HAPPYJAQ Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 (edited) I just watched this film and I am convinced without a doubt that he will be a star in the league. He has everything that you want in a star LB: Size, speed, explosiveness, intelligence and not to mention production both as an OLB at USC and a MLB at the Senior Bowl. He is the kind of player that will have an immediate, significant impact right away on the Bengals D. I am so happy that we got him instead of Sedrick Ellis, who I think will be only average for the Saints. He steps in right away and starts 16 games at one of the LB spots, leavng Jones, Brooks and Thurman to fight for the other 32 starts at LB this year. He's a bigger, faster Brian Simmons with more big ply potential. Instant upgrade. Edited May 8, 2008 by Bengalszone Billy Formatted for YouTube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 The only thing I can think right now is the Cincinnati now has two of THE BEST young LB's in the league. Rivers teamed with Thurman can be termed as nothing but scary for opposing teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalPimp Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 Living in SoCal, and watching USC play every week, I can tell you that Keith Rivers is a very active LB, he's got a good motor and is a good tackler.He will be a very good LB, however, the best player on that USC Defense was not Ellis,Rivers, or Lawrence Jackson...It was LB REY MAUALUGA. That dude is the second coming of Junior Seau, and he's the real deal and one of the Hardest Hitters in college. I would have loved for him to have come out in the draft, if he did, NO DOUBT he would be wearing a Bengals jersey(had he lasted that long).That said, Rivers will be Good, but just how good, depends on the others around him. If they do their jobs, It will free him up to be more of an Impact player. He is still going to be a rookie, so he needs help this season, but after that....WATCH OUT ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreen_112 Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 The only thing I can think right now is the Cincinnati now has two of THE BEST young LB's in the league. Rivers teamed with Thurman can be termed as nothing but scary for opposing teams.Throw a healthy Ahmad Brooks in there and OMG, we're 110% better already before camp... I can't wait to see these guys compliment each other, especially Odell and Keith. Going into the draft Rivers was my #3 guy overall after Dorsey and Ellis. Rivers fills a huge need and made an instant impact on defense where it matters the most. You have to have good LB's. We haven't seen it since '05. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 Rivers is clearly an upgrade. Toss in Odell, Brooks, Jeanty and Jones and the Bengals have the makings of a pretty good LB corps, at least on paper. But whether Rivers & Co. get a chance to shine will depend a lot of how quickly Sims and Shirley develop, how Odom performs, and whether or not there's anything to Rucker. Until the front four stiffen up, the back seven are going to end up playing more damage control than defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 Rivers is clearly an upgrade. Toss in Odell, Brooks, Jeanty and Jones and the Bengals have the makings of a pretty good LB corps, at least on paper. But whether Rivers & Co. get a chance to shine will depend a lot of how quickly Sims and Shirley develop, how Odom performs, and whether or not there's anything to Rucker. Until the front four stiffen up, the back seven are going to end up playing more damage control than defense.That's how it's been here for years. Seems like Marvin's always underestimated the need of a good front 4.I'm optimistic for our LB corps, but I'm interested to see who's on the field come September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membengal Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 I really do think the front 4 are going to be much improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 I'm looking forward to see what our new Dline can do....DE:Odom,Geathers,Frostee,Fanene,Craig, Angelo -Craig more then likely be a practice squad guy inless they wanna keep him on as a 3rd down passrusher.DT:Sims,Peko,JT & Shirley (though I could see Meyers pushing for a spot either JT's or Shirleys-I think Shirley makes the team just so another team doesn't snatch him off the PS ala Big Toe,You don't give 99 to practice squad guy I think the new big boys will be good for our defense as a whole that we finally have the big men we need in the middle,Rather then having undersized DT's and Undersized Linebackers who are fast we have Bigger DT's who are still athletic and Brooks,Odell & Rivers who are all said to play sideline to sideline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoePong Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 I still can't believe people who are mad that the bengals didn't give away extra draft picks to get Ellis. We were able to fill two huge holes in this defense with Rivers and Sims. If we had gotten Ellis, we still would have had a big hole at LB. I will take Rivers and Sims over just Ellis any day, considering the state of this defense. If we already had a bunch of outstanding playmaking LBs and were just missing an undersized, active DT up front, then maybe I make the trade. But that's not the case, and I suspect Sims may be more of what we need up front anyway, especially in htis division. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoePong Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 That video was hilarious though. Who was the commentator for that? Keith's brother or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet23 Posted May 8, 2008 Report Share Posted May 8, 2008 Rivers is clearly an upgrade. Toss in Odell, Brooks, Jeanty and Jones and the Bengals have the makings of a pretty good LB corps, at least on paper. But whether Rivers & Co. get a chance to shine will depend a lot of how quickly Sims and Shirley develop, how Odom performs, and whether or not there's anything to Rucker. Until the front four stiffen up, the back seven are going to end up playing more damage control than defense.Yup! You could be the greatest LB ever, but nobody would ever know it if you're playing behind John Thornton and Bryan Robinson. Ask Ray Lewis the importance of a good DL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ29 Posted May 11, 2008 Report Share Posted May 11, 2008 I'm just pumped that they're having Rivers play Will, because that opens the door for Odell to come back and play Mike, whether they'll say it or not. God that would be fun to watch. To get all that attitude and athleticism back on the field could give them a swagger that they've been missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJJackson Posted May 11, 2008 Report Share Posted May 11, 2008 WLB is his college position, tho - why not put him in a spot he will naturally excel at, rather than trying to make him fit elsewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted May 11, 2008 Report Share Posted May 11, 2008 WLB is his college position, tho - why not put him in a spot he will naturally excel at, rather than trying to make him fit elsewhere?Isn't that what they are doing? On bengals.com was saying its pretty safe to assume Rivers is the WLB so that should leave Ahmad competing with jeanty and Dhani with Odell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 WLB is his college position, tho - why not put him in a spot he will naturally excel at, rather than trying to make him fit elsewhere?Isn't that what they are doing? On bengals.com was saying its pretty safe to assume Rivers is the WLB so that should leave Ahmad competing with jeanty and Dhani with Odell.IMO none of the aforementioned players can compete with Thurman. My hopes for someone leading the defense lies with him, not Thornton. He's done nothing but coast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Ya,I just hope Odell,Brooks and Rivers click like Jjoe and Hall do....Brooks,Odell and rivers are all far from what we had in past with quiet lead by example guys... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwalling Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 I really think the new D Coordinator and LB coach are going to instill a more attack oriented approach that Brooks, Rivers, Odell, Jeanty, Henderson, Dhani and any other linebacker will love.BTW, I think that group of backers is pretty solid if we can keep them healthy and active. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membengal Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 It certainly gives me reason for cautious optimism that Zimmer has a great history of working with and developing LBers and runs a scheme that is LB friendly. That will be a nice change in Cincy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wraith Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 Odom, Sims, Peko, GeathersBrooks, Thurman, RiversWhite (Lynch), NdukweJoseph, HallNo starter over 27 and only one (Odom) over 26. That is a pretty athletic young defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishbengal Posted May 12, 2008 Report Share Posted May 12, 2008 we're 110% better already before camp...It's what we're left with AFTER the camps and pre-season matches that worry me - hopefully no-one will go down with a season ending injury before the season kicks-off, but hey, this IS the Bengals we're talking about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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