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Nelson to Start at Safety ??


ArmyBengal

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This is part of an article on Profootball Weekly:

Eight Bengals defensive backs were lost for the season because of injury or illness a season ago. Such upheaval doesn't help continuity in the secondary, but it does create opportunities for backups to step up, and such was the case with ex-Jaguars S Reggie Nelson, who's looking to move into a full-time starting role in 2011 after moving into the lineup late last season.

"I expect big things out of Reggie Nelson," Bengals defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle told PFW on June 9.

Nelson, a first-round pick in 2007, fell out of favor in Jacksonville because of inconsistent play, and Coyle wants him to be more steady. However, Nelson, who started six games in 2010 after being acquired in September, definitely made a positive impression. Head coach Marvin Lewis indicated to Bengals.com in April that Nelson was expected to start opposite of Chris Crocker, and Coyle said that a starting role was there for the taking for Nelson.

Nelson could benefit from more experience in the defense, Coyle said, noting that Nelson "didn't have a lot of time to get familiar with the system" in 2010.

"He can make plays at a really high level," Coyle added.

Here's the rest of the article:
/>http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/06/11/bengals-hoping-nelson-builds-on-promising-2010

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For what it's worth, I can't think of many other players on this roster that (if he could realize his potential) would impact this team as greatly as Reggie Nelson. I'm still not 100% sure of why he fell out of favor in Jacksonville after being their first round pick in 2007 (call me lazy) but there has to be something there athletically. Maybe Coyle can get the best out of him.

The reason I bring it up, outside the article of course, is I can easily look to the safety position and finds all kinds of reason to be worried. Crocker has a knack for getting dinged, Roy Williams certainly isn't getting younger, Ndukwe could be leaving via FA (not that I would care), and outside of drafting Sands, there simply isn't much.

We are left with hoping and praying guys either stay healthy, realize potential, or play at a level much higher than their draft position suggests they will. I really wish they would address the safety position more than they have, but then again, if they didn't have to figure out how to deal with a QB who wants to up and quit, they may have been able to do that earlier this draft.

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I'm not sure how true it is, because I don't follow the Jaguars very closely... but I remember reading that Nelson struggled because he was used in a lot of man coverages, and his strength is in the zone as a ball hawking FS.

He's got all the physical tools in the world, so if the Bengals use scheme to maximize his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses, he ought to be a very good player. He may never live up to his draft status... but he is a gifted player who should have no trouble earning a starting job when you look at the depth chart for Cincy.

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I'm not sure how true it is, because I don't follow the Jaguars very closely... but I remember reading that Nelson struggled because he was used in a lot of man coverages, and his strength is in the zone as a ball hawking FS.

He's got all the physical tools in the world, so if the Bengals use scheme to maximize his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses, he ought to be a very good player. He may never live up to his draft status... but he is a gifted player who should have no trouble earning a starting job when you look at the depth chart for Cincy.

Well if he's gonna play along Crocker,They should just move Crocker to SS he's physical enough.

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Sorry for the confusion there TDB...

With the lockout, there isn't much going on, so when I saw a story about an actual player under contract and his position coach commenting about his play and possibility to start, I figured it was probably one of the better topics recently. Safety is really one of my bigger concerns heading (hopefully) into this season. I know JJoe is a question mark with free agency, but if they could get some solid play from the safety position and Reggie Nelson, losing JJoe and seeing Adam Jones start would be a lot less worrisome for me.

Then again, there's always Carson and Chad to talk about huh ??

Now there's a place the barf emoticon in need of great use.

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