Webster Likely Done

[BengalBobNC]

It appears Bengals middle linebacker Nate Webster is headed to season-ending injured reserve. Head coach Marvin Lewis said he had surgery on his injured kneecap Monday morning, is out for this Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, and could go on IR as soon as this week.

Bengals Official Home

Overheard at PBS:

"Oh Mr. Ross? Can you come back and play please? We're sorry we cut you!"

[The Brew Man]

Geesh, it just gets worse. Nate gone for the year? Our D cant afford to take hits like this.....

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Bah Nate's only good game was against Miami's horrid offense - he was non-existent yesterday and gave up that 75 yard, game clinching run to Lewis on a blatant missed tackle - do not over-value the guy he proved why he was a back-up for so long here.

Same with Ross, they sent him home for a reason (never liked him).

Time to put the young'ins in folks - Johnson, Miller, Askew (when he comes back soon hopefully), Ratliff, et al..., not that they are ready but some good experience and to see what ya really got is always nice.

It's time to face reality in that this team is going nowhere this year and still needs serious changes in personnel and on the coaching staff.

There will be good games, at least, and bad games like 2 out of the last 3.

Honeymoon's over Marvin, better start showing some improvement or sense of direction or people are going to start turning on you here...after 14 years we have little patience for incompetence!

[IckeyShuffle]

Ross is not the answer apparently, he's going home with no contract.

"Preliminary indications are that the Bengals will move third-round rookie Caleb Miller into Webster’s spot and that they won’t sign former Bengals linebacker Adrian Ross after they brought him in from California for a workout Monday afternoon.

“All I know is I’m headed back home. But I think I’ll stick around a few days,” Ross said.

[Skilly McRailnob]

$&%

[jditty47]

sucks about webster:( hes led our team in tackles the past 2 weeks...and on jamaals big run, it was smith that got busted through, not webster.

and im exstacic about them not signing ross back, THANK GOD!!! Miller can do a better job than him anyday of the week.

[Kirkendall]

While a lot of people are bitching and complaining about Palmer, the defense is why the Bengals lost two games. Seriously, if anyone thinks otherwise, I'll be more than happy to provide a plethora of stats; and idealism of course.

Webster is a problem -- not solution -- on defense and I've been one of his major critics from the git-go.

I hate to say it, but him being injured may benefit the Bengals; I don't have a reason to suggest otherwise.

[Barbarian]

While a lot of people are bitching and complaining about Palmer, the defense is why the Bengals lost two games. Seriously, if anyone thinks otherwise, I'll be more than happy to provide a plethora of stats; and idealism of course.

Webster is a problem -- not solution -- on defense and I've been one of his major critics from the git-go.

I hate to say it, but him being injured may benefit the Bengals; I don't have a reason to suggest otherwise.

Kirk's post is exactly why I'm indifferent about this injury. While I hate to have people injured, Nate Webster really wasn't helping out any. Sure, he was very capable of making tackles 15-20 yards downfield, but he wasn't making the "huge difference" that he was advertised as making when he was signed in the offseason.

The fact is, guys, is that Nate Webster was proving why he was a BACKUP in Tampa for the 4 years that he was there.

However, I don't see anyone else that the Bungles have doing a better job at MLB, so this could hurt.

Kirk has been critical of the Oompa--and so have I. I'm not all for a MLB being the size of Webster and still kicking ass in the NFL.

Not everyone can be DAT NYEGUN.

[ackley1]

I'm not really too high on Nate either but we could use all of the help we can get on D. I do agree w/ Kirk in that our defense is the reason we are losing. I can't beleive how quick alot of these guys have turned on Palmer. I don't think Kitna would have done much better in any of these games. :player:

[JPW]

Bah Nate's only good game was against Miami's horrid offense - he was non-existent yesterday.....

I believe that he was the one who stripped the ball from Boller at the goal lineyesterday.

[BengalBax]

Yeah, he did do that. Then our anemic offense came up and stank up the joint. We got two turnovers yesterday guys. That should be a good shot for any NFL team to win. But oh wait, Palmer threw 3 backbreaking (AND UGLY) interceptions. That throw downfield to a double teamed CJ reminded me of the GUS FEROTTE left handed sling pass to a Cleveland lineman in 2002. The memories......

[Jam31]

I thought Webster was gonna be the next Ray Lewis??

[JPW]

I thought Webster was gonna be the next Ray Lewis??

Webster is no Ray Lewis and nobody ever said that he was.

But he was playing alright....

If you don't believe it just ask Boller about WTF happened to the BALL as he got to the goal line on that play Jam.

He also recovered the ball on another fumble in that game.

Like I said he is no Ray Lewis but he was doing ok...

[HoosierCat]

Webster is no Ray Lewis and nobody ever said that he was.

But he was playing alright....

If you don't believe it just ask Boller about WTF happened to the BALL as he got to the goal line on that play Jam.

He also recovered the ball on another fumble in that game.

Like I said he is no Ray Lewis but he was doing ok...

100% agree. Losing him hurts. It looked like he was finally getting into a groove...and wham! that's all she wrote for this season.

Injuries are killing us -- and a lot of teams -- this year.

[TippCityRick]

I also agree that NW wasn't the problem. Guys his size need run stuffing tackles in front of him, guys that will take on multiple blockers. We don't have any of them on this team. Ill conceived defensive plan.

However I have no answers. Nate, get better and get ready for '05.

[Barbarian]

I thought Webster was gonna be the next Ray Lewis??

Webster is no Ray Lewis and nobody ever said that he was.

But he was playing alright....

If you don't believe it just ask Boller about WTF happened to the BALL as he got to the goal line on that play Jam.

He also recovered the ball on another fumble in that game.

Like I said he is no Ray Lewis but he was doing ok...

Hold on a sec--I was taking fire for being critical of Nate Webster at the beginning of the year from some of you homers. I distinctfully remember that Webster WAS compared to Da Killa.

I could pull that thread back up, if you'd like.

I stated that Webster being compared to Nate Webster was very ludicrous. I remember one of you homers saying "Just wait".

Well, I'm still waiting....

[JPW]

I thought Webster was gonna be the next Ray Lewis??

Webster is no Ray Lewis and nobody ever said that he was.

But he was playing alright....

If you don't believe it just ask Boller about WTF happened to the BALL as he got to the goal line on that play Jam.

He also recovered the ball on another fumble in that game.

Like I said he is no Ray Lewis but he was doing ok...

Hold on a sec--I was taking fire for being critical of Nate Webster at the beginning of the year from some of you homers. I distinctfully remember that Webster WAS compared to Da Killa.

I could pull that thread back up, if you'd like.

I stated that Webster being compared to Nate Webster was very ludicrous. I remember one of you homers saying "Just wait".

Well, I'm still waiting....

Pull the thread if you want to....

I never make a statement that Webster was a Ray Lewis.

But once again he was playing pretty well for us and losing him for the season hurts the team.

[ArmyBengal]

I think all fans to include myself were "hoping" to see the MLB position make a huge impact with the addition of Webster. He has played well enough to consider this injury a negative for the team. I don't see how anyone can say he was long term anyway considering the draft, (see Johnson and Miller) this just speeds up seeing what was sure to come. Now, the point to all of this, which seems to keep biting ML in the ass: WE NEED A FATASS IN THE MIDDLE !!! You need someone to keep people off your undersized, albeit fast LB's. We were told this was priority during the offseason, then S**T happened. Sapp, Gardner, nothing in the draft, so on and so on. Then the only thing that bothers me was ML's statement about all 11 on defense will work on stopping the run as a team, not just one position. Well, after 2 of 3 games, we need twice that to stop the run. Good God will someone please tackle the offensive player with the ball in the next game ?? Here's to holding onto hope and seeing things get better...

WHODEY !!!

[HoosierCat]

I never make a statement that Webster was a Ray Lewis.

But once again he was playing pretty well for us and losing him for the season hurts the team.

Yup. Hell, his number through the first three games compare quite well to Ray-Ray's...

Webster: 21 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 passes defensed

Ray-Ray: 28 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed

And to Army's point about him playing well enough to be missed, that's a big yup, too. Our last MLB, Hardy, racked up 92 tackles (about 5.7 a game, below Nate's average), 1.5 sacks, 1 FF, and 4 PDs in 15 starts. Simmons in '02, his last year in the middle, had 86 tackles, 3 sacks, 0 FF and 7 PDs. In other words, Nate had already made almost as many big plays in 3 games as Hardy did in 15, and was on course to do better than our last "good" MLB.

And one more thing: Nate's sack, FF, and PD numbers represent 50% of his career sacks, 100% of his career FFs, and 33% of his career PDs -- in just 3 games in a brand-new system! That was a damn promising start...and now he's down for the count. No two ways about it: that sucks.

[ackley1]

I miss Takeo!!!!

[FonzieDog]

It seemed to me that Nate was starting figure it out and was playing pretty decent. He looked pretty good against the Dolphins, but was that more the Dolphins making him and the rest of the defense look good? I'm not sure.

Either way, he was no Ray Lewis. I think people may have gotten their hopes up with him considering Marvin Lewis tabbed him as our new MLB. Perhaps we were hoping Marvin saw something in Nate that nobody else did?

[ShulaSteakhouse]

and on jamaals big run, it was smith that got busted through, not webster.

Uh, no, Webster was literally run over by Lewis at the LOS - two guys missed a tackle on that and Webster should've had him. i've seen it on film at least 3 times and was at the game.

Enough of the excuses for him, most overrated FA acquistion i've seen in a long time - he's too damn small, and will get hurt like this the rest of his career if he's required to start 16 games a year.

Marvin has yet to bring in a difference maker as a FA here - that's a fact - I'm okay with that for now - but the Bobbie Williams' and Carl Powell's of the world aren't going to win us any Sb's.

[kingwilly]

Nate Webster is done for the year and now we are forced to look at scrub FA's (Ross and Riall Johnson) OR start the very rookie Caleb Miller. What is sad is looking around the league and seeing the contributions of other FA's and rookies who seem to be making an impact.

The loss of Webster is more of a superficial problem as his impact has been minimal. His game against Miami was more a result of a TERRIBLE Miami offense that could not find its A$$ with two hands and a road map. Without a solid run D this team will be 4-12. I was hoping to see them have some success as the year wore on but the injuries, as compared to last year, are much more dramatic and the Salary cap impact for those on IR is what has our balls in a vice.

Once the O-Line gets even slightly healthy they will get Rudi rolling and open up for Carson to have just that 1 second longer to make the read and deliver the ball downfield. I am not too worried about that. Brat's play calling has always been hot/cold for me. Sometimes he gets the scheme right but toher times he simply loooks desperate. The only times I can recall his playcalling really working was vs KC, SF and at PIT. Most other games it was scattershot silliness. This year vs NYJ was another real ugly game, and the win vs MIA had to be some of the worst playcalling for a very long time. I am hoping that Carson develops and has the balls to audible the crap out of Brats totally predictable style.

Here is my list of guys who need to step their game UP:

Chris Perry - How can you, Mr. First-rounder, not be able to beat out Kenny Watson? Take your playbook and have it burned into your brain. Learn to block and develop a superior cut-back.

Kiewan Ratliff- How can you, Mr. Second-rounder, not be starting in front of Bauman. Ratliff has to imporve. He looks scared and confused everytime I see him on the field. BTW- Bauman looks pretty good. If Tory james turns an ankle, he should plan on a long stint on the sidelines.

D-Line - While I know that they cannot all gain 25-40 lbs, that would be nice. They are clearly overmatched but today's O-line units they have faced. Either win with speed or with size. To me they look small ADN slow.

Tight Ends/Brat - Hmm. let's see, take a young QB, and battered O-line and then have the TE's disappear. They should be schemed as Carson's dump off, safety valve, go-to guys. They also need to upgrade their blocking. Right now they are invisible.

[skyline]

I think Webster was really coming around. Great game against Miami, and he was leading the team in tackles at Baltimore as well, including the forced fumble AND recovery. I think had he gotten a full year in the system, that he would have been a solid player towards the end of the year. I'm pretty depressed about this one...

[denverbengal]

I think Webster was really coming around.  Great game against Miami, and he was leading the team in tackles at Baltimore as well, including the forced fumble AND recovery.  I think had he gotten a full year in the system, that he would have been a solid player towards the end of the year.  I'm pretty depressed about this one...

Yeah this one hurts, especially after reading this on bengals.com yesterday.

He felt he was just beginning to play well in his adjustment that began when he came over from Tampa Bay in free agency.  "You're feeling it, you're getting it back, you're getting your feet under you, and all of a sudden it's taken away from you," Webster said. "I miss seeing the guys, and then sitting home watching Pittsburgh. They're talking trash to our running back, messing with Rudi (Johnson), and I can't mess with Duce Staley."