Moch Suspended Four Games

[volcom69]

No, I don't get the plan at LB, either.

The Bengals typically carry 7 LBs, and they brought back Brandon Johnson last season only after Muckelroy was placed on IR. So I have to think the coaches have a high opinion of Muckelroy.

If I had to guess what the Bengals "plan" is, it would be:

Will: Howard and Muckelroy

Mike: Maualuga and Burfict (hopefully over Skuta)

Sam: Lawson and Moch

ST: Vincent Rey

Your guess is as good as mine as to who will get the roster spot for Moch while he's suspended.

I'm comfortable with the starters and there is a lot of high potential youth as depth. It's certainly not the strength of the roster... but I don't see it as a glaring weakness either.

They seem to be loving Skuta and they say he could be starting at the Sam over Lawson. I like Skuta but not as a starter, so that kind of worries me.

[ArmyBengal]

All the coaches always love all the players this time of the year.

We will see what happens come camp and preseason.

If Skuta starts, I honestly can't say as I would be happy with that.

Wasn't he our backup at MLB ??

[derekshank]

The problem is that neither you nor I have any idea if these guys are talented or not, because they haven't been on the field.

The same can be said for every rookie every year. That doesn't keep us from expecting them to perform when given the opportunity.

It's also irrelevant. The discussion we're currently having is based on displeasure that the Bengals didn't bring back Brandon Johnson. A player they clearly didn't intend to bring back last year until injuries made it a necessity. So you're right. Neither you nor I have any idea. But the coaches probably have a good idea... and they were ready to move on from Brandon Johnson last year.

Could the coaches be wrong about the potential they see in these young guys? Sure. But for my part, I'm not shedding any tears on the loss of Brandon Johnson. He was average... and getting older. The Steelers can have him. I'll take my chances with the young guys.

[Sea Ray]

Is it just me or do our division rivals sign a lot more of our guys than we do theirs? What's up with that? I must say I'm a little uncomfortable with it

[redsbengalsbucks]

Is it just me or do our division rivals sign a lot more of our guys than we do theirs? What's up with that? I must say I'm a little uncomfortable with it

The Ravens need help at OL and the Steelers are short on backup LB's. Seems to me that the Bengals are shedding older talent for younger talent and the needy teams are grabbing up the limited time left on the older guys tires. I'd rather be in the Bengals position, a place that isnt normal for the franchise.

[HoosierCat]

The problem is that neither you nor I have any idea if these guys are talented or not, because they haven't been on the field.

The same can be said for every rookie every year. That doesn't keep us from expecting them to perform when given the opportunity.

What rookies? The only rookie is Burfict. Moch and Muck have been around 2 and 3 years, respectively. Neither has been able to stay healthy, or make much of an impact when healthy.

It's also irrelevant. The discussion we're currently having is based on displeasure that the Bengals didn't bring back Brandon Johnson. A player they clearly didn't intend to bring back last year until injuries made it a necessity.

It's not just about Johnson. They seemed about as interested in bringing Lawson back this year as they did Johnson last year. Now Skuta is supposedly right with him for a starting spot. That makes you comfortable? Then there was the decision to bring Vontaze Burfict on board. In addition to being a head case, he's just not all that -- as you yourself pointed out. Toss the Keith Rivers trade on top and you have a LB corps with far more questions than answers.

[Walrus]

The discussion we're currently having is based on displeasure that the Bengals didn't bring back Brandon Johnson. A player they clearly didn't intend to bring back last year until injuries made it a necessity. So you're right. Neither you nor I have any idea. But the coaches probably have a good idea... and they were ready to move on from Brandon Johnson last year.

We were fortunate to have that option last year. You dangle good players out there and sooner or later they get snapped up.

Could the coaches be wrong about the potential they see in these young guys? Sure. But for my part, I'm not shedding any tears on the loss of Brandon Johnson. He was average... and getting older. The Steelers can have him. I'll take my chances with the young guys.

The problem is that Brandon Johnson was the best Bengal LBer with more than 1 year on our roster -- probably better than the guy he was backing up (Rivers). Who we also let go. And who also will be a backup with his new team. Maybe that is a sad statement about our LB corp, but it's the truth.

Which brings us back to the point that our LB corp is weak and thin. Yes, there is potential there, but feeling good about those guys requires putting my faith in some unproven players who are also proven knuckleheads. And I'm just not there yet.

[derekshank]

What rookies? The only rookie is Burfict. Moch and Muck have been around 2 and 3 years, respectively. Neither has been able to stay healthy, or make much of an impact when healthy.

I'm not talking specifically about current rookies. I'm talking about every single year there are rookies on the roster that we expect to perform. This year we have guys like Kirkpatrick and Ziegler that we expect, or at least hope will start right away. And others like Sanu and Charles that we hope can contribute immediately... even if they don't start. Why should that be different for a guy like Muckelroy? The coaches have liked him enough that two years running they have been willing to let a proven veteran walk because he's waiting in the wings.

It makes sense to have more expectations for Muckelroy than for a rookie. He got a little playing time his rookie year, and prior to his injury last year was getting rave reviews from the coaching staff. He's got a couple of years of coaching - and he should be ready to step into a playing role better than most.

It's not just about Johnson. They seemed about as interested in bringing Lawson back this year as they did Johnson last year. Now Skuta is supposedly right with him for a starting spot. That makes you comfortable?

Lawson was a situational run stopper last year... and he performed that role very well. So, yes. I'm comfortable with him. As for Skuta... no that doesn't make me very comfortable - but I also haven't seen him play at Sam. Perhaps he's a more complete player than Lawson. Anyway... that's beside the point.

Cincinnati has always shown plenty of willingness to bring in veteran stop gaps in the past. In fact, it often seems like that's the way they prefer to handle questionable depth at a position. They've done it like crazy at CB the past few years (Clements, Pacman, Allen, and Newman). And despite all of the youth they have at WR, there were still whispers that the Bengals were somewhat interested in taking a look at Braylon Edwards. But with the LB position, the Bengals haven't even shown the slightest interest in looking into free agency. Not a peep.

Simply observing their behavior should indicate that the coaching staff seems confident enough in what they have at LB. They haven't even considered a veteran stop-gap. So while we can all agree that this isn't an elite group of guys, it seems obvious that the Bengals don't feel like Brandon Johnson offers them anything they don't already have.

So in short... yes. I'm comfortable with the depth - because the Bengals seem even more comfortable than I do.

[ArmyBengal]

I look at this the same way I look at the draft.

While there are players I may like or dislike, that has zero to do with what the coaches see day in and day out.

Soooo, while I might not be perfectly content with the backup LB situation (and i'm not), if the coaches say they are good, I will trust they have a better perspective than I do.