Arkansas Bengal Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 Rey Maualuga's veteran calmness has settled Bengals' D November, 27, 2014 Nov 27 7:00 AM ET By Coley Harvey | ESPN.com CINCINNATI -- If the Cincinnati Bengals have looked far less rattled inside their defensive huddle the last two weeks, there's a good reason why.Rey Maualuga is back. One of the team's most veteran players, the sixth-year linebacker's presence on the field alone has been a calming influence on the unit, his teammates and coaches have said. For four weeks, when Maualuga was shelved due to a serious hamstring injury, the Bengals didn't appear to have the same energy, focus and direction. Around the same time, fellow linebackers Vontaze Burfict and Emmanuel Lamur were in and out of the lineup as injuries unexpectedly ransacked the defense. The injuries forced players who had never started a game on defense to get the first true snaps of their careers. "A few times when wasn't there, it was kind of hectic in terms of, well, I don't know, we just didn't have the composure," safety George Iloka said of Maualuga. "But when vets like him and playmakers like Vontaze are in there, it's like everything is going to be OK no matter what happens." Seven straight games earlier this season -- including three Maualuga was part of -- the Bengals allowed opponents to rush for 100 yards or more. That streak was halted two weeks ago at New Orleans when Maualuga made his post-hamstring injury debut -- an injury that coach Marvin Lewis on Wednesday said healed about a month faster than expected. Maualuga only recorded three tackles, including one key stop on the fourth down of an early goal-line stand, but his sound run-stop background helped direct teammates to flow into other gaps they had been missing in the games before. A week later, his penetration on a run blitz helped push back the Texans' offensive line as it tried to block a stretch run close to its own end zone. The push Maualuga created helped defensive tackle Geno Atkins chase Houston's Alfred Blue across the goal line, where he tackled him for a safety. Suddenly, the run defense problem the Bengals had has started fading. The Saints rushed for 75 yards while the Texans last week had only 64. "Certainly having Rey back, he understands the systems and the checks," defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. "The communication is a lot smoother." It hasn't only been in the huddle and the run game where Maualuga's presence has been felt. The Bengals have seen it in the passing game, too. At Houston, he gave the Bengals some momentum coming out of halftime, intercepting Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett on the first play of the third quarter. The Bengals' offense responded to the turnover by scoring a touchdown six plays later. "As I keep trying to describe, linebackers back the line. Your job is to shed a block, make a tackle," Lewis said. "Rey's done a great job of that. He's really grown in that area over the time. He's so doggone physical. The thing that he has also done is mentally, he's so advanced that way of understanding what we need to get done up front, and any kind of adjustment to things, and being able to make that adjustment." When Iloka was asked to describe the Maualuga he's seen the last last two weeks, he used three words. "Cool, calm, collect." http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khatmandude Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 I never thought I'd ever read such words, such an article........about Rey Maualuga. He's come a long way....I used to blast his ineptness, and IMO for good reason, but he's played extremely well since coming back from the hamstring injury. A LB corps of Lamur, Burfict and Maualuga, combined with Geno getting healthier by the day, and Peko stepping his game up means the D should return to form. And hopefully by playoff time, should be in top form....assuming Burfict can stay on the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishBengal Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 I think Maualuga is actually responding better under Guenther than he did under Zimmer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThurmanMunster Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 All they had to do was reduce his responsibilities and quit trying to put him deep in coverage where he struggled and his strengths started showing. I blame it more on misuse by Zimmer/Marvin than I do on Rey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 Of his SC mates, Matthews and Cushing, he was always the best run defender. At least Paulie knows not to try and fit a square peg into a round hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|Dr Tarzan| Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 Best two back to back games since his rookie year....hope it's back to back to back.....(to back to back to......,.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluhartz Posted November 27, 2014 Report Share Posted November 27, 2014 I never thought I'd ever read such words, such an article........about Rey Maualuga. He's come a long way....I used to blast his ineptness, and IMO for good reason, but he's played extremely well since coming back from the hamstring injury. A LB corps of Lamur, Burfict and Maualuga, combined with Geno getting healthier by the day, and Peko stepping his game up means the D should return to form. And hopefully by playoff time, should be in top form....assuming Burfict can stay on the field. I couldn't agree more. He has played so well since his return.. I hope he continues to play that way all year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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