Marvin Lewis: Ankle Injury Slowed Rey Maualuga's Progress

by Josh Kirkendall on Jan 13, 2012 4:30 PM EST

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 20: Linebacker Rey Maualuga #58 of the Cincinnati Bengals walks to the field before taking on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Even though we've conjectured here at Cincy Jungle that the Cincinnati Bengals should reexamine Rey Maualuga's move at middle linebacker, it by no means concludes that the Bengals will (or even could) find someone that would compete with Maualuga by next season's training camp. Maualuga will be Cincinnati's starting middle linebacker in 2012; there's no disputing that one way or the other.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis believed that after a strong start, Maualuga's season slowed mainly due to an ankle injury he suffered during practice in mid-October.

"Rey going forward will continue to develop," said Lewis. "I think this year he got off to a really good start and then I think the ankle injury really kind of slowed his progress a little bit and then he did a lot of really good things Saturday (against Houston).

According to Maualuga's biography page on Bengals.com, the team's middle linebacker registered 51 tackles during Cincinnati's first five games before suffering an ankle sprain that forced him to miss three games. Maualuga also led the team with three forced fumble.

Truth is that Maualuga's injury was noticeable, specifically his playing time. During his first five games of the season, Maualuga averaged 62.2 defensive snaps per game. From his return against the Pittsburgh Steelers through last weekend's wild card loss, Maualuga average defensive snaps per game dropped to 48.4.

Maualuga is entering his final year under contract, scheduled to earn $565,000 in 2012.

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Really?

IMO Rey’s lack of talent at the MLB spot is the reason for his slowed progress.

by Jungleboogie on Jan 13, 2012 4:38 PM EST reply actions

+1

by occams_tiger_teeth on Jan 14, 2012 12:58 AM EST up reply actions

+10000

by david in upstate SC on Jan 14, 2012 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

The draft will tell the story if this is Marvin BS

or the truth. There are some good ILB’s in the draft. Lawson is a UFA, Rivers is coming back. We’ll see if Rey is still in the middle.

by BENGALS69 on Jan 13, 2012 4:51 PM EST reply actions

I don't think Marvin is BS about this...

i think rey did show signs of being a dominant MLB but then he did show signs of being average. I think he deserves another year to really know if he can be the MLB we need him to be.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Jan 13, 2012 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

Agree

Early on Rey did look to be a beast,he needs to develop some discipline,he seems to over pursue way to much

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jan 13, 2012 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

At pick 17 or maybe even at 21

Vontaze Burfict will be available and the Bengals has to think about drafting him. I know that Cincy needs to put some players around Dalton but Rey constantly overran play after play. Burfict is faster than Rey and is better in coverage………………. we will see

Kenneth Lewis Moore

by lightskin350 on Jan 13, 2012 5:20 PM EST reply actions

The first round we are either picking the best DB or OL unless richardson falls to us at 17 or 21

I don’t see us wasting a pick on LB untill the later rounds as specialty player or project. I think our LBs are pretty much set for next year.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Jan 13, 2012 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

Guy is a headcase..........

we would be wise to stay wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy far away.

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Jan 13, 2012 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

whats he done to make him a head case

I always hear that but no deets!

by JCompton41 on Jan 13, 2012 7:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

One description...........

Has some on the field character concerns. Plays the game with a real passion and exhibits impressive fire. However, gets out of control at times and really struggles to handle his emotions. Takes some bad penalties on personal fouls and lets the penalties effect his performance as well. Seems to lose interest at times when things aren’t going his way and it takes the edge off his game.

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Jan 13, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions

The knock seems to be emotionally unstable with a penchant for personal fouls........

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-Vontaze-Burfict-Debate-6182.html

"The next person you see that throws something, point em out! You don’t live in Cleveland, you live in Cincinnati!"
- Sam Wyche

by The Van Buren Boys on Jan 13, 2012 10:32 PM EST up reply actions

He is a me-first guy, thinks he's above the team.

He’s the reason Dennis Erickson was fired. He knows he’s too good of an athlete to be benched so he is insubordinate and he takes plays off. He’s a personal foul machine, letting the game get to his head like Suh. He inexplicably head butted the QB over at Oregon State, Katz. Out of nowhere.

After being benched for a series for drawing a personal foul he went to the bench, stomped around, ripped his tape off, took his helmet off, and refused to reenter the game. He was sent to the scout team for bowl practices and I don’t think he was allowed to play in the Vegas bowl.

He’s just a total nutjob and we are done with those.

by Cry on Jan 13, 2012 10:36 PM EST up reply actions

Nice.

I wanted the kid but after reading those comments I can see he is fit for Baltimore where they have Rey Lewis to check his arse. Not here in Cincy with Marvin. They can’t very well jump the kid everyday to settle him down. Maybe money will effect his mind set.

by Cincinnati222 on Jan 14, 2012 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

what is burficts character issues?

by JCompton41 on Jan 13, 2012 7:24 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

+1

by keithster on Jan 13, 2012 7:16 PM EST up reply actions

Shape up or ship out...

Plus he seems to be injury prone. I can tolerate a great player getting injured, but not an average player.

by D-Day77 on Jan 13, 2012 9:21 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Rodderick Muckelroy

What LB position does he play?

by DixieBengalfan on Jan 13, 2012 10:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions

He's capable of playing MLB

He can also do one of the outside LB positions, but I can’t remember which one. I want to say SLB.

If not for his injury, I think he would’ve challenged Rey for the job, as the season went on.

by Big Sky Bengal on Jan 13, 2012 10:52 PM EST up reply actions

Yah I'm very high on him

by biggie22 on Jan 14, 2012 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

I am too.

He’s a film guy. Watches film like my sister watches the Kardashians. Very smart. Played every LB position for the Horns but I think Big Sky was right, SLB and MLB are his strengths. I think he would have challenged Rey at MIKE and maybe edged him out after Rey’s injury. Unfortunately, as we speculate with Hall, he may not be the same player after an Achilles injury.

by Cry on Jan 14, 2012 12:43 AM EST up reply actions

I'm am pretty high on him

and as the others said, I think he would have pushed Rey for playing time. The thing about Muckelroy is he was always kind of under the radar but always made plays, was always in the right spot and led the Horns in tackles every year. Achilles injuries are difficult to return from, but if he is on point, he will be a great addition for the Bengals.

Think of it like the Bengals D tackles this year. If everyone is healthy and lives up to potential the Bengals have a potential LB rotation of Howard, Rey, Rivers, Muckelroy, Moch, Skuta (may include Lawson as well). That is a pretty good rotation.

by WOOD98 on Jan 14, 2012 10:55 AM EST up reply actions