Maualuga May Move to Middle This Year...

[savagehenry54]

....82-maualuga-to-middle

Zimmer and defensive staff reportedly looking to move Rey to the middle and hoping for MJ to win SAM job.

[Kazkal]

....82-maualuga-to-middle

Zimmer and defensive staff reportedly looking to move Rey to the middle and hoping for MJ to win SAM job.

I love the idea of MJ playing strong well still being able put his hand down and play end,Then Reyrey in the Middle thumping people? Can't wait =)

[savagehenry54]

....82-maualuga-to-middle

Zimmer and defensive staff reportedly looking to move Rey to the middle and hoping for MJ to win SAM job.

I love the idea of MJ playing strong well still being able put his hand down and play end,Then Reyrey in the Middle thumping people? Can't wait =)

Imagine how disruptive MJ could be rushing the QB or dropping back into a zone with that wingspan...could be beautiful.

[derekshank]

....82-maualuga-to-middle

Zimmer and defensive staff reportedly looking to move Rey to the middle and hoping for MJ to win SAM job.

Wow. Moving Rey to the middle seems like a really good sign on two fronts. It means that they really trust Rey to take over for Dhani Jones (something I wasn't sure he was ready for yet). More than that, it likely means that MJ is coming along well enough to play significant time at the SSLB spot, if not start there in Rey's place.

Nothing but good news here.

[Kazkal]

....82-maualuga-to-middle

Zimmer and defensive staff reportedly looking to move Rey to the middle and hoping for MJ to win SAM job.

I love the idea of MJ playing strong well still being able put his hand down and play end,Then Reyrey in the Middle thumping people? Can't wait =)

Imagine how disruptive MJ could be rushing the QB or dropping back into a zone with that wingspan...could be beautiful.

no doubt, teams wont know if hes gonna rush the passer or drop back in to coverage.

[volcom69]

....82-maualuga-to-middle

Zimmer and defensive staff reportedly looking to move Rey to the middle and hoping for MJ to win SAM job.

Wow. Moving Rey to the middle seems like a really good sign on two fronts. It means that they really trust Rey to take over for Dhani Jones (something I wasn't sure he was ready for yet). More than that, it likely means that MJ is coming along well enough to play significant time at the SSLB spot, if not start there in Rey's place.

Nothing but good news here.

Im suprised at this as well, my question is Rey ready for that, i like Dahni maybe alittle slow but a great leader on defense. I still love me B. Johnson at LB also so i hope he gets in on some sub packages as well. If Rey is ready that is awsome, and more MJ on the field the better i like it.

[derekshank]

....82-maualuga-to-middle

Zimmer and defensive staff reportedly looking to move Rey to the middle and hoping for MJ to win SAM job.

Wow. Moving Rey to the middle seems like a really good sign on two fronts. It means that they really trust Rey to take over for Dhani Jones (something I wasn't sure he was ready for yet). More than that, it likely means that MJ is coming along well enough to play significant time at the SSLB spot, if not start there in Rey's place.

Nothing but good news here.

Im suprised at this as well, my question is Rey ready for that, i like Dahni maybe alittle slow but a great leader on defense. I still love me B. Johnson at LB also so i hope he gets in on some sub packages as well. If Rey is ready that is awsome, and more MJ on the field the better i like it.

Agreed. I feel like what Zimmer really likes are interchangeable pieces. The more guys he can get doing more things, the better the team will be. The depth is the best I can remember, and each guy brings a different set of skills. The term "starter" has never meant less for a Bengals LB corps.

[ArmyBengal]

This is my line of thought with this:

If Zimmer says they are good with Rey in the middle and MJ on the outside, I have no reason to question that.

I will simply say that this would even be more reason to be excited about this season !!!

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Agreed. I feel like what Zimmer really likes are interchangeable pieces. The more guys he can get doing more things, the better the team will be. The depth is the best I can remember, and each guy brings a different set of skills. The term "starter" has never meant less for a Bengals LB corps.

Always a good idea in football - if a guy goes down, you'd like the ability to rotate guys around to ensure you get the best possible cast on the field. I was hoping they'd do this simply because Dhani is getting older - and I'd rather not find out too late that he's developed Tory James Legs. You know, where you go from Pro-Bowl to getting out-run by Andre Smith in one offseason.

Besides, Rey did a good job on the outside but I think he was meant to play the middle.

[derekshank]

Per Reedy

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - His first season could easily be described as hectic both on and off the field. But over the last six months, things have come more into focus for Rey Maualuga.

Going into his second year with the Bengals, the linebacker has a clearer path of what he needs to do to succeed on the field while finding balance off it. A lot of that perspective has come six months following his arrest on drunk driving charges on Jan. 29

Maualuga was given seven days in jail, waived on the condition that he have no more offenses for two years, fined $859 and had his driver's license suspended for 90 days.

Since that incident, he said, he has not had a drink.

"It's just a learning process," Maualuga said. "Each day you're learning something new about yourself. It was a chance to get to know who I was, what I did and just to learn that different part of me when that incident actually happened. You have a clearer picture in life of your opportunities. It was a good thing it happened then."

In his first season of playing outside linebacker, Maualuga had a solid season with 80 tackles, which was fifth on team, but they were void of many big plays.

His biggest hit happened in Week 2 at Green Bay when he sacked Aaron Rodgers and forced a fumble. The next week against Pittsburgh he showed his toughness when he was carted off in the second half of the Pittsburgh game with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, only to return a couple series later.

His season ended prematurely in Week 16 against Kansas City when he fractured his left ankle. Maualuga returned in time for the on-field coaching sessions in May but was limited after feeling pain in his leg. Toward the end of OTAs he had surgery on his leg to remove calcium deposits and said that he was not feeling any pain after the first four days of camp.

Overall though Maualuga felt that last year was a disappointment.

"I wanted to come out and make more plays," he said. "I wanted to be in on every play and make an impact and I don't think I did that. I'm just hoping to wash away everything that happened last year what I did on the football field and worry about a fresh, new start."

Linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald has also been impressed with the way Maualuga has matured over the last six months not only as a person but as someone trying to be a leader.

"It was a big-time reality check for him and he's handled it very well," FitzGerald said.

"When he joined the team for workouts he knew he had to win everyone back and do it the right way because people would be able to see through if he wasn't real about what he was doing. He needs to feel as though he gained some respect for the person that he is now, overcoming the mistakes that he made and that will push him into that leadership role a little more."

Asked to describe himself and the last six months, Maualuga sees himself as a more patient person and that it hasn't been a struggle, instead it's been more of a learning process. He's also hoping that through his mistakes that others can learn.

As for the biggest thing he's learned, Maualuga said it has been to live in the now and not worry about tomorrow or next week.

Even though last year was an adjustment for Maualuga in playing Sam (strong-side outside) linebacker for the first time, there's even more on his plate this year. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is putting Maualuga into more packages as the Mike (middle) linebacker in base and nickel packages. The middle is the more natural position for Maualuga.

He's also been playing the middle with Dhani Jones on some 3-4 packages that the Bengals will experiment with during the preseason.

"There's no excuse anymore. I've got a year under my belt and I think I know what I'm doing out there," Maualuga said. "As soon as a play is called you know why the coach is calling it and what my job is out in the field. I've got the physical part down. I just have to get that mental part going and line up and play."

For Maualuga and the linebackers, this is a big season. FitzGerald talks to the group about how they are a group that runs the defense. With Zimmer in his third year, they have the fundamentals down pat, but now is the time to turn it up a notch and be more physical and feared.

That's also a theme that FitzGerald has been hammering home to his group. He is hoping that this group can become like his 2006 group in Baltimore when Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas all made the Pro Bowl.

"He's doing a good job with the learning process, and it's going to be a gradual climb for a while," FitzGerald said. "I think you will see him blossom even more so to his capabilities."

[derekshank]

One sentence I found to be of particular interest (and one that was the topic of many debates over the years) was the mention of the 3-4.

He's also been playing the middle with Dhani Jones on some 3-4 packages that the Bengals will experiment with during the preseason.

[Wraith]

They may indeed be a better 3-4 defense than a 4-3 because of personnel.

the Bengals have a load of guys who can play 3-4 DE (Atkins, Fanene, Odom, Dunlap, T. Johnson) they can run different packages based upon a traditional run down vs. passing down and have the corners to coverup a package misalignment. At LBer it would give the defense the ability to put all their best athletes on the field at the same time with M.J. playing Derrick Thomas' elephant/monster position and running a varitiation of LeBeau's Fire Zone Blitz to occasionally get M.J. into the passing lanes. Maualuga playing the SSILB position and Dhani Jones on the field to keep guys in the right position. This team is so multiple that it is not even funny, ever thought about the potential of playing Roy Williams as a roveing LBer in a 4-2-5 with G. Wilson and Crocker or playing Hall, Joseph, and Adam Jones with Wilson and Crocker at Safety and Williams playing at the line of scrimmage in a 3-2-6? Zimmer could literally have 4 or 5 base packages that he could roll out any given week talk about confusion to the O. Coordinator!

[HairOnFire]

He's also been playing the middle with Dhani Jones on some 3-4 packages that the Bengals will experiment with during the preseason.

Further proof that starting LB roles may not mean very much on this team.

Even better, Zimmer has said this teams defensive improvement to date has come by way of better discipline and technique while playing in a very basic scheme....with bells, whistles, and fancy options yet to be added.

Well it's coming...if not here already. Because they've now got all of the pieces...from a NT, to a buttload of DE/DT hybrids, to a classic DE/OLB designated pass rusher, to multiple players capable of starting at ILB, to multiple interchangeable safties with experience, to a pair of elite starting corners capable of surviving without help. With depth everywhere....especially if Odom is healthy.

[ArmyBengal]

He's also been playing the middle with Dhani Jones on some 3-4 packages that the Bengals will experiment with during the preseason.

Further proof that starting LB roles may not mean very much on this team.

Even better, Zimmer has said this teams defensive improvement to date has come by way of better discipline and technique while playing in a very basic scheme....with bells, whistles, and fancy options yet to be added.

Well it's coming...if not here already. Because they've now got all of the pieces...from a NT, to a buttload of DE/DT hybrids, to a classic DE/OLB designated pass rusher, to multiple players capable of starting at ILB, to multiple interchangeable safties with experience, to a pair of elite starting corners capable of surviving without help. With depth everywhere....especially if Odom is healthy.

Music to my ears.

Say it again...

[volcom69]

He's also been playing the middle with Dhani Jones on some 3-4 packages that the Bengals will experiment with during the preseason.

Further proof that starting LB roles may not mean very much on this team.

Even better, Zimmer has said this teams defensive improvement to date has come by way of better discipline and technique while playing in a very basic scheme....with bells, whistles, and fancy options yet to be added.

Well it's coming...if not here already. Because they've now got all of the pieces...from a NT, to a buttload of DE/DT hybrids, to a classic DE/OLB designated pass rusher, to multiple players capable of starting at ILB, to multiple interchangeable safties with experience, to a pair of elite starting corners capable of surviving without help. With depth everywhere....especially if Odom is healthy.

The awsome thing about this depth on this team, is they can rotate guys and not lose much of a beat. It will keep guys fresh which will go along way.

Im excited to see MJ play LB this year if they use the 3-4 that will awsome and i cant wait.

[ArmyBengal]

My only concern with the depth we have been building is, how much of the new talent that they won't want to cut are going to have the same type of impact on special teams as the players they will have to cut to make room for them ?? I guess I'm simply saying I hope our special teams units don't take the hit and/or the new players coming in have a positive impact on teams play.

[HairOnFire]

He's also been playing the middle with Dhani Jones on some 3-4 packages that the Bengals will experiment with during the preseason.

Further proof that starting LB roles may not mean very much on this team.

Even better, Zimmer has said this teams defensive improvement to date has come by way of better discipline and technique while playing in a very basic scheme....with bells, whistles, and fancy options yet to be added.

Well it's coming...if not here already. Because they've now got all of the pieces...from a NT, to a buttload of DE/DT hybrids, to a classic DE/OLB designated pass rusher, to multiple players capable of starting at ILB, to multiple interchangeable safties with experience, to a pair of elite starting corners capable of surviving without help. With depth everywhere....especially if Odom is healthy.

Music to my ears.

Say it again...

Thanks to Wraith, who said it better than I did, I don't have to.

"This team is so multiple that it is not even funny..."

[BengalPimp]

No real surprise that Rey would be the starting MLB this year. When they drafted him, they envisioned him being the starting MLB in year two, and switched him to the strong side so he could get on the field more. Maualuga as MLB in year 2 was their goal all along. The question I have now is, who will be wearing the helmet-mic for the defense? Will it be Rey? and will it end up helping him, and him getting others players set?

I'm excited....Time to bring the pain!

P.S. Dhani Jones as a backup is a HUGE luxury, and he will still get his share of playing time.

[volcom69]

Just saw that Rey tweeked a hamstring so i hope its not to bad

[derekshank]

No real surprise that Rey would be the starting MLB this year.

P.S. Dhani Jones as a backup is a HUGE luxury, and he will still get his share of playing time.

Sure... but again - as I've said before, the term starter has never meant less for this defense. In fact, other than Hall, Joseph, and maybe Peko... everyone on the defense could be more accurately described as interchangeable parts rather than starters/back-ups.

[Kazkal]

Find it interesting Cracking him in at first with Nickle Packages.

[Sea Ray]

Just saw that Rey tweeked a hamstring so i hope its not to bad

I know Rey had a cramp issue on Saturday but I don't think that was a big deal. My morning Enquirer doesn't show him as missing either practice yesterday

[ArmyBengal]

I just read cramps as well. Hope that's still the case here...

[volcom69]

I just read cramps as well. Hope that's still the case here...

I just was reading what Reedy wrote on his twitter. I think i saw on bengals.com that he strained or tweeked his hamstring, something like that. I dont know for sure i just hope its not big deal

[Sea Ray]

I just read cramps as well. Hope that's still the case here...

I just was reading what Reedy wrote on his twitter. I think i saw on bengals.com that he strained or tweeked his hamstring, something like that. I dont know for sure i just hope its not big deal

If he's still practicing then it's nothing to worry about at this point