Bengals leading tackler

[Stripes]

I'll go with Madieu, simply because I don't know about Thurman yet, and Simmons rarely goes far above 100 tackles. Thurman certainly has a shot, and I think Justin Smith could surprise people as far as tackles go.

[joshh967]

Im going with thurman, after watching him i think he is coming along very nicely and is adapting well.

[CTBengalsFan]

Brian Simmons.

[bengalsLB]

gonna have to say thurman after watchin a couple of his college games and hearin

how good he has been in the pre-season i think he is gonna have a vilma type rookie year

[andybren]

My first instinct is Landon, but he could be playing three different positions this year, so I go with Madieu. I just wish he wasn't seeing so many ball carriers in the secondary.

[BlainThePain]

I think its going to be a close race between Madieu and Odell, but I think Odell's play will cut down on Madieu's total tackles. Its going to come down to who stays healthier between the two of them. I'd like to know who voted for Pollack. He won't even be starting for at least the first five games of the season.

[skyline]

As much as I hate going with the crowd, I'll have to vote for Odell here.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

My first instinct is Landon, but he could be playing three different positions this year, so I go with Madieu.  I just wish he wasn't seeing so many ball carriers in the secondary.

I'm with you - if Madieu leads the team in tackles, we're all going to have a looooong year. Odell has a good chance simply because of the position he plays. We shall see.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Of those listed above, Odell is most likely to achieve the most tackles this season with his speed to the sidelines and his intensity.

My dark horse, however, is not listed above. Kevin Kaesvaharn, if he wins the starting safety position, could lead the team in tackles, and he makes his tackles at the line.

[badassBENGAL]

Odell most likely. Playing MLB, most of the carries come his way, and it'll be an easy way for his stats to be inflated.

[The Big Orange]

ODEELLLLLIIICIIIOOOUUUSSSSSS

Even though Madieu is my favorite player, I think Odell will becasuse of his tackling desire, speed, defensive scheme, and position.

[DesperateDerelict]

It BETTER be a LB, preferably the MLB - that's the defense we run. If it's a DB, it's because the tackes are taking place 5 or more yards downfield - Obviously, I'll go with Thurman.

[Who?]

Odell Thurman, he won't have a Vilma type year but he will have tons of tackles just because he plays middle linebacker.

[Wraith]

Odell Thurman provided that he plays MLB all season, MLBers just get more opportunities than the other players. Safeties generally are only leading tacklers on VERY bad defenses so lets hope Madieu is back on that list.

[Spain]

If its M williams we have problems because we are getting ran over again, Im optimistic and voted for Odell.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

If its M williams we have problems because we are getting ran over again, Im optimistic and voted for Odell.

That is so untrue, and it shows your ignorance of the game. Safeties play run support, which means if a run is suspected, the safety should be at the line of scrimage or behind it.

Madieu Williams is used on the blitz as well, and should get stops with run blitzes and blitzes that lead to sacks as well.

Just because a safety makes a tackle doesn't mean it was a running play beyond the line of scrimage.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Just because a safety makes a tackle doesn't mean it was a running play beyond the line of scrimage.

Not all the time, no. But if your safeties are making more tackles on running plays than your linebackers, you have big problems.

As you say, safeties make tackles when they move up to the line to stop the run. However, that weakens the secondary, making big passes more likely. Any team would prefer not to have to move the 8th guy into the box. If you can stop the run with 7, you don't have to.

So no matter how you slice it, safeties making tons of tackles on running plays isn't generally a good thing. Either he's making the tackles in the secondary (which is obviously bad), or the team has to commit the safety more often to support the linebackers in run defense (which is a gamble). Bringing the safety up sometimes is good. Bringing him up all the time - which the Bengals generally had to do last year, especially against Bettis and Jamal Lewis - is pretty bad. It usually means you're losing.

If I can stop the run with 7, I don't have my safety with his eyes in the backfield, he's not biting on play action, and he can better help in the secondary. That's good in every way.

[DesperateDerelict]

Just because a safety makes a tackle doesn't mean it was a running play beyond the line of scrimage.

Not all the time, no. But if your safeties are making more tackles on running plays than your linebackers, you have big problems.

As you say, safeties make tackles when they move up to the line to stop the run. However, that weakens the secondary, making big passes more likely. Any team would prefer not to have to move the 8th guy into the box. If you can stop the run with 7, you don't have to.

So no matter how you slice it, safeties making tons of tackles on running plays isn't generally a good thing. Either he's making the tackles in the secondary (which is obviously bad), or the team has to commit the safety more often to support the linebackers in run defense (which is a gamble). Bringing the safety up sometimes is good. Bringing him up all the time - which the Bengals generally had to do last year, especially against Bettis and Jamal Lewis - is pretty bad. It usually means you're losing.

If I can stop the run with 7, I don't have my safety with his eyes in the backfield, he's not biting on play action, and he can better help in the secondary. That's good in every way.

Sorry, Big Thing, but I've got to agree - If a safety is making 10-plus tackles in a game with our scheme, we've got a problem . . . .anyway, Madieu is a Free Safety, and the predominant tackler among DB's against the run SHOULD be the SS - Herring?

[LABengalsFan09]

I hope Madieu is not the leading tackler, that would mean there were a lot of long runs and completed passes...

[derekshank]

Leading the team in tackles doesn't always mean they are the best player on the defense, it is a product of their position most of the time. Landon Johnson led the team in tackles at MLB, and he didn't even play the whole year, so it makes sense that Thurman would do it this year.

As for Madieu leading the team in tackles, many have already said it... but please let it not be so. If he leads the team in tackles, we will be forced to score 50 points a game, because the other team will be running the ball at will.

[CantStop85]

In order from most tackles to least (top 3):

Odell Thurman - MLB all season and very good anyway, why not?

Brian Simmons - He'll get close to 100 as always

Madieu Williams - Why not?

[schweinhart]

It's gonna be obscene -- O'Dell with 150 combined tackles.

He's a killah