odell

[redsbengalsbucks]

great article on bengals.com about odell thurman. after reading it i dont see how he fell so far in the draft, i hope he is all the coaching staff thinks he can be. coach lewis always seems to find a gem that has fallen from the first round for some reason other than football. speaking of has anyone heard anything about ben wilkerson, he could be great if he is healthy again.

[7/11]

i don't think odell has "character issues", but that depends on what you think character issues are. he's had an unconventional upbringing, by a lot of people's standards, and in return is pretty wild. i don't think it's anything that is going to cause problems for him or the bengals. he is a good guy, it seems like...

[AMC]

The Odell article was very nice. He seems to have a great support system especially after his parents died. Comes from a hrad working environment. When a kid gets out of that situation they usually make the most of it. If they don't work hard at what got them out they feel guilty for letting others down who worked hard to get them out of that environment. Hobson did a great job on that article.

Looks like Ben Wilkerson might go on the PUP list or IR. I am thinking IR. They have Braham, Moore and Ghiaciuc now. Next year Braham and Moore may both be gone and Wilkerson and Ghiaciuc will be ready to go.

:player: :player: :player: :player:

[redsbengalsbucks]

They have Braham, Moore and Ghiaciuc now. Next year Braham and Moore may both be gone and Wilkerson and Ghiaciuc will be ready to go.

:player: :player: :player: :player:

thanks for the info i had not heard how his rehab was progressing, if he would have been healthy he may have went in the second round and we sign him as a free agent go bengals

[BengalByTheBay]

I saw the article yesterday too. Obvious off-season fluff piece, but suprisingly well written I thought. He's an interesting guy from a tough background, but you can't find any NFL team without a dozen similar stories. You can't help but pull for the guy. Hopefully, he's gotten his rookie lessons a little earlier than some and is ready to take care of business. He couldn't have better role models than CJ and Rudi IMO. Sad to say, but I think we will need solid contributions from both he and Henry, so I hope they're keeping out of the clubs starting at the end of July.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I was under the impression Wilkerson would be ready for training camp and will get into the fray by preseason and will get a look at guard or center depending.

Could be wrong...

[Bobcat Bengal]

Sad to say, but I think we will need solid contributions from both he and Henry, so I hope they're keeping out of the clubs starting at the end of July.

How/Why is that sad to say?

You don't want the rookies to play at all?

I can't wait to see him in action, personally.

[DontPushMe]

speaking of has anyone heard anything about ben wilkerson, he could be great if he is healthy again.

He'd be lucky to make our practice squad. If hes not put on IR he will be cut or join the PS.

[GROIIIDayton]

if he is unable to play he will definitely be put on IR in hopes he will be fine by next season.

[DontPushMe]

if he is unable to play he will definitely be put on IR in hopes he will be fine by next season.

Agreed, and for him, thats his best option. To be honest, this injury he got probly helps him more then it hurts him as far as chances for being on a 53 man roster goes. If he didnt have that injury, theres no chance he would of made the team this year. He sure as hell isnt beating out Braham, Moore, or Ghiaciuc. But next year will be different. Guy-check will be starting, Moore will be off the team, and Braham will continue ageing. Wilkerson would have a shot next year at making the team as a backup center.

[derekshank]

if he is unable to play he will definitely be put on IR in hopes he will be fine by next season.

Agreed, and for him, thats his best option. To be honest, this injury he got probly helps him more then it hurts him as far as chances for being on a 53 man roster goes. If he didnt have that injury, theres no chance he would of made the team this year. He sure as hell isnt beating out Braham, Moore, or Ghiaciuc. But next year will be different. Guy-check will be starting, Moore will be off the team, and Braham will continue ageing. Wilkerson would have a shot next year at making the team as a backup center.

If it wasn't for his injury, he would have been drafted on the first day. He was projected to be a late 1st round early 2nd round pick before he got hurt, so I don't think this injury helps him in any way. He would have had no problem making a 53 man roster if he was healthy. I'm looking forward to seeing him play for us next year. he will not be on the practice squad, because then he will end up not being a Bengal.

[Kazkal]

I say let him and eric compete for next years starter then convert the loser to guard/back up center.

[AMC]

I say let him and eric compete for next years starter then convert the loser to guard/back up center.

I agree. Braham will still be on the team next year (he just signed a two-year deal that's cap friendly) but he'll be a third string mentor. With Guy-check and Wilkerson that position looks solid for many a year.

Also would be interesting situation if they can't resign Steinbach...

[Kazkal]

Something to look at marvin said he likes his centers with numbers in the 50's but wilkerson is still 64 so mybe they do plan on moving him to guard

heh

[BengalByTheBay]

Sad to say, but I think we will need solid contributions from both he and Henry, so I hope they're keeping out of the clubs starting at the end of July.

How/Why is that sad to say?

You don't want the rookies to play at all?

I can't wait to see him in action, personally.

I would like to think that we are not in the position of starting rookies on opening day. I think it speaks to the thinness we have on defense. Starting one exceptional rookie at a spot of need is one thing (ala Pollack), but starting two rookies at key positions on opening day is suboptimal as far as I'm concerned. In this case, I firmly believe that if Thurman starts it's because Landon is still coming back from his injury. None of this means that I don't have a lot of respect for Odell's upside, but ML is a position of huge responsibility and I would rather have the luxury of working him into the lineup rather than putting it all on his shoulders on 9/11. An above-average veteran with NFL snaps is going to play better (for the first few games at least) than even the most talented rookie.

Maybe what I meant to say is that I don't want to have to rely on them so much right from day 1. Obviously, I'm as pumped as anybody to get these guys on the field so we can kick the tires a little and see what they can do. It would be better to do so gradually than the time-tested (and usually unsuccessful) Bengal "sink-or-swim" method.

[DontPushMe]

if he is unable to play he will definitely be put on IR in hopes he will be fine by next season.

Agreed, and for him, thats his best option. To be honest, this injury he got probly helps him more then it hurts him as far as chances for being on a 53 man roster goes. If he didnt have that injury, theres no chance he would of made the team this year. He sure as hell isnt beating out Braham, Moore, or Ghiaciuc. But next year will be different. Guy-check will be starting, Moore will be off the team, and Braham will continue ageing. Wilkerson would have a shot next year at making the team as a backup center.

If it wasn't for his injury, he would have been drafted on the first day. He was projected to be a late 1st round early 2nd round pick before he got hurt, so I don't think this injury helps him in any way. He would have had no problem making a 53 man roster if he was healthy. I'm looking forward to seeing him play for us next year. he will not be on the practice squad, because then he will end up not being a Bengal.

Nope, you are wrong. Had he not been injured he probly would of gone in the 6th or 7th round. 5th if some team really liked him, but no higher. You guys fail to understand that he went undrafted because he isnt a very good player, not because he had an injury.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Sad to say, but I think we will need solid contributions from both he and Henry, so I hope they're keeping out of the clubs starting at the end of July.

How/Why is that sad to say?

You don't want the rookies to play at all?

I can't wait to see him in action, personally.

I would like to think that we are not in the position of starting rookies on opening day. I think it speaks to the thinness we have on defense. Starting one exceptional rookie at a spot of need is one thing (ala Pollack), but starting two rookies at key positions on opening day is suboptimal as far as I'm concerned. In this case, I firmly believe that if Thurman starts it's because Landon is still coming back from his injury. None of this means that I don't have a lot of respect for Odell's upside, but ML is a position of huge responsibility and I would rather have the luxury of working him into the lineup rather than putting it all on his shoulders on 9/11. An above-average veteran with NFL snaps is going to play better (for the first few games at least) than even the most talented rookie.

Maybe what I meant to say is that I don't want to have to rely on them so much right from day 1. Obviously, I'm as pumped as anybody to get these guys on the field so we can kick the tires a little and see what they can do. It would be better to do so gradually than the time-tested (and usually unsuccessful) Bengal "sink-or-swim" method.

Agreed.

But Madieu and Landon got thrown into the fire last year as well, and look how they turned out.

[Who?]

Bobcat Bengal has a point, the rookie safety and linebacker that got thrown in last year both did pretty well playing as rookies.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Nope, you are wrong. Had he not been injured he probly would of gone in the 6th or 7th round. 5th if some team really liked him, but no higher. You guys fail to understand that he went undrafted because he isnt a very good player, not because he had an injury.

Yeah he sucks...

2004 - Wilkerson, 6’4”, 300 lbs., was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News as First Team All-America center and was named to the Second Team of the Walter Camp All-America Team.

DALLAS, TX (December 9, 2004) --- Michigan senior David Baas, of Sarasota, Florida, and LSU senior Ben Wilkerson, of Hemphill, Texas, were named the co-recipients of the Dave Rimington Trophy today. Each of the players was notified today with a personal visit and private presentation by Rimington Trophy representatives. Baas and Wilkerson will be recognized as the nation’s most outstanding centers at the annual Dave Rimington Trophy awards banquet to be held at the Rococo Theater, in Lincoln, Nebraska, January 8 at 6:30 p.m..

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I think he's injury prone and that's the problem. He has more real potential than any center on the Bengals' current roster.

[BengalByTheBay]

Agreed.

But Madieu and Landon got thrown into the fire last year as well, and look how they turned out.

True -- it's great to find such productive players so quickly. Madieu kinda proves my point though. He had a relatively solid opener against the Jets, but got burned on a huge TD. I know, I know, he was playing CB and not his natural position, but my point remains. These guys are gonna have some lapses and/or misreads. Those would be minimized if they don't have to run them out as starters right away. Don't get me wrong TT, I love the fact that the drafts have been so good. If any of our rookies can play on the level that Madieu established last year I would be thrilled. Spots like MLB and CB (see above example) are pretty high exposure positions though and any wrong move or hesitation can cost. I think this factor was a large part of our slow start last season. (The prior year it was just because we were learning not to suck so bad.)

[schweinhart]

I saw the article yesterday too. Obvious off-season fluff piece, but suprisingly well written I thought. He's an interesting guy from a tough background, but you can't find any NFL team without a dozen similar stories. You can't help but pull for the guy. Hopefully, he's gotten his rookie lessons a little earlier than some and is ready to take care of business. He couldn't have better role models than CJ and Rudi IMO. Sad to say, but I think we will need solid contributions from both he and Henry, so I hope they're keeping out of the clubs starting at the end of July.

Major fluff, but a well-timed promo to maybe steer Odell into camp with more focus and drive to succeed on the field.

Personally, I voted for Landon to start at MLB on the Bengals.com poll because I doubt Thurman will be ready for the pass coverage he'll have to deal with.

Hopefully, Odell proves to be the "From Frogtown to Frog Mountain" success story, but I'd rather not see ML take the risk w/ getting burnt on big pass plays early that cost games because Odell is not ready to read fast enough.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Agreed.

But Madieu and Landon got thrown into the fire last year as well, and look how they turned out.

True -- it's great to find such productive players so quickly. Madieu kinda proves my point though. He had a relatively solid opener against the Jets, but got burned on a huge TD. I know, I know, he was playing CB and not his natural position, but my point remains. These guys are gonna have some lapses and/or misreads. Those would be minimized if they don't have to run them out as starters right away. Don't get me wrong TT, I love the fact that the drafts have been so good. If any of our rookies can play on the level that Madieu established last year I would be thrilled. Spots like MLB and CB (see above example) are pretty high exposure positions though and any wrong move or hesitation can cost. I think this factor was a large part of our slow start last season. (The prior year it was just because we were learning not to suck so bad.)

I think that simplifying the playbook could have something to do with the fact that two of our LB's are rookies.

But then again, that's gonna be Chuck's style anyway.

I believe that our rookies performed pretty damn well with the opportunities they were presented with.

Geathers played excellent, and I'm glad he's our starting DE.

Keiwan did well as well, and I'm banking on him to be our PR at the very least.

Basically, everyone who wasn't injured (and Casey Bramlet) seemed to perform quite well when they were called upon. Maybe that's due to good coaching and preparation. Which is why I don't think it will be TOO TOO bad once the season starts.

Besides, we're opening against the Browns.....

[HoosierCat]

speaking of has anyone heard anything about ben wilkerson, he could be great if he is healthy again.

He'd be lucky to make our practice squad. If hes not put on IR he will be cut or join the PS.

[DontPushMe]

Troll? For thinking an undrafted free agent with chronic knee problems whos game doesnt translate well to the NFL isnt good enough to make our team? Come on now.

[HairOnFire]

Just for the record, I assumed the pushy/troll comparison was made based upon their missing genitals.