FYI for Brian Simmons and Landon Johnson owners (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

The most likely linebacker to start in his place is Caleb Miller. Miller is probably the least likely player on the roster to succeed at SLB.

I haven't seen anything firm and this is all speculation but I wouldn't at all be shocked to see the Bengals line up...

Johnson SLB

Miller MLB

Simmons WLB

...this week. Miller could probably play will and Simmons stay in the middle but I think it's unlikely the Bengals just plug Miller into the SLB role and go. Johnson is a bit smaller than Simmons but is still probably a better fit on the strong side. I don't think you'll see Brooks start, but he'll start getting some snaps at MLB, especially if Miller starts there instead of outside.

I may be way off base here and I'll keep an eye out for news from the motherland, but I'd be concerned if I were a Johnson or Simmons owner (moreso as a Johnson owner).

 

[The Gator]

The most likely linebacker to start in his place is Caleb Miller. Miller is probably the least likely player on the roster to succeed at SLB.

I haven't seen anything firm and this is all speculation but I wouldn't at all be shocked to see the Bengals line up...

Johnson SLB

Miller MLB

Simmons WLB

...this week. Miller could probably play will and Simmons stay in the middle but I think it's unlikely the Bengals just plug Miller into the SLB role and go. Johnson is a bit smaller than Simmons but is still probably a better fit on the strong side. I don't think you'll see Brooks start, but he'll start getting some snaps at MLB, especially if Miller starts there instead of outside.

I may be way off base here and I'll keep an eye out for news from the motherland, but I'd be concerned if I were a Johnson or Simmons owner (moreso as a Johnson owner).

:sadyes:Bad news for my team as bye weeks are coming up and I need to start LJ2 a few times.

 

[Jestefarean]

Brian Simmons LB 31 6-3 244

Landon Johnson LB 25 6-2 227

Caleb Miller LB 26 6-3 225

Rashad Jeanty LB 23 6-2 245

Ahmad Brooks LB 22 6-3 259

Im confused. When Landon played MLB 2 years ago before Odell, he did well, but was deamed to small for anything but the WLB (or so I thought). They have bragged he is a great value as a nickel, and emergency fill, but with Odell and Pollack down it would seem he is tied (essentially) with Miller as the smallest LB on the team. I'm suprised they dont try Brooks at SLB, and if he can't do it wouldn't it make more sense to move Landon back to the middle and move the larger Simmons to SLB?

You guys understand this better then me, I'm not trying to seem smart, I just really dont get it.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Brian Simmons LB 31 6-3 244

Landon Johnson LB 25 6-2 227

Caleb Miller LB 26 6-3 225

Rashad Jeanty LB 23 6-2 245

Ahmad Brooks LB 22 6-3 259

Im confused. When Landon played MLB 2 years ago before Odell, he did well, but was deamed to small for anything but the WLB (or so I thought). They have bragged he is a great value as a nickel, and emergency fill, but with Odell and Pollack down it would seem he is tied (essentially) with Miller as the smallest LB on the team. I'm suprised they dont try Brooks at SLB, and if he can't do it wouldn't it make more sense to move Landon back to the middle and move the larger Simmons to SLB?

You guys understand this better then me, I'm not trying to seem smart, I just really dont get it.

I don't necessarily disagree with you.There is no good option here. They moved Simmons inside, as you said, to protect Johnson, who has broken down in the past with overuse. Simmons, though, is already being spelled by Miller for a couple of series a game and will not do well at WLB. He's a bit miscast in the middle already. He's a pursuit, flow to the ball type player despite the difference in size.

As I've noted elsewhere, they may well try Brooks at SLB this season and probably will if Jeanty's injury keeps him out past the bye week. But this defense has enough issues in run defense and with playoff expectations, I don't expect them to put Brooks in until he can prove himself sound in his assignments. If he were there, I think you'd have already seen them plug him in at MLB.

Still, SLB is the easiest position for a young backer to learn and will be even more easier for Brooks as a Bengal. The strong side backer has two duties -- blow up a blocker and try to make a play on rushing plays and stay with the TE on passing downs. The Bengals will use Simmons, Johnson, and Madieu Williams in coverage (they would've with Jeanty and Pollack too) so all Brooks will have to do is play his gap and take up blockers; he'll rush the passer (like Pollack) on passing downs. I would expect the Bengals to start coaching Brooks up during the two week bye period if Jeanty is seriously dinged. But I'd be shocked if Caleb Miller wasn't in the starting lineup this weekend. I suppose it's possible that Andre Frazier, signed this week, gets some significant snaps, but I think that's unlikely too.

Figured I'd check bengals.com in case they updated the Jeanty situation before submitting this post. They have and Hobson is speculating much the same thing.

Here you go.

bengals.com

Ready or not, here comes Ahmad Brooks.

Brooks, the subject of so much controversy when drafted in the third round of the July supplemental draft, has blended into the woodwork since the season began.

Until this week. With David Pollack and Odell Thurman out for the year, A.J. Nicholson (hamstring) out again this week, and Rashad Jeanty (foot) downgraded to doubtful Thursday, Brooks is just one of six healthy linebackers for Sunday’s game at Paul Brown Stadium against the Patriots.

And one of them, Andre Frazier, may not be active because he’s been here two days, and another, Marcus Wilkins, is known primarily as a special teams player and not a scrimmage player.

So with Caleb Miller probably starting in Jeanty’s place if he can’t go, the 6-3, 260-pound Brooks is looking at the most snaps of his NFL career.

“He’s progressing, but its time for him to step up,” said defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan after Thursday’s practice. “Everyone is going to have their role. We’ll see how the game plays out. It’s time for him to do that.”

Brooks, plagued by injuries and some off-field problems his last year at Virginia, has been a nice, yet raw, addition so far.

“He’s a very raw mental guy right now, but he just has to learn,” Bresnahan said. “He wasn’t in our offseason program and that set him back. He’s got the athletic ability, he’s got all the physical tools you need, he just has to know what to do, and do it fast. Don’t do it slow. Fast.”

Brooks came into camp as a middle backer, but he has been good enough to get work on the outside as well, and has been getting reps in Jeanty’s spot.

“He’ll be a very good outside backer,” Bresnahan said. “He’s got some good veterans around that can help him out.”

Brooks is going to have to supply some muscle against a very good New England running game that is still seventh in the NFL even though it rushed for just 50 yards in the 17-7 loss to Denver. Miller is about 20 pounds lighter than the 245-pound Jeanty, off a seven-tackle game in Pittsburgh, and Brooks is about 35 pounds heftier than Miller.

 

[topjimmy]

It appears that Simmons has been filling in nicely during the suspension, why would they consider moving him from that position? Will it hurt his value alot?

 

[slickwillie]

Bengals | Jeanty misses practice Thursday

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:36:24 -0700

Mark Curnutte, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, reports Cincinnati Bengals LB Rashad Jeanty (foot) missed practice Thursday, Sept. 28 and has been downgraded to doubtful for Week 4. LB Caleb Miller is expected to start at strongside linebacker.

for what its worth.......

 

[Jestefarean]

great report! Makes more sense...thanks

 

[Jene Bramel]

It appears that Simmons has been filling in nicely during the suspension, why would they consider moving him from that position? Will it hurt his value alot?

See above ramblings.Doesn't look to be an issue after all. But, yes, the MLB spot is the money role in the Bengal defense. Whoever is there has the most value. As I've posted in other threads, the Simmons/Johnson numbers are going to be closer than the Thurman/Simmons numbers from 2005 giving both solid value.

 

[topjimmy]

So does it appear that Simmons will remain at MLB or will Johnson take it? This Cinci LB thing has really messed up my plan LOL

Let's all have a toast to Odell!!!!

 

[rotorooter]

i don't think o'dell left us with anythingk to toast with...

 

[Sleeperz]

I think Simmons and Johnson remain where they are and the team may juggle around some of the other LB's they have until they find what they are looking for. Lets hope they do find someone to fill the void there. Moving Johnson to SLB is not something that I see working for them. But even on that slight chance that Simmons would ever move over, his production wouldnt be crippled that much at all considering that he would still be on the field every play. Just look at Fujita and the very few other SLB's that stay on the field every play.

Sleeperz

 

[Jene Bramel]

FYI, while it really isn't going to make much difference against the multiple TE sets the Pats are running, it's Caleb Miller at WLB and Landon Johnson at SLB in the first series today.

And Miller got blown back four-five yards on two separate running plays by Daniel Graham. Could be an interesting day for Madieu Williams and Kevin Kaesviharn.

 

[nortobc]

Great...wish I would have read this thread before I started L. Johnson and benched Thomas Howard.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Great...wish I would have read this thread before I started L. Johnson and benched Thomas Howard.

Wasn't apparent until pre-game warmups and I didn't see it until the game started. Apparently, Hobson (Bengals.com) got the starting lineup in the press box and posted something a few minutes early, but I didn't see it until I went searching after the opening series.

 

[Biabreakable]

Simmons with 4 assists no solo tackles this week is quite a departure from how he was doing the 1st 3 weeks.

The Bengals just seemed out of sinc and played poorly the whole game against the Pats. Hopefully this is just a bad game not a trend for them.

 

[The Gator]

A A. BROOKS SIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 assist.

 

[Jestefarean]

So, how did it end up? Landon had a quiet day(1-4) as did Simmons (0-4). Caleb Miller had a lot of tackles (7-6)...is this a sign of things to come? Do I run out and dump Landon for Caleb, or make room for him?

Ack...traded a bundle for Odell in the offseason..and it's been downhill from there!

 

[Jene Bramel]

So, how did it end up? Landon had a quiet day(1-4) as did Simmons (0-4). Caleb Miller had a lot of tackles (7-6)...is this a sign of things to come? Do I run out and dump Landon for Caleb, or make room for him?Ack...traded a bundle for Odell in the offseason..and it's been downhill from there!

I wouldn't do anything right now.There were three major defensive issues yesterday (no pass rush, poor tackling by the secondary included) but the LBs were the primary weak spot.Caleb Miller WLB -- Competed hard against blockers but was routinely pushed into the secondary by the two TE sets and the bulk of his tackles came from running down multiple plays in pursuit because of the poor play of Brian Simmons (IMO) and the poor tackling of the secondary. He should not an every down player.Brian Simmons MLB -- I've always been a Simmons fan, but he's a WLB, period. He cannot penetrate a gap, he cannot get off a block, and despite his "knows where he's supposed to be rep" he looks to be in the wrong position as often as Odell ever was as a rookie. If the defensive lineman didn't make the play on inside runs, Simmons wasn't either.Landon Johnson SLB -- As per my original concern, the Bengals elected to move Johnson to the strongside. As we all suspected, it didn't go well. Johnson is a heck of a player, but he got steamrolled all day long. He couldn't provide any outside contain to force plays back inside at all and Dillon and Maroney routinely bounced long runs outside that should've been bottled up.Ahmad Brooks -- Played very sparingly, even at game's end. Played in goal line packages, as he always has, and spelled Miller for one series of downs in the third quarter moving LJohnson back to WLB. Bengals are on bye this week. Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but Marvin *hates* missed assignments and poor tackling. I think I'd spend every waking moment coaching Ahmad Brooks up at MLB and every sleeping moment trying to get Rashad Jeanty healthy enough to play. Let Simmons and Johnson rotate in at MLB and WLB and spell each other, especially on passing downs.It's probably more likely that the Bengals get Brooks ready to play SLB after the bye and keep Johnson and Simmons where they are. The priority has to be the point of attack, even if it means they've got two backers out of position still.I wouldn't rush on Caleb Miller -- I just can't see the Bengals playing him full time in a physical division with Brooks on the bench. As a Bengal fan, if Caleb Miller has another 7-6-0 performance, it's going to be accompanied by :X :X :X .

 

[Jestefarean]

Thank you!

 

[The Gator]

Thanks Jene.

 

[Jene Bramel]

More post-mortem from bengals.com

Lewis broke down run defense by saying the mistakes are so crystal clear “it’s Waterford.”

“You’ve got to stay in the gap, defeat the block, get to your proper leverage points, and do all the things right that we talk about," he said. "Attack the line of scrimmage right from the start. Get lined up correctly, (and) not try to do too much.”

Simmons knows it’s a fine line.

“You know what usually happens there, right? You do too little,” he said. “That’s going to be my focus. '5-6.' Do what he should be doing.”

And the man in the middle doesn’t want to hear about the front four not clearing the way for the linebackers.

“It’s everybody. We can’t listen to the outside,” Simmons said. “If you’re a linebacker hearing that, you can’t just assume, ‘I’m OK.’ Everybody knows they can get better.”

And then there is rookie linebacker Ahmad Brooks, one of the men who got the call because of the injuries. On Sunday he flashed some of that raw talent that convinced the Bengals to draft him in the third round of the supplemental draft and he came out of it encouraged even though he took just 11 snaps. About six came at middle linebacker in goal-line situations and another five came at strong, a position he began playing just two weeks ago, as he continues to learn the scheme.

“I did badly on three (plays). They scored it a 72,” Brooks said of the coaches’ grades. “I’ve got to relearn a new position so there are some things I have to learn (on the fly). I think I did a decent job with everything. It’s going to take extra learning. I feel comfortable right now ... at outside linebacker I was holding my own. Going against the tight ends and tackles, and rushing from the edge ... hopefully they put me out there.”

 

[The Gator]

More post-mortem from bengals.com

Lewis broke down run defense by saying the mistakes are so crystal clear “it’s Waterford.”

“You’ve got to stay in the gap, defeat the block, get to your proper leverage points, and do all the things right that we talk about," he said. "Attack the line of scrimmage right from the start. Get lined up correctly, (and) not try to do too much.”

Simmons knows it’s a fine line.

“You know what usually happens there, right? You do too little,” he said. “That’s going to be my focus. '5-6.' Do what he should be doing.”

And the man in the middle doesn’t want to hear about the front four not clearing the way for the linebackers.

“It’s everybody. We can’t listen to the outside,” Simmons said. “If you’re a linebacker hearing that, you can’t just assume, ‘I’m OK.’ Everybody knows they can get better.”

And then there is rookie linebacker Ahmad Brooks, one of the men who got the call because of the injuries. On Sunday he flashed some of that raw talent that convinced the Bengals to draft him in the third round of the supplemental draft and he came out of it encouraged even though he took just 11 snaps. About six came at middle linebacker in goal-line situations and another five came at strong, a position he began playing just two weeks ago, as he continues to learn the scheme.

“I did badly on three (plays). They scored it a 72,” Brooks said of the coaches’ grades. “I’ve got to relearn a new position so there are some things I have to learn (on the fly). I think I did a decent job with everything. It’s going to take extra learning. I feel comfortable right now ... at outside linebacker I was holding my own. Going against the tight ends and tackles, and rushing from the edge ... hopefully they put me out there.”

No...No...bad Ahmad. You stand up for your right to play MLB.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Jeanty questionable for Week 6. Walking in a boot yesterday, didn't practice today, calls himself 50-50 to play. Not good for the Bengals, probably not good for the prospects of Simmons and Johnson again.

bengals.com