Mr. Pollack

[HairOnFire]

Well this should freak a lot of people. They need to sit Pollack for a couple of games, at times when he did play he looked lost.

I don't think they should necessarily sit him...what it comes down to is, IMHO, how ready is he to play OLB?

If for any reason he isn't the best option at SSLB, then yes, sit him. If he is the best option, then put him in and let him learn the position. He, and the team, will probably take some lumps, but that's no different than starting any other rook.

I agree with the previously expressed sentiments about putting him at DE. The Bengals have historically been famous for this kind of s**t, moving young guys around in an attempt to get them in the game somewhere and ending up retarding their development. They did it with Reinard Wilson, they did it with Mark Roman, now they're doing it with Pollack.

True, but you can't really fault the Bengals on this one. They targeted Pollack for a Joker role from the start and he lost the needed weight to play that role. But due to the holdout Pollack isn't ready to assume a larger role, and the loss of weight puts him at a disadvantage if used soley as a down lineman. So the Bengals were forced to either sit Pollack while he learns from the sidelines OR he gets limited playing time as situations allow. In my opinion the latter is the best case scenario and that's what we've seen.

As for grading Pollack an unspectacular C would seem fitting. He simply isn't making the explosive plays he was drafted to make. That said, he hasn't embarrassed himself at all and hasn't been the victim of any big plays, and that implies that he's holding his own. What remains to be seen is when or if he ever takes the next step forward and becomes the difference maker this defense needs.

[Spain]

Great post hair on fire, except it was water boys ego that screwed us up this year on D, _He should of had a bigger impact tthan Odell. Thus water boy!

[BengalByTheBay]

Great post hair on fire, except it was water boys ego that screwed us up this year on D, _He should of had a bigger impact tthan Odell. Thus water boy!

Does it hurt when your panties get so bunched up like that spain?

[HoosierCat]

True, but you can't really fault the Bengals on this one. They targeted Pollack for a Joker role from the start and he lost the needed weight to play that role. But due to the holdout Pollack isn't ready to assume a larger role,

Well, given the role the Bengals played in co-botching contract negotiations -- the excuse du jour for his not living up to expectations -- yeah, I think I can blame them at least as much as Pollack himself.

and the loss of weight puts him at a disadvantage if used soley as a down lineman. So the Bengals were forced to either sit Pollack while he learns from the sidelines OR he gets limited playing time as situations allow. In my opinion the latter is the best case scenario and that's what we've seen.

I'd agree, if Pollack were meant to play DE. He isn't. And we have better options at the position, even more so with the return of Clemons. So all giving him that limited playing time has done, IMHO, is to not put the best guy at the spot out there, while giving that guy (Pollack) experience that isn't relevant to what he's supposed to be doing. If he isn't ready to play LB, then sit his butt down and quit wasting an active roster spot on gameday just so he can get a handful of dubiously meaningful snaps at DE.

As for grading Pollack an unspectacular C would seem fitting. He simply isn't making the explosive plays he was drafted to make. That said, he hasn't embarrassed himself at all and hasn't been the victim of any big plays, and that implies that he's holding his own. What remains to be seen is when or if he ever takes the next step forward and becomes the difference maker this defense needs.

I'd say it remains to be seen whether he can even play the position he's supposed to, much less whether he becomes a difference maker.

[kingwilly]

Maybe they need to rotate the LBs a bit more. I could see him sub-ing for Simmons, who seems a bit slower this year.

I agree that with sitting him may be the best option, especially with Clemons coming back.

[schweinhart]

I kinda like the speed rush Pollack has off the end. He's playing down in obvious passing situations and got close to Leftwich a couple times plus knocked a ball down. He might get more pressure if he's playing LDE, though, and I'd like to see a D-line on passing downs of Pollack LDE, Clemons LDT, Jumpy RDT, and Justin RDE -- pretty much 4 DEs flying around.

Pollack should be able to swing SSLB soon but I don't see him being able to handle the coverage on the weak side.

[walshfan]

Lemme work with the kid....Ill get him back to 245 of smoldering fire ready to kill any runner coming his way at SSLB.. thats his possition in the pros... this crap about him playing DE at 255lbs is crazy... Jay Hayes is setting him up for a fall in the name of a sack??????

[USMC203]

I see that Webster and Miller are getting back. I am by far no pro at this, but I still say bench Pollack bring in Clem see how Miller does. If Miller is ok bench Navies for him, I think Miller is the better Player. Then what do we do with Webster????

[skyline]

Lemme work with the kid....Ill get him back to 245 of smoldering fire ready to kill any runner coming his way at SSLB.. thats his possition in the pros... this crap about him playing DE at 255lbs is crazy... Jay Hayes is setting him up for a fall in the name of a sack??????

I think he's still a liability at LB. Otherwise he'd be playing there much more often. Until he really gets a hang of it, they're going to keep him where he's comfortable.

[BlainThePain]

We've gotten more out of Pollack than we got from Palmer and Perry in their rookie seasons. I think Pollack is already an improvement over Hardy and he is only going to get better.

[kingwilly]

Blain- Fark Photoshops rule

Can't compare Palmer and Perry to rookie-boy.

Palmer was planned to sit. Perry sat because of injury.

I have to think that they were expecting more from Pollack. Once he held-out they adjusted thier expectations accordingly. However, fan expectations are a bit different. Mr. Rookie-dollar-bill is now behind the 8-ball to get on the field more. The season as a starter has passed him by, barring injury to Landon/Simmons.

Good points about Oompa and Caleb. I imagine one will get cut. navies may also get the door. Whoever gives them the best chance to stiop the run should stay.

[walzav29]

I'm done 2nd guessing Marv. Go back and look at everythinghe's done.

Bye Takeo, Dillon

Start Palmer

FIRE Leslie

and finally drafting Perry. Which I am pretty sure all of us scientists said was dumb, but I think we would all agree that he has added something to this offense. Marv says Pollack will be good. I believe him. Look at Henry and Thurman. Thurman is considered a rookie of the year candidate and I think Henry leads all rookie receivers. Pollack's holdout is what screwed him up. Trust Black Jesus.

[HairOnFire]

I'd agree, if Pollack were meant to play DE. He isn't. And we have better options at the position, even more so with the return of Clemons. So all giving him that limited playing time has done, IMHO, is to not put the best guy at the spot out there, while giving that guy (Pollack) experience that isn't relevant to what he's supposed to be doing. If he isn't ready to play LB, then sit his butt down and quit wasting an active roster spot on gameday just so he can get a handful of dubiously meaningful snaps at DE.

Damn, I see no reason whatsoever to sit his butt down. Pollack is getting his feet wet, adjusting to the speed of the NFL game, and hopefully gaining experience while his role grows. Why would you want to sit him down?

I'm all for adding Clemons to the mix, but not at the expense of Pollack.