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CINCINNATI -- It has been arguably the most widely debated point coming off Saturday's reveal of the Cincinnati Bengals' 53-man roster. Why did they keep seven linebackers? It's a fair concern, considering how some teams hold on to just six linebackers, and the Bengals this preseason were trying out a number of safeties and cornerbacks, giving the impression they might load up at one of those spots. At safety specifically, veteran Danieal Manning was battling for playing time with younger safeties Taylor Mays and Shawn Williams. So exactly why seven linebackers? Well, it's simple. Because as we've mentioned often already this young season, the Bengals learned a lesson coming off Emmanuel Lamur's ill-timed season-ending injury last preseason. They learned that with so many teams incorporating pass-catching tight ends into their offenses, you can never have too many linebackers, particularly those who can cover. Besides, had it not been for Lamur's injury, they would have kept seven linebackers last season. It's worth pointing out that the "seventh" linebacker who was retained, 2013 draft pick Sean Porter, isn't a pure cover linebacker like Lamur, though Porter will play the "Will" linebacker position, often relieving Vontaze Burfict. Porter also doesn't have the measure of second- and third-level cover ability that Mays has. Though Mays technically is a safety, he will be lined up on tight ends and bigger slot receivers at some point this season, too. That was among the reasons it was important to keep him around, too. When it comes to keeping Porter, the decision wasn't so much about having another player who can cover as much as it was also about protecting one of the most valuable areas on the team. After Lamur's injury last year, linebacker was one of the Bengals' most thin, and arguably more vulnerable spots on the team. They started the season with six linebackers after Porter, Lamur and Brandon Joiner were lost with significant injuries. Eventually, they signed veteran Michael Boley, but it wasn't the same. They needed one of their younger -- injured -- linebackers to play to start building up confidence and trust. This year, that will happen. Lamur will have a chance to start Sunday at Baltimore and showcase the much-anticipated playing time the Bengals had been hoping for him to see last season. Porter also will presumably be in the mix if he's part of the 46-man game-day roster. Second-year player Jayson DiManche and rookie Marquis Flowers also have a chance to give the Bengals meaningful snaps early in their careers. Along with needing depth at the position, and looking for help in covering the exhaustive list of solid tight ends the Bengals will see this season, Cincinnati also kept seven linebackers for special teams. Porter shined in that area throughout the preseason. Special teams is also why DiManche returned, one year after a punt block he had sparked a touchdown return and turned the momentum in a crucial late-season game against division-rival Cleveland. Besides, for Porter, a player Bengals coaches have liked since before he was drafted, it gives him an opportunity to continue proving himself. Because of a serious shoulder injury that lasted all of last season, he didn't have a chance to do that. A knee injury during the preseason this year derailed him slightly, as did a hamstring injury early in Thursday's game. With those now behind him, he has another chance to keep proving he belongs.
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