Bengals Sign S Olahete, LB Navies

[schweinhart]

Hey, I'm all for cool names...but who are our final seven?

Brian Simmons

Odell Thurman

Landon Johnson

David Pollack

Marcus Wilkins

Larry Stevens

Caleb Miller

Derek Curry

Hannibal Navies

Curry would almost certainly clear for the PS if they wanted. I guess that means Wilkins is gone...which would suck since he made some big contributions on STs last year.

Gotta say this is a nice problem to have.

I believe Navies is insurance who could be the starter early until Pollack gets better situated at SSLB. He's a younger version of Kevin Hardy...er..a younger version of an old Kevin Hardy.

I know one thing for sure -- Landon Johnson has shown he's not well suited to play SSLB because he can't shed blocks in close quarters and even Brian Westbrook totally blocked him in pass rush. Plus his shoulder problems are chronic, so he really shouldn't be counted on to play as much as he did last year.

Caleb Miller won't be able to play SSLB either without getting knocked on his a$$ or washed out. Miller proly makes the team based on his speed.

Wilkins isn't even what Adrian Ross was at strongside. At RFA pay, they proly look hard at cutting him, but he's real strong up the gut on kick coverage.

Larry Stevens looked like the best fit at SSLB but he's logging more time at MLB, where he's definitely 3rd string and maybe 4th w/ Miller back.

I have noticed that Curry seems to enjoy hitting people but don't think he's suited for SSLB.

So I'd have to say Stevens and Curry go to the practice squad.

[skyline]

Id say a guy who didnt go about rehabbing properly....didnt do s**t in practice ande runs his mouth to the press about wanting to get out of here

I can't say that I've ever heard Warrick accused of ANY of those things...

[rizzy]

I was hoping for the best with warrick, but it took a turn for the worst and it was bound to happen he be cut. Oh well life goes on. If he goes on and does good some where we will be mad and if he gets hurt again then we will be singing praise for getting rid of him.

[HoosierCat]

So I'd have to say Stevens and Curry go to the practice squad.

Ya mean the "poor man's David Pollack" will clear waivers?

Of course, Hobson could have been stretching the alleged facts a bit...nah, he'd never do that.

All I know is this: no disrespect to Navies intended...but for $500k or so more we could have had Sharper...

[HoosierCat]

Breshnahan, via Hobson, on Navies...seems to think Caleb might be iffy, too...

Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan had plenty to say about the pair’s experience and comfort level in Cincinnati. He has known Navies since the Raiders coached him at the 1999 Senior Bowl and Ohalete is a USC guy that knows quarterback Carson Palmer and receivers coach Hue Jackson, as well as elements of Lewis’s system from his nine starts under Lewis in Washington in 2002.

“It’s a good mesh. They’re proven guys that have played in the league and are smart guys,” Bresnahan said. “It probably isn’t fair to say they won’t be starters because the one thing I like about Marvin is he likes competition. We didn’t sign them to be starters. They’re additions, not replacements. We’ll see how it goes and how they play.”

Before the 6-3, 245-pound Navies signed, the only two backers with any NFL starts were weak-side backer Brian Simmons with 91 and strong-side backer Landon Johnson with 11. Navies is just coming off a stint in which he started 30 of the last 31 games on the strong side the last two seasons in Green Bay, and he gives the No. 1 pick, David Pollack, some ballast on the strong side. Bresnahan sees Navies as versatile enough to play the other side and Navies says he played both sides under Lewis disciple Jack Del Rio in Carolina.

With the Bengals now at nine linebackers (they figure to keep seven), the signing could also suggest that Caleb Miller’s ankle isn’t progressing all that quickly. They do have the option of putting him on PUP (physically unable to perform) at the beginning of the season, which would give him six more weeks to heal.

The Packers changed up schemes with the arrival of new coordinator Jim Bates in 2005, and Navies, 28, found himself outside looking in. But the Bengals know he’s well coached because former defensive coordinator Mark Duffner still is the linebackers coach in Green Bay.

“I’m familiar with how the system works,” said Navies, who emphasized he’s now been in three different systems since the Panthers took him in the fourth round in 1999. “This is definitely a better fit than in Green Bay in this under defense. ... In this defense, I’ve played close to the line and held up the line of attack ... it lets me use my speed.”

Lewis: “He’s a starting player in the NFL. You could see in just the way he practiced today, with a lot tempo. He’s physical, he’s fast and, he gives us experience.”

[Stripes]

As of yet, I like what I've heard about these two newbies. I expect to see plenty of them of Friday, perhaps we really have improved. We'll see I suppose.

[schweinhart]

So I'd have to say Stevens and Curry go to the practice squad.

Ya mean the "poor man's David Pollack" will clear waivers?

Of course, Hobson could have been stretching the alleged facts a bit...nah, he'd never do that.

All I know is this: no disrespect to Navies intended...but for $500k or so more we could have had Sharper...

Stevens is solid. I'd rather see him stick than Wilkins.

Wilkins got looks at WSLB this year too to see how he can cover, which I don't think he's very skilled at. If the Bengals think Davies can do what they hope Wilkins can, then by all means cut Wilkins in favor of Stevens. The move would save $350K off Wilkins RFA salary.

The downside to cutting Wilkins is he's gone if he's cut (although I'm not sure any other team picks him up) whereas Stevens can go to the practice squad, where he might get plucked but he might not.

Sharper would've been fine by me for $500k more but I'm glad they got somebody who fits at SSLB. It's proly the most forgiving position on the defensive side of the ball in terms of eff ups, so no real need to pay more than needed.

I see Ohalete and Davies as significant upgrades that should have enough of an impact to ultimately translate into the diference between a win and loss a couple times this year. I'm quite pleased with these signings. The Bengals lucked out just in time.

[BengalNation1281]

Ifeanyi Ohalete :player: :player: :player:

This is a guy that I wanted the Bengals to grab in the beginning of the offseason when SS names that we could acquire were being thrown about...this guy will be as solid a SS as we could possibly have. maybe not a superstar, but good and solid and more than capable of shoring up the run defense.

Hannibal Navies...maybe he'll make a difference, maybe not. At this point I don't really have an opinion one way or the other.

[membengal]

Ifeanyi Ohalete :player: :player: :player:

This is a guy that I wanted the Bengals to grab in the beginning of the offseason when SS names that we could acquire were being thrown about...this guy will be as solid a SS as we could possibly have. maybe not a superstar, but good and solid and more than capable of shoring up the run defense.

Hannibal Navies...maybe he'll make a difference, maybe not. At this point I don't really have an opinion one way or the other.

Completely concur. The team got stronger with Herring's injury and Ohateye's availability.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Ifeanyi Ohalete :player:  :player:  :player:

This is a guy that I wanted the Bengals to grab in the beginning of the offseason when SS names that we could acquire were being thrown about...this guy will be as solid a SS as we could possibly have.  maybe not a superstar, but good and solid and more than capable of shoring up the run defense.

Hannibal Navies...maybe he'll make a difference, maybe not.  At this point I don't really have an opinion one way or the other.

Yeah, I know Bres says that these guys were brought in as additions, not replacements, blah, blah, but Ohasdfsd (however you spell that) has to be starting soon. Even before Herring got hurt the position was the weakest on the team - K2 and Mitchell? Please, no.

I don't like to be dramatic, but this new guy stepping up (or not) could be the difference between playoffs and not for the Bengals. If he's not better than all our current options at SS, look forward to a lot of long bombs. Hell, even Patrick F*ing Ramsey toasted our secondary, with at least one of them directly attributable to SS. I don't even want to get into what TO did to them.

[blueridge]

Who is this Hannibal's Navy guy? It is a mystery which worries me.

[ArmyBengal]

I don't know a damn thing about this new safety, but the thought of K2 becoming the starter, makes me sick to my stomach. For all of you so far up his a**, enjoy the season if he stays the starter. I for one will say we go 8-8 at best and give up all hope of the playoffs. This is more negative than usual from me, but I am really disgusted overall with the entire team up to this point in the preseason. We shall see what happens I suppose. Hoping for the best...

WHODEY !!!

[blueridge]

K2 a strong safety? He is the worst tackler on the team-the entire team! This includes Carter Warley and former Bengal greats Jim Breech and Horst Muhlmann.

[Stripes]

K2 a strong safety? He is the worst tackler on the team-the entire team! This includes Carter Warley and former Bengal greats Jim Breech and Horst Muhlmann.

Can't be worse than Matt "10 whiffs" Schobel. Polomalu made him look horrible...