USA Today article about the Bengals linebackers

[jjakq27]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...nebackers_N.htm

[BengalszoneBilly]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...nebackers_N.htm

Bengals turning to young, untested linebackers

Oh please...tell me something else that doesn't make me miss Odell.

[bengal4life]

I thought it was a pretty good read. What I hear about Henderson, makes me want to see him on the field. "Hitting machine," I think what Brooks says about him.

Here's an article Hobson wrote up on Henderson. I hope he's the real deal.

http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6160

[DesperateDerelict]

I thought it was a pretty good read. What I hear about Henderson, makes me want to see him on the field. "Hitting machine," I think what Brooks says about him.

Unfortunately, you gotta be in the right place at the right time, or there's nobody to hit. It seems like every year since Takeo left for Beefalo, the Bengals have had alot of 'speed' and 'toughness' and especially 'potential' at the linebacker spots. I think what we need is more 'intelligence' and 'experience' to run Marvin's defense correctly.

I am so-o-o-o-o-o tired of LBs filling the 'wrong' hole, or being just enough out of position that they're forced to try to arm tackle runners 3 yards downfield. I hate opposing TE's, RB's, and slot receivers wide open on shallow routes in the middle of the *(^&*%&% field! We seem to be susceptable to draws and screen plays, too.

Our first two picks from '05 are out indefinitely, so we are relying on lightly regarded players to be the backbone of our defense. Without Odell, I don't envision much respect from the national media or opposing OC's for our linebacking corps.

[bengal4life]

I thought it was a pretty good read. What I hear about Henderson, makes me want to see him on the field. "Hitting machine," I think what Brooks says about him.

Unfortunately, you gotta be in the right place at the right time, or there's nobody to hit. It seems like every year since Takeo left for Beefalo, the Bengals have had alot of 'speed' and 'toughness' and especially 'potential' at the linebacker spots. I think what we need is more 'intelligence' and 'experience' to run Marvin's defense correctly.

I am so-o-o-o-o-o tired of LBs filling the 'wrong' hole, or being just enough out of position that they're forced to try to arm tackle runners 3 yards downfield. I hate opposing TE's, RB's, and slot receivers wide open on shallow routes in the middle of the *(^&*%&% field! We seem to be susceptable to draws and screen plays, too.

Our first two picks from '05 are out indefinitely, so we are relying on lightly regarded players to be the backbone of our defense. Without Odell, I don't envision much respect from the national media or opposing OC's for our linebacking corps.

I agree with you but with the unfortanate problems we've had at the backer position, we've got what we've got. I don't expect the Bengals to go out and spend $40 mil on A. Thomas or get an old washed up backer for a temporary fix.

All we can do is coach up the players we do have as much as possible, and hopefully by midseason we'll have a strong backer unit.

[HairOnFire]

All questions about talent and experience aside, is there any team in the NFL with quieter linebackers than the Bengals? Landon, Ahmad, Rashad, and Caleb can all be described as lead by example but not from the huddle types. And while Hartwell certainly fits the bill as a trash talking "leader" I have serious doubts that he'll be used as a 3-down LB.

[BengalByTheBay]

I love that the initial point of the article is that because Pollack and Odell are out our LB's are "untested." Exactly how much PT did we get from Pollack and Odell last year? The throwaway comment that Simmons is now gone says far more about the loss of veteran experience from the LB's than the other two -- and I don't see a lot of people suggesting that was a bad move. Don't get me wrong, we remain a young crew with limited experience. But Odell didn't play a snap last year and Pollack gave us a couple of games. Jeanty is far less "untested" than he was last year and he'll start. Landon has to be considered a veteran now doesn't he? Brooks didn't have much PT last season, but he was the starter in a handful of games. Henderson will not be a starter. Edge is close to as old as Simmons was and the question there isn't experience but injury.

I see this season more as a question of whether the LB's who were "untested" last year are going to make strides. They can't cruise along acting like rookies this year. In fact, isn't that the biggest potential benefit of having drafted Brooks in the supplemental anyway? Now he's had some game-speed work. He's not a rookie like whoever we might have drafted with that 3rd had we kept it for this draft. I don't expect the USA Today to drop many nuggets on those of us who follow the team, but at least support your point with the facts you claim are significant. Is that too much to ask?

[GregCook]

I love that the initial point of the article is that because Pollack and Odell are out our LB's are "untested." Exactly how much PT did we get from Pollack and Odell last year? The throwaway comment that Simmons is now gone says far more about the loss of veteran experience from the LB's than the other two -- and I don't see a lot of people suggesting that was a bad move. Don't get me wrong, we remain a young crew with limited experience. But Odell didn't play a snap last year and Pollack gave us a couple of games. Jeanty is far less "untested" than he was last year and he'll start. Landon has to be considered a veteran now doesn't he? Brooks didn't have much PT last season, but he was the starter in a handful of games. Henderson will not be a starter. Edge is close to as old as Simmons was and the question there isn't experience but injury.

I see this season more as a question of whether the LB's who were "untested" last year are going to make strides. They can't cruise along acting like rookies this year. In fact, isn't that the biggest potential benefit of having drafted Brooks in the supplemental anyway? Now he's had some game-speed work. He's not a rookie like whoever we might have drafted with that 3rd had we kept it for this draft. I don't expect the USA Today to drop many nuggets on those of us who follow the team, but at least support your point with the facts you claim are significant. Is that too much to ask?

BengalbytheBay, that article was wrong about its headline wasn't it? I wonder if the writer even visited training camp?

As I see our defense, LB is a strength because there is experience + athleticism in every position. What's not to like?

Given a very athletic and talented secondary plus two fine ends in Geathers and Smith, our LB's with their speed and size should vastly improve the run & pass defense compared to prior years.

[HoosierCat]

I am so-o-o-o-o-o tired of LBs filling the 'wrong' hole, or being just enough out of position that they're forced to try to arm tackle runners 3 yards downfield. I hate opposing TE's, RB's, and slot receivers wide open on shallow routes in the middle of the *(^&*%&% field! We seem to be susceptable to draws and screen plays, too.

I have to chalk a lot of that up to the constant LB flux in the Marvin era. I don't think he's had the same 3 starting LBs in back-to-back season since he's been here. Hardy, Webster, Simmons, Pollack, Odell, Abdullah, Jeanty, Landon, Caleb, Hartwell, Frazier...every time you run around we have a new LB or two...or three. Hard for a unit to develop when people are constantly being swapped out.

[J24]

I am so-o-o-o-o-o tired of LBs filling the 'wrong' hole, or being just enough out of position that they're forced to try to arm tackle runners 3 yards downfield. I hate opposing TE's, RB's, and slot receivers wide open on shallow routes in the middle of the *(^&*%&% field! We seem to be susceptable to draws and screen plays, too.

I have to chalk a lot of that up to the constant LB flux in the Marvin era. I don't think he's had the same 3 starting LBs in back-to-back season since he's been here. Hardy, Webster, Simmons, Pollack, Odell, Abdullah, Jeanty, Landon, Caleb, Hartwell, Frazier...every time you run around we have a new LB or two...or three. Hard for a unit to develop when people are constantly being swapped out.

110% correct we have the Talent it seems but know conssintency in the starting LB.