Thomas Howard out for the year (1 Viewer)

[JoeSteeler]

Bengals WLB Thomas Howard is out for the season after tearing his ACL in Wednesday's practice.It's a huge loss for Mike Zimmer's defense. Howard was the Bengals' leading tackler last season and their best defender at Baltimore in Week 1, playing all 62 snaps. Core special teamer Dan Skuta is top candidate to take over on the weak side. The 29-year-old Howard was in the final season of a two-year, $6.5 million contract.

 

[ten1437]

Dan Skuta worth the add? Will he rack up tackles?

 

[cheese]

Horrible, horrible news for the Bengals. He was the only guy remotely decent against the pass, so somebody is getting a 3 down role most likely.

 

[CataclysmicThunder]

Horrible, horrible news for the Bengals. He was the only guy remotely decent against the pass, so somebody is getting a 3 down role most likely.

Rey Maualuga?

 

[JoeSteeler]

Dan Skuta worth the add? Will he rack up tackles?

I picked him up in my leagues just in case

 

[cheese]

Horrible, horrible news for the Bengals. He was the only guy remotely decent against the pass, so somebody is getting a 3 down role most likely.

Rey Maualuga?

I assume he's every down based on lack of options, but there is another spot.ETA: Could even be Burfict thrown into the fire.

 

[KellysHeroes]

manny lawson had 6 tacks last week, I went with him; 3 dwn roll is assured

 

[I love my screen name]

Will Taylor Mays benefit the most from Thomas Howard being lost?

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

Will Taylor Mays benefit the most from Thomas Howard being lost?

He was benched last week so I doubt it

 

[JoeSteeler]

IIRC DR Bramel is aBengals fan maybe he can give insight.

 

[Raymell McKigney]

Will Taylor Mays benefit the most from Thomas Howard being lost?

This thought process was exactly where mine were going, the further weakness at LB should mean more tackle opportunities for the secondary. Mays was benched so it will be interesting to see if they go with Mays or Miles this week

 

[Jene Bramel]

This is a mess. The Bengals should have a viable fantasy option, but the back seven is full of inconsistent tacklers that are frequently out of position.

I think we see Dan Skuta and Vincent Rey platoon today and Vontaze Burfict long term. I think Burfict ends up having the most linebacker value if he can learn the OLB spot in nickel packages. I'd rather have Reggie Nelson than Taylor Mays right now easily. If the Bengals had anyone else to play -- and maybe they will if George Iloka gets healthy -- Mays would be sitting.

 

[KellysHeroes]

This is a mess. The Bengals should have a viable fantasy option, but the back seven is full of inconsistent tacklers that are frequently out of position.I think we see Dan Skuta and Vincent Rey platoon today and Vontaze Burfict long term. I think Burfict ends up having the most linebacker value if he can learn the OLB spot in nickel packages. I'd rather have Reggie Nelson than Taylor Mays right now easily. If the Bengals had anyone else to play -- and maybe they will if George Iloka gets healthy -- Mays would be sitting.

will Lawson's snaps increase?

 

[BroadwayG]

Any clarity at all here after the game?

 

[umjaker]

Any clarity at all here after the game?

it appears Maualuga is the best option for Cin D, didn't get a lot of solos but finished 3-7-0

 

[BroadwayG]

Any clarity at all here after the game?

it appears Maualuga is the best option for Cin D, didn't get a lot of solos but finished 3-7-0

I meant regarding the vacated WLB spot.

 

[MAC_32]

It was a messy rotation, Maualuga got the most snaps but more games like his first two and that will change. He was awful.

 

[BroadwayG]

It was a messy rotation, Maualuga got the most snaps but more games like his first two and that will change. He was awful.

Who was playing MLB when Maluga was at WLB?

 

[MAC_32]

It was a messy rotation, Maualuga got the most snaps but more games like his first two and that will change. He was awful.

Who was playing MLB when Maluga was at WLB?

I'm not sure who was playing where, I was on kid duty so the game only had 80-90% of my attention vs. the usual 100. I know there were substitutions a-plenty and Rey played like ####, just like he did Monday night. If there's a flier to take here I'd put it on Vontaze as I think he has a stronger profile than Skuta, upside likely limited to 2 downs though unless he's done a 180 vs. the pass from college. I wouldn't expect him to be much better than Rey, but seeing as how Rey has had 4 years to learn to play the position and looks worse than ever I think a longer rope will be given to a rook going through on-the-job training.

 

[Portis 26]

What chance Howard has a starting job again in 2013?

 

[cheese]

If it's going to be in Cincy, it would require Burfict moving the MLB. Maualuga has almost no shot of being brought back, but nobody is beating out Burfict if he doesn't move.