the mammoth nose tackles that the Ravens had. As a matter of fact, I don't even think he's trying to build here what he had in Baltimore, simply based on who they've drafted over and over again. Neither Sims nor Peko are Adams and Siragusa. They're quality, just not the caliber of what Goose and Adams offered. The key to this defense will be whether Peko, Sims, and Johnson can keep whoever plays middle linebacker free to make plays. But Michael Johnson was considered an elite talent. The film of him dominating offensive tackles including getting a sack against the Ravens' Michael Oher; Let's just get him up to par of what an NFL Defensive End is capable of doing, then worry about adding more to his plate.

Most scouts liken him to Jason Taylor. Taylor also went in the 3rd round of the '97 draft. Look at the combine film of Johnsons' workout. He's got a very good punch and leverage. Really Good extension. We might have just drafted a guy that can be a serious menace to opposing teams defenses, like a Jason Taylor or a Michael Strahan. Let's get him stronger, Playing with proper technique, and then tell him that the Quarteback of the opposing team is the kid that STOLE HIS FRENCH FRIES WHEN HE WAS 7!!!

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Michael Johnson was considered an elite talent. The film of him dominating offensive tackles including getting a sack against the Ravens' Michael Oher; Let's just get him up to par of what an NFL Defensive End is capable of doing, then worry about adding more to his plate.

Yeah, but then we'd be taking reps away from our Pro Bowl DEs who got tons of sacks last year.

Wait...our DEs got no pressure last year? Nevermind.

[Clackwoods]

The Smith pick is growing more and more on me each day. He and Collins should be our starting tackles for the next 5 years, at least. Alexander seems to be in love with this dude.

I wonder why the Bengals are thinking about playing Michael Johnson at SLB, although I read where they're still tinkering with him at other spots. Maybe that means that they'll be playing Rey more on the inside. MJ, Rey and Rivers could be scary in 2 or 3 years, though.

When everyone in here was going on and on about an OT in round 1 I just didn't agree because I thought we needed an impact defensive player.

We got our impact defensive players in round 2 and 3 somehow so I am more than happy about the pick

I think they are trying to turn Johnson into a David Pollack type player. (Half stand, half on the ground)

They might have found their pass rusher finally.

If we can get Thurman circa 2005 type numbers from Magauluga and 7-10 Sacks from Johnson or Geathers with the return of Carson and actually having a LT I think we could win as many as 12 games this year. I think it will be more like 10 or 11, but it is possible. ESPECIALLY if Levi comes back healthy or at least healthy enough to play RT

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

One thing I don't like about putting Smith at LT during the OTAs, is he will NOT begin the season as starting LT. He'll either start the season at RT or as backup at LT. Bengals fans familiar with the history of the franchise should see why.

[icehole3]

I remember the Ravens 4-3 back then. Don't forget they also had McCrary another very good defensive end on the other side. But that's my point. Marvin has not drafted nor recruited through free agency the mammoth nose tackles that the Ravens had. As a matter of fact, I don't even think he's trying to build here what he had in Baltimore, simply based on who they've drafted over and over again. Neither Sims nor Peko are Adams and Siragusa. They're quality, just not the caliber of what Goose and Adams offered. The key to this defense will be whether Peko, Sims, and Johnson can keep whoever plays middle linebacker free to make plays. But Michael Johnson was considered an elite talent. The film of him dominating offensive tackles including getting a sack against the Ravens' Michael Oher; Let's just get him up to par of what an NFL Defensive End is capable of doing, then worry about adding more to his plate.

In all fairness, there really hasnt been a Siragusa or Adams who were Pro Bowlers, there were some good DTs in Ngata, Hampton, Haynesworth, Williams boys in Minn and Wilfork NE, there arent the big behemoths that Siragusa or Adams were. I guess Hampton could be as close to a behemoth as one could get. I think theyre headed in the right direction at this point, adding Johnson is good, I'd like to see Big Shirley get some good extended playing time, just keep adding to the DL and getting pass rushers every year, thats what the Steelers are doing

[HoTbOy]

I also would like for the to keep MJohnson as a DE, put him in on 3rd downs if they have to, that how RGeathers got his start as a 3rd down sack specialist...The changing of positions didn't work with RWilson or DPollack, let them play what they played in college...I also would like for them to keep RMauluga in the middle, put the fear of God in RB's running up the middle like RLewis used to do...

[Kazkal]

-David Pollack didn't get the chance to see if it would work or not because of his neck injury....

-Just because Wilson didn't work out doesn't mean other players can't make the switch because plenty of nfl players have made the switch...

It's not like Michael Johnson will be rushed in to SLB like pollack was he'll have time to develop in to the roll and continue be a passrush specialist Until then...It's not like it's set in stone they may decide he can't make the switch and if they feel he can then what's wrong with bettering the team?

I wouldn't mind having something like that.

[agreen_112]

oh. my. god. ReyRey looks mean in our uniform. here's hoping he'll get DROY.

PS: i posted a working link for the article. second post.

Maualuga in stripes "\wipes a tear away" I'm so happy

That's what I was telling you guys.. he's a beast! I had him as my #1 pick.. This draft was the best thing to happen to the Bengals EVER!

[agreen_112]

Not only that more then likely they'll have time to develop him vs where they felt little more rushed to start pollack

With Reyrey looking to start SLB and keeping dhani in the middle it will give them time to develop Johnson and him still doing what he does best and be a passrush specialist....then in a Year or when ever they feel Rey's ready to take over the middle they may have their beloved passrush specialist SLB ready to go.

That will piss me off.. Rey's a MLB, leave him there!!

[Wraith]

They will float between 3-4 and 4-3 this season, I could easily see a rotation of Johnson, Odom, and Geathers at DE then switching to a 3-4 with Odom and Fanene or MacDonald at DE and Johnson at SSOLB with Jones and Maualuga in the middle, frankly this defense might be best at 3-4. Sims and Peko at NT it is very intriguing the different looks this defense could present. What I can say without fear of contradiction is that this front 7 looks to be the strongest Bengals front seven....ever, all apologies to the Spikes/Simmons heydays but they didn't have the line that we are building, our DTs are deep and strong, we have depth at DE and if Odom can get back to the form he was in Tennessee watchout!

[TJJackson]

Say your penance to St Timothy Krumrie of the spinning lower leg, please

[Wraith]

No One is saying that Krumrie wasn't the best NT we have ever had or that those teams didn't have an incredible secondary, but the linebacking corp didn't put fear into anyone nor did the other 2/3rds of the D Line.