lets figure out out LB positions....

[thebigcat454545]

A few questions, is Tez our starting mlb next year?
if Teo drops to us do we take him and keep Tez outside? Teo is 6'2" 250lbs and runs a projected 4.58 (the fastest top 10 linebacker)
Im seeing more and more sites saying Montgomery and John Simon is OLB's. Being a Buckeye fan I love Simon but feel he may have reached his potential, I love his leadership and try hard attitude, if he falls to rd 2-3 would you take him? shockingly he is only 6'1" 256lbs ( i thought he was bigger then that). We need athletic, fast LB's that fly around. Give me your opinions on what you would like to see.

[momadance02]

I'm guessing we won't have our LB positions figured out for a few more months...

[D's Nuts and Bolts]

This might get moved to the draft forum

We don't need to draft any LB's, upgrade has been completed before FEB.

Joiner WLB
Burfict MLB
Maybin SLB

Just kidding, I think Simon would struggle as an every down 4-3 backer.
This is what I have noticed about a lot of the LB's coming out. You have converted S's who put on 20lbs who are run and chase guys (Greene, Hodges,) then you have undersized DE's, and then you have thumpers. Colleges don't seem to be running traditional 4-3's much.

Aurther Brown, who played in a pro system, would be a great three down backer if he were 6-2 240 with longer arms. I wonder if his best fit will be to stay at MLB in a Tampa Two.

Really IMO we need to rotate our LB's much like we do our DL. Teams are exposing these bigger LB's in the passing game, but you still need guys that can shed and tackle. It is evident that last years LB's had trouble in coverage, even Burfict at times, that is why a guy like Howard was such a big loss.

Just my take.

[D's Nuts and Bolts]

Originally Posted by momadance02

I'm guessing we won't have our LB positions figured out for a few more months...

I'm not trying to be a jerk but you have to lead the boards with the most one line posts.

[AyyDee]

Originally Posted by momadance02

I'm guessing we won't have our LB positions figured out for a few more months...

It maybe figured out in a little over a month, if they sign 2-3 LB's between now and free agency, I would not bet us getting a first or second day LB in the draft.

[Speedy Thomas 17]

Just looking at people we have on the roster now:

Sam: Lamur is the starter. Moch and Maybin will battle it out in training camp for backup/rush specialist. Lawson won't be resigned.

Mike: Burfict starts. Skuta backs up. Maualuga won't be resigned.

Will: Howard starts (a big asterisk here, as his complete recovery is certainly not guaranteed). Rey is the backup. Schaffer is injury insurance.

It's obvious they need LB help! I think if they can get Ogletree or Te'o, Burfict stays at Will. (If those guys are gone at 21, hope for Kenny Vaccaro, but that's another topic).

If they can't get Ogletree or Te'o, they will need to get a Sam in 2B or 3. I'm hoping for Lacy or Bernard in 2A -- but again I digress.

Of course, signing a proven free agent would change all this. They struck gold with Howard and did OK with Lawson, and that's what I really hope happens.

[khamla]

I'm excited about Joiner and don't count out D. Moch

[jonescincy]

Bengals dont resign Mauluga and move Burfict with Skuta as backup. They'll resign a couple of the other guys too, with the addition of Maybin and Joiner back in the mix there is going to be a logjam of physically talented young backers so no need to draft one high. They need some experience so resigning the veterans except Ray makes sense.

[Speedy Thomas 17]

Originally Posted by khamla

I'm excited about Joiner and don't count out D. Moch

Damn, forgot about Joiner! Throw him into the competition at Sam.

[McC]

I guess there's something to be said by trying to fill a hole by throwing bodies at it. That's one way to go.

[THE PISTONS]

Originally Posted by jonescincy

Bengals dont resign Mauluga and move Burfict with Skuta as backup. They'll resign a couple of the other guys too, with the addition of Maybin and Joiner back in the mix there is going to be a logjam of physically talented young backers so no need to draft one high. They need some experience so resigning the veterans except Ray makes sense.

You should write PR for the Bengals. Maybin is perhaps one of the biggest busts over the past 5 years. Maybin weighed 228 at one point.

Joiner is an interesting story...but he hasn't played in a year and she he did play it wasn't against big time competition. Actually he may have never went against guys that got drafted.

We need to actually sign starters in free agency instead of hoping to resurrect a bust. Remember Derrick Harvey?

[Big D from logan]

I don't understand keeping Skuta over Rey as a backup when he has never been able to beat out anybody that has been there to be a everyday player.Dont it make more since to make Rey the backup and send Skuta packing.

[THEBURG]

Originally Posted by Big D from logan

I don't understand keeping Skuta over Rey as a backup when he has never been able to beat out anybody that has been there to be a everyday player.Dont it make more since to make Rey the backup and send Skuta packing.

Skuta is too valuable on special teams.

[pdub2005]

Originally Posted by thebigcat454545

A few questions, is Tez our starting mlb next year?
if Teo drops to us do we take him and keep Tez outside? Teo is 6'2" 250lbs and runs a projected 4.58 (the fastest top 10 linebacker)
Im seeing more and more sites saying Montgomery and John Simon is OLB's. Being a Buckeye fan I love Simon but feel he may have reached his potential, I love his leadership and try hard attitude, if he falls to rd 2-3 would you take him? shockingly he is only 6'1" 256lbs ( i thought he was bigger then that). We need athletic, fast LB's that fly around. Give me your opinions on what you would like to see.

The way Teo played in National Champtionship makes me want nothing to with him. He got completely bullied against the closest thing in the NCAA to an NFL team. I am not sold on this guy, at all!

[fredtoast]

Here are my thoughts on the subject.

1. I see more change in the LB corps than anywhere else on the team.

2. I believe that Burfict can play just about any of the three LB positions. This gives us a lot of flexibilty when filling out the roster.

3. LBs for a 4-3 scheme are pretty cheap in free agency, so I look for that to be one of our top priorities. The only really expensive free agent LBs are the outside guys for a 3-4 scheme.

4. We will also draft a LB or two because we only have one LB under contract right now who has ever started a game in the NFL (Burfict)

5. If Maualuga returns it will be as a backup. If he accepts back up money then I have no problem with this.

6. Aaron Maybin is so much like Manny Lawson it is scary. Both are 6'6", 240, former first round picks with great speed that are considered better fits for 3-4 schemes. Of course this does NOT mean that Maybin will be no better than Lawson, but they are clearly the same type of player.

[D's Nuts and Bolts]

Originally Posted by THE PISTONS

You should write PR for the Bengals. Maybin is perhaps one of the biggest busts over the past 5 years. Maybin weighed 228 at one point.

Joiner is an interesting story...but he hasn't played in a year and she he did play it wasn't against big time competition. Actually he may have never went against guys that got drafted.

We need to actually sign starters in free agency instead of hoping to resurrect a bust. Remember Derrick Harvey?

31 other teams will be looking to do this as well.

[fredtoast]

Originally Posted by pdub2005

The way Teo played in National Champtionship makes me want nothing to with him. He got completely bullied against the closest thing in the NCAA to an NFL team. I am not sold on this guy, at all!

Of course I have not watched all the film for all his games, but you can't judge him by just one game. I think he could have been having more mental problems that game than anything else.

I remember last year when I kept doubting Doug Martin because he got stuffed by the SEC defense he played against.

[THE PISTONS]

Originally Posted by D's Nuts and Bolts

31 other teams will be looking to do this as well.

We start on page 3 of the list though.

[bradfritz21]

Originally Posted by thebigcat454545

A few questions, is Tez our starting mlb next year?
if Teo drops to us do we take him and keep Tez outside? Teo is 6'2" 250lbs and runs a projected 4.58 (the fastest top 10 linebacker)
Im seeing more and more sites saying Montgomery and John Simon is OLB's. Being a Buckeye fan I love Simon but feel he may have reached his potential, I love his leadership and try hard attitude, if he falls to rd 2-3 would you take him? shockingly he is only 6'1" 256lbs ( i thought he was bigger then that). We need athletic, fast LB's that fly around. Give me your opinions on what you would like to see.

Te'o is a homosexual and a head case, which I'm not bashing it and I would be completely fine with it, but he's so ****ed up with being confused and pulling all that out that I think he'll bust in the NFL.

Stay away.

Burfict played so well on the outside and said that he loved playing on the outside more, which who knows if he just didn't want to ruffle Rey's feathers or if he actually likes playing outside. I'd figure that out so I know what we need, but I would consider moving him to SAM where he's more involved in runs and can also make more plays against the pass and cover tight ends.

Fill with the draft because all the free agents are old.

[SHRacerX]

Originally Posted by THE PISTONS

You should write PR for the Bengals. Maybin is perhaps one of the biggest busts over the past 5 years. Maybin weighed 228 at one point.

Joiner is an interesting story...but he hasn't played in a year and she he did play it wasn't against big time competition. Actually he may have never went against guys that got drafted.

We need to actually sign starters in free agency instead of hoping to resurrect a bust. Remember Derrick Harvey?

For every Derrick Harvey you can bring up, I can drop three Adam Jones, Burfict, and Terrance Newman. So Harvey got cut. Did you ever think his mere presence pushed MJ and others to pick up their game? As big a vinegar and water solution as I believe Pete Carroll to be, he understands that competition at all positions improves the team.

So Maybin was a svelte 228 at one point. He is just now 24 years old! I was a college swimmer and couldn't put on a lb to save my life in college, despite consuming 10,000 calories a day. I think with the right training, maturity, and scheme that Maybin could pay huge dividends. At the very least, he provides competition for Moch who is on the verge of being out of football for good.

[fredtoast]

Originally Posted by bradfritz21

Te'o is a homosexual and a head case, which I'm not bashing it and I would be completely fine with it, but he's so ****ed up with being confused and pulling all that out that I think he'll bust in the NFL.

He is a 20 year old kid who has never been in any legal trouble. What happened to him happens to lots of other people, even current NFL players.

He is not a headcase and his sexual preference has nothing to do with his ability to play football.

[kevin]

It's very premature to immediatly have Maybin as a starting LB considering he was cut by Bills and Jets over the last two seasons. ...If he has any game, he is going to have to show our coaches.....So why is he here then ? Because it was a low risk move. Financialy it won't hurt the team if he doesn't pan out....It's a cheap roster move worth a try, nothing more. ....If he makes it as a back-up, then the low risk move paid off. ...Those putting him into a starting position are getting ahead of things. He may not cut it, as with other teams, or we might find somebody alot better.

I would say all linebacker positions are up for grabs including Burfict and I say Burfict because he must continue to walk the straight and narrow off the field. Burfict should be OK off the field and a monster on the field.

[Dmac18]

Maybe, Tell me what you think. It's the first time I have seen an article the states the move.

Maybin is going to have plenty of competition even if the Bengals don't re-sign their free-agent backers. If they keep just those that are under contract, Burfict figures to start in the middle with second-year man Emmanuel Lamur at WILL.

Full article: http://www.bengals.com/news/article-...9-a89557d4696e

[THE PISTONS]

Originally Posted by SHRacerX

For every Derrick Harvey you can bring up, I can drop three Adam Jones, Burfict, and Terrance Newman. So Harvey got cut. Did you ever think his mere presence pushed MJ and others to pick up their game? As big a vinegar and water solution as I believe Pete Carroll to be, he understands that competition at all positions improves the team.

So Maybin was a svelte 228 at one point. He is just now 24 years old! I was a college swimmer and couldn't put on a lb to save my life in college, despite consuming 10,000 calories a day. I think with the right training, maturity, and scheme that Maybin could pay huge dividends. At the very least, he provides competition for Moch who is on the verge of being out of football for good.

Apples and oranges. Jones issues were off the field. He was a good CB with the Titans. Newman was a Pro Bowl CB. Burficts issues were off the field too and he had no NFL history.

Maybin has done nothing for 4 years.

We get busts instead of actual free agent upgrades. Yeah sometimes they pan out..but not signing upgrades in free agents is why we haven't won a playoff game in 23 years.

[spinksjinx]

Off topic a bit, but does anyone think it's great we are finding value with undrafted guys and hitting on the drafted guys as well?

Lamur, Hawkins, Burfict, Robinson....

It's pretty damn impressive. Some say we just got lucky but over a 2.5 year span you just don't luck into this.

Coincidental after this latest Marvin extension we have been hitting on the draft picks and free agent signings...He wanted to buy the groceries to make the dinner....