Message Board All-Time Bengal Team (OLB)

[*bfine32*]

OLB (Pick 2)

AL BEAUCHAMP

Only missed 1 game in 8 year Bengal Career
15 career INTS

REGGIE WILLIAMS

62.5 sacks, 16 INTs in 14 year Bengal Career
NFL All-Rookie Team (1976)

JAMES FRANCIS

33 sacks, 11 INTs in 9 year Bengal Career
Led the team in tackles as a Rookie

BRIAN SIMMONS

721 tackles AND 23 sacks in 9 year Bengal Career
11 INTs and 11 Forced Fumbles

LANDON JOHSON

Averaged 98.5 Tackles over 4 year Bengal Career
Started at all 3 LB position during his Bengal Career

[Stormborn]

Pretty easy one here.

Williams and Simmons.

[Yojimbo]

I thought Simmons was ILb and Spikes was OLB... Hard to find confirmation on the inter webs, but did find an article from the Enquirer profiling the two teammates and it confirms my personal recollection.

"Simmons is the middle linebacker. Spikes is an outside linebacker, usually playing to Simmons' right - his right-hand man."

http://bengals.enquirer.com/2002/preview/09062002_spikessimmons.html

Reggie is just too easy. In my opinion the best defender to have ever played for the Bengals, on and off the field.

[*rfaulk34*]

(06-15-2015, 11:04 PM)Yojimbo Wrote: I thought Simmons was ILb and Spikes was OLB...

When Dick LeBeau was D coordinator here and Spikes and Simmons were drafted in '98, the Bengals ran a 34 defense with both of them in the middle. In the early '00s when Ricardo became HC, the Bengals switched to a 43 and Simmons was the MLB. When Super Marvio took over, Spikes left, Simmons moved outside a few dudes filled the middle like Kevin Hardy, Landon Johnson and Odell Thurman.

[orangeandblackblood]

Dang, I'm the only vote for Francis.

[Shake n Blake]

(06-15-2015, 11:26 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: When Dick LeBeau was D coordinator here and Spikes and Simmons were drafted in '98, the Bengals ran a 34 defense with both of them in the middle. In the early '00s when Ricardo became HC, the Bengals switched to a 43 and Simmons was the MLB. When Super Marvio took over, Spikes left, Simmons moved outside a few dudes filled the middle like Kevin Hardy, Landon Johnson and Odell Thurman.

This is correct. Both Spikes and Simmons played inside and outside backer during their time in Cincy.

[Yojimbo]

Probably splitting hairs, but I did find a site listing the starting defenses each year. Simmons had 4 years at ILB/MLB and 3 at WLB. Spikes had 2 years at ILB and 3 years at OLB. Simmons was going to be a starter at MLB in 2000, but missed the season due to injury and Spearman started in his place.

Just going by total season, I still think Simmons should be considered for MLB and Spikes should be considered at OLB.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/lineups.htm

[OSUfan]

Reggie Williams and James Francis.

[Bryan]

Those sacks for Williams, they're unofficial right? Since the NFL didn't start tracking them until, what 82?

[Bryan]

Also, what no Keith Rivers love?

[Tiger Teeth]

(06-16-2015, 01:16 AM)orangeandblackblood Wrote: Dang, I'm the only vote for Francis.

No you're not.  I voted Williams and Francis.

[*bengalfan74*]

(06-16-2015, 09:34 AM)Tiger Teeth Wrote: No you're not.  I voted Williams and Francis.

Make it another. I've pretty much always felt Francis was another one of the few bright spots we had on some pretty bad teams.

[Bengalzona]

Brian Simmons played on some pretty bad teams too.

[3wt]

(06-16-2015, 09:43 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Make it another. I've pretty much always felt Francis was another one of the few bright spots we had on some pretty bad teams.

He was so talented, but lazy.

The guy should have been all pro, but was not really interested in being great and eschewed requests to work out with the team in Cincinnati in the off season saying he was an adult and did not need to be here to work out. 

Just a poor attitude.

[Bengal Dude]

(06-16-2015, 12:21 PM)Bengalzona Wrote: Brian Simmons played on some pretty bad teams too.

That he did, but he was always a bright spot on those bad teams. I'm glad his scouting career has taken off.

[Joe Pong]

(06-15-2015, 11:04 PM)Yojimbo Wrote: I thought Simmons was ILb and Spikes was OLB... Hard to find confirmation on the inter webs, but did find an article from the Enquirer profiling the two teammates and it confirms my personal recollection.

"Simmons is the middle linebacker. Spikes is an outside linebacker, usually playing to Simmons' right - his right-hand man."

http://bengals.enquirer.com/2002/preview/09062002_spikessimmons.html

Reggie is just too easy. In my opinion the best defender to have ever played for the Bengals, on and off the field.

Nope. Simmons was primarily an OLB and Spikes always played inside.
The only exception was when they briefly flirted with a 3-4 defense and both briefly played inside together.

That being said, it's a pretty easy choice. Reggie Williams and James Francis.

[Joe Pong]

(06-16-2015, 04:32 AM)Yojimbo Wrote: Probably splitting hairs, but I did find a site listing the starting defenses each year. Simmons had 4 years at ILB/MLB and 3 at WLB. Spikes had 2 years at ILB and 3 years at OLB. Simmons was going to be a starter at MLB in 2000, but missed the season due to injury and Spearman started I his place.

Just going by total season, I still think Simmons should be considered for MLB and Spikes should be considered at OLB.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/lineups.htm

Nah, they moved around out of necessity and injury and were forced to play out of position sometimes, but Simmons was best as a weak side LB and Spikes was best as an inside LB.

[Shake n Blake]

(06-16-2015, 04:29 PM)Bengal Dude Wrote: That he did, but he was always a bright spot on those bad teams. I'm glad his scouting career has taken off.

Agreed. One of the best LB's to wear stripes and a class act to boot.

I've never heard anything bad said about Brian Simmons.

[Johnny Cupcakes]

The Bengals are so weak all time at OLB that Landon Johnson is an option here? A fan favorite, for sure, but definitely not the most skilled guy on the field.

[BengalFanInNJ]

(06-16-2015, 10:54 PM)Johnny Cupcakes Wrote: The Bengals are so weak all time at OLB that Landon Johnson is an option here? A fan favorite, for sure, but definitely not the most skilled guy on the field.

I met Landon Johnson in a Charlotte mall while he was playing for the Panthers. He looked shocked that I recognized him as a Bengal.