AJ Nicholson

[El Tigere]

i telling all of you right now do not underestimate aj nicholson he is no joke . i am not saying he will replace Odell in the middle. but he is a very very good linebacker and i believe he will be a starter(maybe not this season) and as long as he keeps his nose clean. he can play outside too that's what he played in college. i really believe he will be a steal where he was drafted

THis is exactly what i was trying to say when i started this thread!!!

[El Tigere]

ok take a chill pill! We all know Odell is a stud and will be for many years to come! THe Question I threw out there about Odell moving to the outside and have Aj play middle was brought up on a thread i read on the Bengals page only to see if there was a way to put all the best lb on the field wich includes AJ Nickolson. Odell moving to the outside if he was to fit better there. Again I dont see this coming at all and there is no way Odell would not start at middle! THe good news is we have some studs at LB and can move them around until we can find the best linebacker for there position wich does include moving to a 3-4 full time or temp.

Go BENGALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

ok take a chill pill! We all know Odell is a stud and will be for many years to come! THe Question I threw out there about Odell moving to the outside and have Aj play middle was brought up on a thread i read on the Bengals page only to see if there was a way to put all the best lb on the field wich includes AJ Nickolson. Odell moving to the outside if he was to fit better there. Again I dont see this coming at all and there is no way Odell would not start at middle! THe good news is we have some studs at LB and can move them around until we can find the best linebacker for there position wich does include moving to a 3-4 full time or temp.

Go BENGALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why on earth would we move Odell to the outside and have AJ, a rookie, take over at perhaps the most crucial postion on the defense? AJ won't beat out Landon, yet alone Simmons.

[Kazkal]

I'd take odells speed and play vs LB who is 20lbs heavier....though game tape I did see of AJ he diden't seem that slow nonethe less odell is a bullet

[Dadraftnick]

Thurman should have been rookie of the year and in the Pro Bowl at MLB he is fast,smart,and one of the best MLB's in the NFL.

I think its a little early to pencil in a rookie that has sun dial speed 4.9 speed and more character questions than WR Henry came in with and look where Henry is (suspended) in his 2nd season.

Although LBSimmons has had a leg operation, he came into the league with 4.5 speed and is susposed to be at that same speed now.

Simmons also has valuable experience under his belt and veteran leadership.

Its a little early to write him off.

If any LB gets moved it would more likely be OLB Pollack who looks out of place at LB and heavy and thick in his frame for a LB.

While Pollack is on the slower side (4.7) side for a LB he is still faster than MLB Nicholson .(4.7 is fast for a DE)also Pollack was the best DE in the draft last year.

If Nicholson gets moved to starting MLB then its to move Pollack to DE and Thurman would than go to OLB.

The most likely moves would be Landon Johnson to OLB or maybe even one of the ufa'slike Brushing.

Thurman stays at MLB

Pollack moves to DE.

I am not so sure Nicholson will even beat out Miller.

[Kazkal]

Thurman should have been rookie of the year and in the Pro Bowl at MLB he is fast,smart,and one of the best MLB's in the NFL.

I think its a little early to pencil in a rookie that has sun dial speed 4.9 speed and more character questions than WR Henry came in with and look where Henry is (suspended) in his 2nd season.

Although LBSimmons has had a leg operation, he came into the league with 4.5 speed and is susposed to be at that same speed now.

Simmons also has valuable experience under his belt and veteran leadership.

Its a little early to write him off.

If any LB gets moved it would more likely be OLB Pollack who looks out of place at LB and heavy and thick in his frame for a LB.

While Pollack is on the slower side (4.7) side for a LB he is still faster than MLB Nicholson .(4.7 is fast for a DE)also Pollack was the best DE in the draft last year.

If Nicholson gets moved to starting MLB then its to move Pollack to DE and Thurman would than go to OLB.

The most likely moves would be Landon Johnson to OLB or maybe even one of the ufa'slike Brushing.

Thurman stays at MLB

Pollack moves to DE.

I am not so sure Nicholson will even beat out Miller.

Thurman or tatupu should have been,mermiman is so overrated the only reason he was able to get droy was because of the colts game which it wasen't even his play that led to sacking manning it was his teammates chasing manning right in to him...I wonder what pollack would clock in now with the weight loss....Isen't 4.7 avg - abv avg for a linebacker? + his agilty/quickness make up for it if you wanna use combine scores look at his conedrills insane times for everything else

[Kazkal]

OLB times for this draft

Hawk 4.59

Sims 4.50

Carpenter 4.65

greenway 4.75

DeMeco Ryans 4.62

McIntosh 4.61

D'Qwell Jackson 4.7

Hodge 4.76

Gerris Wilkinson 4.72

Pollack was what 265-270? coming out of the draft this year where most of these guys weigh 230-250...I wonder if david would mind running a 40 for us

[schweinhart]

Gerris Wilkinson 4.72

If the Bengals were looking at grooming a replacement for B-Simms, this guy would've made a lot of sense and they were also reported talking with him a few times. But there were real questions about whether can play WSLB well enough. Another 3rd rounder -- James Anderson -- probably has a better shot to play the position and could do so right away for the Panthers this year. Had Rocky McIntosh fell to them in the 2nd, they may have looked hard at him but short of that, the pickings were pretty slim.

Landon can backup B-Simms but has to stop getting washed out vs. the run when the stretch comes his way. But his coverage skills are fine enough and that's most important at that position. So long as he keeps his shoulders in their sockets, he'll be a solid backup if B-Simms sours fast.

Seems like there's less of a chance that Nicholson plays weakside than the middle even. He'd have to make his mark as a Pollack backup and a special teamer if he can headhunt anywhere close as good as Marcus Wilkins can. Then again Rashad Jeanty could kick both of Nicholson and Wilkins to the street. Good comp at that spot and it'll be interesting to see how they play in preseason. I'd guess early that Nicholson and Jeanty stick and Navies and Wilkins don't.