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Caleb Miller LB Bengals (1 Viewer)

L

lord_helmet

Footballguy
(Rotoworld) Bengals LB Brian Simmons (questionable, neck) practiced fully Friday.

Impact: It was Simmons' first practice in over two weeks. Caleb Miller appears to have passed supplemental rookie Ahmad Brooks at middle linebacker, and Simmons could make a run at Miller's starting job.

 
But why would the Bengals put Simmons in at MLB when they have shown they prefer to play him as a OLB?

If Miller has earned any confidence of the coaching staff I would expect them to use Simmons on the weak or strong side instead and keep Miller in the middle. Simmons doesen't need to be the MLB to call adjustments and be thier leader.

 
Biabreakable said:
But why would the Bengals put Simmons in at MLB when they have shown they prefer to play him as a OLB?If Miller has earned any confidence of the coaching staff I would expect them to use Simmons on the weak or strong side instead and keep Miller in the middle. Simmons doesen't need to be the MLB to call adjustments and be thier leader.
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:goodposting: , actually it looks like thats going to be the case
 
What else did you find that indicates what I was speculating?

I expect Simmons to be helping out in coverage on Winslow whenever possible leaving Miller to focus more on stopping the run.

I did find this:

Since Browns offensive line coach Jeff Davidson started calling plays, Winslow has lined up outside in several formations, an attempt to get him isolated on a defender. That Bengals defender today could be strong-side linebacker Rashad Jeanty.

The Bengals probably will need to use a linebacker on Winslow to counter his size - 6 feet 4, 248 pounds.

Jeanty is 6-2, 245 and runs well, though he has just one pass broken up this season. Strong safety Dexter Jackson, though questionable with an Achilles injury, did practice all week and is likely to be used to help on Winslow.
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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../611260422/1066So this may mean Simmons will play WLB which is his natural position.

 
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No solid evidence, just word from the Bengals homers that the team are very pleased with Millers coverage skills and that they'll need them in this game

 
Where does all this place Landon Johnson tho ? Its clear as mud, I guess if anybody has a solid option to start over Miller thats prolly the way to go

 
It's an early game so we'll know who's inactive and Bengals.com will update any changes to the starting lineup from previous weeks. Feel free to post any updates in here. Marvin has been using Simmons, Miller, and Johnson situationally over the past two months. Problem is, they're all pretty much the same player so making an educated guess here is difficult. I think all three would rotate in the two positions with Simmons getting the least time until he proves he's over his injury. I don't see any of the three being a clearly better option than Jeanty at SLB at this point. It'll be interesting to see if Brooks gets much time at all.

 
Nick Orleans said:
How does Miller look for week 13? Will he continue to start till Simmons is ready?
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The Bengals shut the Browns out. Pretty impressive for a defense that has really struggled this year.It is hard to say what Simmons role will be when he is healthy enough to return to the lineup. But Miller is getting the job done so I don't see why they would bench him.As I stated earlier in this Thread the Bengals prefer using Simmons as a outside linebacker. So if/when he does return to the lineup I would expect him to be replacing either Jeanty or Johnson. Not Miller. Simmons has played WLB most of his career so that is his more natural position.
 
Biabreakable said:
Nick Orleans said:
How does Miller look for week 13? Will he continue to start till Simmons is ready?
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The Bengals shut the Browns out. Pretty impressive for a defense that has really struggled this year.It is hard to say what Simmons role will be when he is healthy enough to return to the lineup. But Miller is getting the job done so I don't see why they would bench him.As I stated earlier in this Thread the Bengals prefer using Simmons as a outside linebacker. So if/when he does return to the lineup I would expect him to be replacing either Jeanty or Johnson. Not Miller. Simmons has played WLB most of his career so that is his more natural position.
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I agree. Miller has been much more disciplined and a surer tackler than Brooks (or Simmons) were in the middle. Miller fits Marvin Lewis' desire for speed and "do your job" mentality. Whether he'll hold up at 220 pounds much longer is the major question -- he's never gone this long without a lower body ding in three years.IMO, just as much of the Bengals improvement against the run is due to Rashad Jeanty. He is a force on the strong side and is proving to be capable in coverage in the base defense. Jeanty and Miller are the reasons Simmons remains inactive; he'd probably have been forced back into action sooner if Miller hadn't stepped up in the Mike role.
 
lord_helmet said:
Gotta be happy with Miller so far, he should keep the job untill injured or beaten out by Thurman
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I'll be surprised if Marvin Lewis trusts Thurman in a signficant role in 2007.
nortobc said:
So can we assume that Ahmad Brooks is done?
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Brooks will play a major role in this defense at some point. For 2006, though, Marvin Lewis has made good on his desire to have a somewhat less talented but more disciplined player in the middle and has been rewarded. While I'd like to see what Brooks can do with Rashad Jeanty next to him, it's hard to see Brooks having a major role again this season unless injuries become an issue or the Bengals fall quickly from playoff contention. That's pretty unlikely to happen until deep into the fantasy playoff schedule so Brooks isn't worth holding on re-draft rosters (if anyone still has him rostered).
 
Jene Bramel said:
I'll be surprised if Marvin Lewis trusts Thurman in a signficant role in 2007.
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So what will the Bengals do with him - trade him to another club while he might be able to get them some value?He should be back game 1 2007 - question is whether he will miss TC (again) - if he does he'll likely not go anywhere

 
The Cincinnati Post is reporting that Brian Simmons is likely to play tonight but will be limited (surprise). There's no indication of whether he'll start or in which packages he's most likely to play.

I haven't been great in predicting the Bengal gameplan this year, but I still think Miller is the guy to play this week. I don't see the Bengals risking Simmons (and his neck) too often in the run defense and asking him to get a hat on Jamal Lewis. He may get some looks in nickel packages but I don't he gets a significant number of snaps.

Hopefully Geoff Hobson (here and here are his some of his speculations from yesterday) has something helpful in his pre-game notes to make me more comfortable with Miller, but I'm leaning toward using him right now in a couple of leagues.

 
Aaron Rudnicki said:
Rich Eisen just said that Ahmad Brooks will start at MLB tonight. :loco:
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I also have Miller in my line-up right now, I've heard alot of praise for his coverage skills but if they expect a huge amount of running plays due to the weather (and afterall it is the Ravens) they just might like the heavier guy better. To me it makes no sense tho, Miller has been the best player on that Bengal D the last couple of weeks. :confused:
 
I give up. :(

Miller has clearly been better than Brooks was from a fundamental gap responsibility and tackling standpoint over the past six weeks. Miller has held up well against bigger backs and Brooks was near useless against the Ravens in Week 9.

Hobson always updates changes to the starting lineup in his pregame notes and this would be a bigun.

Of course, it may not matter.

Week 9 at BAL (Brooks started)

Jeanty 6-2

Johnson 6-2

Miller 4-1

Brooks 1-2

 
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Not much help yet.

Mark Curnutte -- Cincinnati Enquirer blog

John Thornton's 59-game start streak with the Bengals (75 overall, including Tennessee) is snapped tonight. He is inactive with a knee injury.

Rookie Domata Peko will make his first NFL start aside Sam Adams.

Starting left cornerback Deltha O'Neal (shoulder) also is out. Rookie Johnathan Joseph will start for the third consecutive game.

Other inactives for the Bengals: starting offensive linemen Bobbie Williams (appendix), Rich Braham (knee) and Levi Jones (knee), linebacker A.J. Nicholson and wide receiver Kelley Washington (hamstring). Doug Johnson is the emergency third quarterback.

Light rain is falling off and on at 6:30 p.m.

 
:shrug:

Miller gets the start according to Hobson. Simmons is active, as is Brooks. I have no idea what to make of Eisen's report. Listening to the preview show now -- they're saying Miller is the man as well. I'll update if I hear anything new.

The Bengals will be without the services of defensive tackle John Thornton, center Rich Braham and cornerback Deltha O'Neal for tonight's game against the Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium.

Linebacker Brian Simmons is active but Caleb Miller will get the start in the middle. Domata Peko replaces Thornton at defensive tackle, while rookie Johnathan Joseph gets the nod at corner in place of O'Neal.

 
My last post on this issue and it's not meant to confuse anybody.

Dave Lapham just broke down what he feels is the Bengals possible LB plan. Miller starts, Simmons in on nickel packages only. He mentioned that it's possible that Brooks sees a little more playing time if Ovie Mughelli starts destroying Caleb Miller with regularity. Nothing official. We'll see.

 
it was much earlier in the pregame, and Eisen just said it kind of matter of factly.

was something like this in an intro to some segment they did:

"the rookie Ahmad Brooks will start at MLB tonight, and that shows what a great job the Bengals coaches have done in getting the rookie coached up."

I immediately heard it and thought to myself "WTF?"

it was almost like he should have said "will play" tonight instead of "will start"

anyway, not sure what the deal is, but I'd be surprised if Miller didn't start.

 
:D I am going to play Miller and hope he does well. I could play Bradie James/Lemar Marshall or Scott Fujita instead and avoid this uncertainty.. but I like the Jamal Lewis/Heap matchup for Miller more than James/Ayodele vs. Barber/Shockey or Marshall vs. Vick..

Talking a couple point difference. Millers more fun to play for me. And this is a big game for the Bengals.

 
Caleb Miller started today and played one series before giving way to Brian Simmons at MLB. Didn't see an injury but he did tackle Justin Fargas a little awkwardly early in the 1st quarter.

 
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