Odell Thurman

[jfkbengals]

(06-05-2020, 02:30 PM)fredtoast Wrote: O'Dell was out of position a lot as a rookie, but he still had over 100 tackles and multiple big plays (5 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles).  He would have been a lot better once he got his game under control.

Pollack was just learning how to play in the NFL by the end of the '05 season.  His numbers for the entire season were not that impressive, but over his final six games (including the playoff loss) he had 4 sacks and 7 tackles for loss.

They may not have turned into huge stars, but they would have both been key players to help build a defense.

That's an assumption, not a guarantee.

The fact he couldn't stay clean is what took him out of the league, but it is also possible that the substance abuse led to him being successful on the field.  That reckless abandon was what allowed him to succeed, and that could have been fueled by the disconnect caused by the substances.  Look at LT, he was a crackhead and a game wrecker at the same time.  Clean him up and it is possible he was just an average player.