10-29-2015, 10:18 AM
(10-27-2015, 07:26 PM)GreenCornBengal Wrote: Marvin is a great LB coach, but I think he overestimates his ability to train up any scrub that comes in here. We are certainly seeing the effects of settling for UDFA LB's for the last few years.
How many teams in college even run the 4-3 anymore? It seems like every year, all of the highly graded LB prospects are edge rushers from 3-4 schemes. For what is available that fits our defensive scheme, Burfict and Dawson could be great picks.... but only time will tell. I just don't know how easy it is to find NFL level 4-3 linebackers anymore. Maybe I'm off on this, the only great 4-3 backer (who wasn't mainly an edge rusher) I can think of lately that got drafted was Luke Keuckly.
4-3 Defenses. The Bengals do have a LB who ran a Pro-Style 4-3 defense during his tenure in College. Trevor Roach, UDFA played MLB at Nebraska and is currently on the Bengals Practice Squad. He shined during the pre-season, but with so many Veterans in front of him, it was a forgone conclusion that he was probably not going to make the 53 man roster. No Problem, He is now under Coach Marvin's development process for rookie players. Roach has a high football IQ and the athleticism to play on Sunday's.
Now some will say. Okay, if he is that good, why hasn't he gone to another team? Good question. Only 3 out of the top 30 ILB's available for the 2015 Draft are starting or playing any significant time in the NFL. So, one answer is that there just aren't many Rookie LB's playing right now. The next answer, how do you know, unless you are in Roach's shoes, that he hasn't been approached to move to another team and declined the offer. Think about it. The Bengals are moving along very nicely right now. Why jump from the battleship so that you can be the crew of rusty cargo freighter. From a business and future opportunities prospective, I'd stay with the Bengals too.
IMO - Once Burfict is back AND he is up to his Pro-Bowl form, There will be few leaks in the Bengals LB Corp. I do agree though that Dawson does need to get more snaps, even if it is in a game where it's now garbage time and the Bengals are just wrapping things up. He needs to build his confidence and play at NFL speed, which is totally different from College Speed.
