Arkansas Bengal Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Bengals free-agency breakdown: LB Emmanuel Lamur January, 26, 2015 Jan 26 8:30 AM ET By Coley Harvey | ESPN.com CINCINNATI -- Free agency is right around the corner for the Cincinnati Bengals, who have 15 players with contracts that expire in March. Of the 15, 13 are unrestricted free agents and two are restricted free agents. To help you understand the decisions the Bengals must make, we're taking a daily look at the respective free agents and the reasons why they will or won't be re-signed.Click here to see the other free agency breakdowns. We continue with outside linebacker Emmanuel Lamur:Year signed: 2012Length of previous deal: Three years2014 cap value: $495,0002014 role: Starting "Sam" linebacker.Why he will be re-signed: Lamur's size and athleticism might be his best football traits. At 6-foot-4 and about 240 pounds, he's big enough to bring down a tight end with ease, but he's quick enough and agile enough to cover a tight end on deep routes downfield. As Cincinnati's top cover linebacker, Lamur has a role most teams might use a safety for instead. Because of that, it frees the Bengals up in the back end of the defense in a way that permits them to use their safeties in more traditional ways when there are good pass-catching tight ends on the field. A defense that likes playing man coverage is able to treat tight ends like additional receivers when Lamur is on the field. It's strictly because of his combination of size and athleticism that they feel comfortable doing that. Because of his size and coverage ability, the Bengals have good reason to want Lamur back. Like defensive tackle Devon Still, Lamur is an unrestricted free agent. Also like Still, he probably ought to expect a low-round tender offer.Why he won't be re-signed: Although Lamur's size and coverage ability are an advantage, he has yet to play a consistently good season. The potential for the former undrafted free agent is there, though. His entire second season (2013) was derailed because of a shoulder injury. A couple other injuries forced him to miss two games this past season. His inconsistency and poor play against the run do not bode well for Lamur getting a high-round tender offer or being re-signed. Strongside linebackers are supposed to be one of a team's best linebackers against the run. According to Pro Football Focus, Lamur's 2014 run-defense grade was second-to-last on the team to defensive tackle Domata Peko. Lamur graded at a minus-6.7. http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishBengal Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I say resign Lemur, but get stud starting SAM LB through the draft or in free agency. Use Lemur only in nickel situations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|SF2| Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 I say resign Lemur, but get stud starting SAM LB through the draft or in free agency. Use Lemur only in nickel situations. Linebacker must be mission #1 in FA and they damn well better pony up some cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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