HOW ARE BENGALS LOOKING AT LB ?

[kevin]

(03-24-2021, 05:10 PM)fredtoast Wrote: It is a tough balance when you are trying to develop young draft picks.  You don't want to just hand them a spot with no competition, but at the same time young plyers need to be getting a lot of reps and snaps to improve.  So you don't want to bring in competition which takes away reps in practice unlesss that compatition has a real shot at being better.

I don't see the 4 we have as being that solid. If we a lucky, we have 1 or 2 OK Linebackers right now. Nothing great, but some on here saying we can get by with them. I don't see 4 LB's as being enough LBs to go into Training Camp with, not at all.  

I really had no thoughts on it when I started this thread asking.  Now I see that if there are years of few good LB's in the Draft, but this is a rare year of many good LB's in the draft per scouting sources.  Then wouldn't the Bengals be stupid not to dive into this rare year of many good LB's and pick 1 or maybe 2.  At least 1.  I'm not saying pick 5 in round 1.   but if there is a very good LB to draft in 2 or 3, there is a good chance this LB is better than anybody Bengals have now.  

I now see this as these 4 Bengal LB's are not enough LBs, and the idea all 4 are rising stars is backed up by nothing.  The Bengals might have 1 or maybe 2 good LBs at this time, but that is not enough due to injuries and the need to substitute.  

I would say the Bengals do need to bring in a good LB in free agency or the draft.  Not some stiff that just fills an extra uniform.  I'm talking a good LB that can come in here and start. Maybe 2 that can come in here and start.  I disagree that you don't want to bring in competition. Most in football over decades have said competition in Training Camp is a good thing.  Here we have last place Bengals of 4 awful seasons.  So far no Linebacker signings. If this team wants to get out of last place, they better have linebacker signings. Especially if this is being called a rare year of many top Linebackers in one Draft.  There are too many Drafts where good Linebackers are only a couple, and they go fast.  If the Alabama or LSU Linebacker are still on the board in round 3.  There are just too many good LB's that will be there in 2 or 3 to not come away with a LB THIS YEAR.  That LB for Bama, all he has done is play great ball in the SEC for 4 years and win Championships for Bama.  I just can't see The last place Bengals passing on a bumper crop of LB's.  If they go into Round 4 with no LB, the Bengals don't have a clue how to get out of last place.

Looking at the comments, I have to think 1 or 2 of these Bengal LBs may pan out, but not all 4, and 4 is not enough.  If they are so fragile they can't stand some competition from some good draft picks or free agents, then they are too fragile to compete in NFL games.  Again, 4 is not enough.  Bringing in some bums to fill uniforms is no answer.   Bring in some talent, because 4 is not enough. On paper it may look so, but you have to consider injuries and substitutions. So add some more GOOD linebackers, and the Draft demands taking a LB before round 4 this year, because experts say the LB talent is sky high in the draft this year, unlike most years.  

The comments range from Bengals LBs are Great to Bengals LBs Stink. I'm going to go with these 4 are not enough. On paper some may think so, but you are forgetting injuries and substitutions and practice squad. No, to me 4 is not enough, and putting bums in uniforms to add more is what last place teams do, but isn't the goal to get out of last place. If not, it should be.