Who will be better this year

[chazf73]

Just was wondering what everyone's thinking about Pollack and Thurman. Which one will be more productive their rookie year. Who will have a better career? I think Pollack will be a stud. If Marvin uses him right, I can see him doing great things. We have to move him around which it sounds like thats what there gonna do. Thurman I believe will be solid, big time hitter with emotion (something we need around here on defense). Both good players...any thoughts?

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

We shall see. Pollack will be a full time starter so he will have more opportunity. He is also learning a new position, but the man is a football player and he is working hard and won't take failure as a valid option.

Thurman on the other hand, is ready to step into his old space, for a new team, and will try to hold off Landon Johnson for the starting role. He will at minimum end up sharing some time at ILB.

[StripesNTn]

Thurman to me seems a natural at mlb, i wouldn't be surprised to see him start the whole season with Landon being first backup to Pollack and Thurman

[UK Bengal]

I think they both will have outstanding rookie seasons as they both have the talent moreso thurman as hes not converting position.

[BengalPappaw]

I really like the chances that both of these guys can/will contribute to improving our defense.

I agree with the poster on one of the LB topics that said Thurman will contribute more early and Pollack will come on later in the season -- that sounds good to me!

I want the competition for Defensive Rookie of the Year to be between Thurman and Pollack.

What is more important to me is that the TEAM is in the top 10 defenses in the NFL with two or three SHUTOUTS -- no runner with more than 100 yds. (I know I've changed the topic -- sorry)

COME ON SEASON!! :player:

[AMC]

Both will have a ton of tackles. Pollack may look better on paper because of more sacks, but Thurman will have 100+ tackles. As for impact-value they will be about even. Pollack with QB pressure, big plays and Thurman with run stopping and big plays.

Both were drafted for big plays but they may do it in different ways.....

:player: :player: :player:

[CTBengalsFan]

I think Odell since he isn't changing positions.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

You are all assuming Odell remains the starter when Landon Johnson is 100% healthy. Remember, he DID do a pretty damned good job in the middle last year for us as a rookie.

[Sox]

I don't know if I can pick one over the other.

I believe both will have solid seasons.

[bengalsLB]

You are all assuming Odell remains the starter when Landon Johnson is 100% healthy. Remember, he DID do a pretty damned good job in the middle last year for us as a rookie.

yeah he will landon played well last year but he is a OLB who was a band-aid

and thurman is a middle linebacker. marvin woundn't give odell the strating job unless he was better than landon

[BengalszoneBilly]

I think Odell since he isn't changing positions.

I'll concur with that! Then next season the "Sacker Cracker" will rule!

[CTBengalsFan]

You are all assuming Odell remains the starter when Landon Johnson is 100% healthy. Remember, he DID do a pretty damned good job in the middle last year for us as a rookie.

also remember that Landon isn't healthy yet...

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

You are all assuming Odell remains the starter when Landon Johnson is 100% healthy.  Remember, he DID do a pretty damned good job in the middle last year for us as a rookie.

yeah he will landon played well last year but he is a OLB who was a band-aid

and thurman is a middle linebacker. marvin woundn't give odell the strating job unless he was better than landon

He is only taking starter snaps right now because Landon isn't 100% healthy.

[ArmyBengal]

Odell is the starter and he won't be losing that job to LJ. I see a rotation coming into play (what a rotation it will be), but MLB is Odells natural position not LJ's. I love what LJ did last year and am still looking for big things from him, but the middle belongs to Odell now until proven otherwise. I'm happy with that.

WHODEY !!!

[derekshank]

What is more important to me is that the TEAM is in the top 10 defenses in the NFL with two or three SHUTOUTS

Wow, the optimism is really flowing right now. There were only 4 shutouts all year last year, and no defense had more than one. If the Bengals have 2 or 3 on their own, we will be the #1 ranked defense in the league.

P.S. one of the shutouts was against S.F. and another against CLE. Hardly anything to brag about there. What? Cleveland scored 48 on us? Needless to say, I'd be content if we could limit the number of games that we allowed more than 20, instead of the shut-outs. I have a feeling that you were being a bit facetious anyway.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

MLB is Odells natural position not LJ's. I love what LJ did last year and am still looking for big things from him, but the middle belongs to Odell now until proven otherwise. I'm happy with that.

WHODEY !!!

MLB isn't Landon Johnson's natural position? Holy crap! If that's the case, how on earth are Brian Simmons and David Pollack going to keep their jobs at OLB? Landon Johnson was great last year at OLB.

Odell is far from completely securing that ILB position. If Landon comes back healthy and plays, he has just as much of a chance of beating Odell out at MLB as Peter Warrick has of beating out Chris Henry at WR.

[derekshank]

MLB is Odells natural position not LJ's.  I love what LJ did last year and am still looking for big things from him, but the middle belongs to Odell now until proven otherwise.  I'm happy with that.

WHODEY !!!

MLB isn't Landon Johnson's natural position? Holy crap! If that's the case, how on earth are Brian Simmons and David Pollack going to keep their jobs at OLB? Landon Johnson was great last year at OLB.

Odell is far from completely securing that ILB position. If Landon comes back healthy and plays, he has just as much of a chance of beating Odell out at MLB as Peter Warrick has of beating out Chris Henry at WR.

I guess so... but it is true that Landon is naturally an OLB, and I believe he's going to be the LOLB. Simmons will play out his contract, but drafting Pollack, and then Odell was just a sign that Simmons will most likely not be a lifetime Bengal, unless he decides he's ready to retire, on play for less. Johnson will get his playing time this year for sure, and I'm sure plenty of it will be at MLB, because he was good there, but I think he is our future LOLB.

I believe Thurman will start at MLB, because, why whould Marvin Lewis lie about that? However, that doesn't mean that Landon won't have his chance to win the job away from him. He just needs to get healthy.

P.S. Landon will not beat out Simmons this year, however, I think we have our LB corps of next 10 years currently on the roster.

[StripesNTn]

As i said Landon will be first backup at 2 if not all 3 spots

Which in no way shows Landon in a bad light he will do a good job getting many snaps at various spots.

[bengalsLB]

does simmons play weakside or strong side?

[DawgNeil]

Thurman to start off...Pollack overall

[derekshank]

Hey Dawgneil. A Georgia fan I take it? We're happy to welcome all Georgia fans now that we are starting close to 30% of your previous defense. Hope you come on board as a Bengals fan. Even if not, welcome... we are looking forward to see your boys play this year.