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Rookie Brooks stars as man in the middle
Friday, November 03, 2006
CINCINNATI — If Ahmad Brooks keeps improving, he's going to lock up the Cincinnati Bengals' starting middle linebacker job.
The rookie third-round pick in the NFL supplemental draft will likely start his fourth straight game Sunday.
Extras
Already ranked sixth on the squad in tackles with 34 (23 solos), Brooks learned a valuable lesson while sitting out the first two games and being used sparingly the next two. He hates being on the sidelines.
"When I wasn't playing," he said, "it kind of frustrated me and made me more eager to go out there and perform, to help my teammates out. It helped me realize what I had."
Wanted: Takeaways
The Bengals led the NFL last season in takeaways (44), turnover ratio (plus-24) and points off turnovers (153).
They produced 11 turnovers in victories over Kansas City (3), Cleveland (3) and Pittsburgh (5). But they've managed just three takeaways in the last four games, losing three times.
Sunday's 29-27 loss to Atlanta marked the first time in 25 regular-season games the Bengals failed to get at least one takeaway. And they've scored just 27 points off turnovers this season — none since Game 3 at Pittsburgh.
"A lot of people thought that it was a fluke thing last year and that it didn't mean much," Bengals defensive tackle John Thornton said. "It actually helped our offense become one of the top offenses in the league. We had a lot to do with that. Now it's the other way around. We have to try to get more turnovers. Sometimes the ball isn't bouncing your way, but you have to keep fighting."
Then there was one
Baltimore is 42-1 under head coach Brian Billick when it grabs a lead of 14-plus points in a game.
The only loss came against the Bengals, 27-26, in 2004 when quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally the Bengals from a 20-3 deficit.
"That one game cost us going to the playoffs," Billick said. "Yeah, I'd say that's significant."
Linebacker shuffle
Look for strong-side linebacker Rashad Jeanty to return to the Bengals starting lineup with Brooks in the middle and Landon Johnson on the weak side.
Jeanty, sidelined four straight games with a sprained foot, practiced Wednesday and Thursday, and is listed as probable on the injury report.
Linebacker Brian Simmons (neck) is questionable, while cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle) and free safety Kevin Kaesviharn (knee) are probable.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
