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Why is Ahmad Brooks rated so low (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter NorrisB
- Start date
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
He's got speed and power, but his instincts have been questionable. Marvin benched him during his rookie season rather than risk him blowing his run fits. He was a little better last season, but still wasn't trusted enough to play every down. Word is he's been rehabbing in Cincinnati with his head in the playbook this offseason. It'll be interesting to see if the new LB coach can get him coached up.
Careful here. Much of this is dependent on Odell Thurman. I suppose it's possible that Thurman would play WLB in a 4-3, but I think it's at least as possible that Brooks plays LOLB. If they go 3-4, Thurman would almost certainly be the WILB. Zimmer's only 3-4 experience that I'm aware of came in Parcells true 2-gap, so all bets are off there, especially if Brooks continues to sit in the nickel.
Agree. See above.
Until the Bengals show anything otherwise, can't argue here either.I still like Brooks' potential. And, if I'm tiering today, I throw him in the LB3 group with plenty of upside. But this will be his third season in the league. He needs to prove he can stay healthy and be capable enough to be an every down player. There are also injury issues, surrounding cast and scheme issues. I think it's fair to say that the Bengals LB situation is the most unsettled in the league.
pinda
Footballguy
Jene, although I rarely question your wisdom, saying it's his 3rd year is true, but I think there has to be an asterisk or a note there added that this guy was drafted in Mid July in the supplemental draft. He had 2 weeks to learn the playbook before being thrown into training camp. That's hardly enough time to be ready for camp.
I'd give him a pass on his first year and think that his rookie year was more this year than last. With that said, I agree about the injury stuff.
I'd give him a pass on his first year and think that his rookie year was more this year than last. With that said, I agree about the injury stuff.
NorrisB
Footballguy
Odell has been gone for 2 years now. Goodell effectively ended his career. And who are we going to use on the dline?
J Giles Band
Footballguy
If you use that logic, Brooks is 'done' too. Thus far, the bust label is looming large.
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Zoomanji
Footballguy
That's a better point. They don't have the players to run a 3-4 and we've seen it takes a couple years to acquire it.
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Pretty hard to project a front seven for either a 4-3 or 3-4 at this point. When I argued against the 3-4 in past offseasons, Justin Smith was a major cog and there were no potential OLBs to project to a 3-4. Neither is the case right now. Put Geathers and Peko on the line in a 4-3, but your DT rotation is still suspect and, unless Frostee Rucker or Jonathan Fanene is capable or healthy (both big issues), there nobody else worth counting on. Same goes for the 3-4 of course, though. Hobson said something about Justin Smith and Rucker (neither over 280lbs) fitting as potential 3-4 ends this week. That's why I say "throwing stuff against the wall" above. The Bengals are going to get one decent compensatory pick -- Eric Steinbach -- and may get a couple late ones for Kaesviharn and Simmons. Since they rarely move up to get a player they want -- preferring to sit while others pick them off in front -- there's room for big turnover on the roster this year.
It'll be interesting as always.
Mr. Peterson
Footballguy
Is Brooks a lock to take his spot back as the MLB next year?
Mr. Peterson
Footballguy
Would you say he has the inside track?
The staff is really high on Brooks. They will give him every opportunity to run with the MLB slot. He will only be 24 when the season starts. Like a previous poster mentioned....he was a supplemental pick so he got a late start on his rookie year....and this past year is a wash due to injury which he tried to power through. He still has a ton of upside but the scheme will go a long way in determining his stat potential. If you are an owner you should be praying they stay in a 4-3. I think the early FA period will say a lot about the Bengals plan because the personnel necessary for a 3-4 is not currently on the roster.
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
There's barely any personnel for the front seven right now.Justin Smith, Landon Johnson, Odell Thurman, Ahmad Brooks, David Pollack, Eric Henderson -- all are up in the air to some extent. The only front seven locks right now appear to be Domata Peko and Robert Geathers, and where Geathers plays is unclear. I think you'd have to give Brooks the inside track at a starter spot, but it could be any of four potential LB slots. There's also been little news about his recovery from the groin injury that was under-reported. Usually no news is good news -- but not with the Bengals. Way too many instances -- Rich Braham, Levi Jones, Chris Perry, Willie Anderson, Brooks himself -- where the team has either mis-diagnosed or under-reported the extent of an injury, progress of rehab, etc.It's also worth mentioning that the only common element for Brooks is Marvin Lewis. Both the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach were turned over this offseason. I believe that'll probably end up in Brooks' favor -- he still needs to be coached up -- but Lewis was very likely the driving force behind pulling Brooks off the field during his rookie season and keeping him off the field in nickel packages last year.I think we all agree that nothing will be certain with the Cincinnati defense until the May minicamps at the absolute earliest. And, though the scheme issues will be resolved by then, the starting lineup may not become clear until training camp.
NorrisB
Footballguy
Madieu Williams is history and they wont move to a 3-4, take the bank.I'm hating the Bengals more and more. If they move to a 3-4, that's probably going to hurt Brooks' value on one of my IDP dynasty squads, and Geathers' value on another. And I still don't know whether Madieu Williams will be back.
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Bengals franchised OL Stacy Andrews today. All but guarantees Justin Smith will be elsewhere next season. Certainly doesn't make a 3-4 or multiple front defense a lock, but it's a higher probability than it was with Smith guaranteed to be on the roster.
We'll see what free agency brings -- if anything.
We'll see what free agency brings -- if anything.
NorrisB
Footballguy
Thats because the browns are too cheap to give us even a below average training staff
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