Marvin Lewis has said that Vontaze Burfict has proved that he is a great linebacker.

The 23-year-old, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent, leads the Cincinnati Bengals' defense with 74 tackles so far this season.

The team's head coach told reporters: "Vontaze has proven that he's a great linebacker with skills to do whatever you want a linebacker to be able to do.

"He's played well in the running game, played with his pads down in the running game to make a good, sound open field tackles. And he's done good things in the passing game, to understand passing lanes. He understands the offensive football team.

"As a young player, he has great intellect that way to understand the offensive plan and what they're trying to do based on formation, personnel, and so forth. He's everything you want that way."

Burfict also has one sack and one interception from the first seven games of the 2013 campaign.