BengalszoneBilly Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 All I can say is I can't wait to see how he and the other linebackers play under Zimmer and FitzGerald. My hopes run high! Rivers Link.Rookie Rivers should fill immediate Bengals' needs.CINCINNATI -- Keith Rivers knows the pressure is on, and despite the whirlwind surrounding him that has been the Cincinnati Bengals' offseason, the rookie linebacker is having no problem staying focused.Rivers is aware that a pair of talented former teammates -- Chris Henry and Odell Thurman -- were kicked off the team in back-to-back months.Keith Rivers is one of 11 linebackers the Bengals have in camp.He is conscious of Cincinnati's poor defensive track record, and that Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson has gone AWOL.Yet Rivers remains the brightest light coming from the Queen City this spring. The rookie is doing and saying all the right things, at a time when others before him in Cincinnati did not.Whether it's fair to Rivers is not the issue.These are the cards Rivers were dealt as the ninth overall pick. He comes to an organization in desperate need of his skills on the field, high character off the field and status as one of the most prepared players to come out of this year's NFL draft."At the end of the day, those things have nothing to do with me," Rivers said of the Cincinnati's tumultuous offseason. "The only thing I need to do right now is focus on myself, learn my plays and get better."I hope everything works out in a great way (for Johnson), but that's not my concern. I want to be seen, not heard, and make plays."Focus is one of Rivers' greatest assets. He graduated from the University of Southern California earlier this month with a degree in public policy development. He steers clear of trouble and is passionate about his craft of playing linebacker.In just three weeks of organized team activities, Bengals coaches already are falling in love with Rivers' innate ability to read and react.With the increased speed of the game, processing information quickly is one of the biggest struggles rookie linebackers have when coming to the NFL. But Rivers is living up to his lofty billing."This man sees the picture clearly," Bengals linebacker coach Jeff FitzGerald said. "When he sees things happen in front of him, things are clicking. He sees it and it makes sense to him. It's not just a guy running around hoping that he was right."After failed attempts by former assistants Leslie Frazier and Chuck Bresnahan, Cincinnati will be on its third defensive coordinator under head coach Marvin Lewis. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will try to improve the Bengals defense in 2008 as Cincinnati has never ranked higher than No. 19 in total defense during Lewis' five-year tenure.Cincinnati linebacker Keith Rivers is expected to play right away in the NFL. But how well-prepared is the former USC star, especially compared to his rookie counterparts? Jeremy Green ranks the top 10 impact rookies from the 2008 draft. Story Zimmer is in the process of installing a base 4-3 scheme that eventually will include some 3-4 looks. The defense could have at least three new starters next season in Rivers, linebacker Ahmad Brooks and defensive end Antwan Odom, Cincinnati's major free-agent acquisition from the Tennessee Titans.Rivers' path to Cincinnati was straightforward.The Bengals had their eye on two USC defensive players during the scouting process in Rivers and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis.The New Orleans Saints, who originally had the No. 10 pick, reportedly wanted to trade up to get defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, but couldn't. So New Orleans traded with the New England Patriots to snag Ellis with the seventh overall selection, and the Bengals took Rivers two picks later.Cincinnati now has 11 linebackers on its roster, which was one of the reasons Thurman became expendable. There is an open competition for all three starting jobs this season, but currently nine-year veteran Dhani Jones is the favorite to start at middle linebacker, along with Rivers and Brooks as the leading candidates for the two outside-linebacker spots.While quarterback Carson Palmer is the face of Cincinnati's offense, the defense remains faceless and without an identity. Rivers has the talent and potential to fill that void, but it's rare that a rookie on defense has to shoulder that kind of responsibility."He's got leadership ability, there's absolutely no question in my mind," FitzGerald said. "However, he has to feel comfortable about when and how he leads, and I have to understand that. I can jump all over him now, but that's not fair for me to do."Lewis recently passed out orange T-shirts to all of his players that read "NOW" on the back in bright, white letters. Lewis' message is that Cincinnati needs to win this season -- with no excuses and no looking ahead to future seasons.The motto also rings true for Rivers, who likely will need to play above and beyond his experience level for the Bengals to be successful.James Walker covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalPimp Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 A lot of people are excited to see what happens, and while i think Zimmer was a good hire, I loved the hiring of Jeff FitzGerald, and I think he will get the most out of Rivers' ability, along with the rest of the LB corps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAPPYJAQ Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Mark my words, barring injury, Rivers will be the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He will be a Day 1 starter on argurably the most talented Bengals defensive unit since '98. With Geathers moving back to DE, opposite Odom, we should have a much better pash rush. At least one of the new DT's should have an impact and the secondary is a year older. Fitzgerald is a teaching guru and should bring out the best of his abilities. I can't wait to see him on the field this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurmanation Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I wouldnt put that on his shoulders, Hes going to be good, yea, but thats because look who hes playing with. Hell HAVE to be good. Now will he be as agood as Thurman in his rookie year? If he can then ill be pleased, but i doubt he does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted June 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Mark my words, barring injury, Rivers will be the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He will be a Day 1 starter on argurably the most talented Bengals defensive unit since '98. With Geathers moving back to DE, opposite Odom, we should have a much better pash rush. At least one of the new DT's should have an impact and the secondary is a year older. Fitzgerald is a teaching guru and should bring out the best of his abilities. I can't wait to see him on the field this year.My wet dream (aside from smokin' hotties of course) is that the Bengals actually obtain a top ten defense. If they ever put that together with the offense Carson Palmer currently runs, watch out NFL! I'm just tired of watching Cincinnati play the Paris Hilton defense...score when you want to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingwilly Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 I am excited to see what Rivers can contribute as well as the rest of the young guys (Sims, Shirley, etc.)........However, I will not annoint him DROY or improperly set my expectations that this squad will magically re-invent itself and be a Top 10 Defensive unit. Impact defensive players go high in the draft to teams that are usuallypretty bad defensively. SF took Willis and Detroit took Sims, both of whom I consider emerging NFL stars. Did they "transform" their defensses? Nope. Admittedly, they help make each team better but it is going to be a very big task to correct this defensive ship, as it is in SF or DET. Most of the issues, to me, are correctable via coaching/scheme but some are still personnel. Like, who is the starting FS? Ndukwe? Kilmer? White? Who will be nickel back? Deltha? If so, how motivated will he be?? Who are the back-up DT's? Myers? Titus Adams? Will Thornton be a starter? If so, how can we expect to be improved?Health always plays a huge part but seriously, with very little overt personnel improvement I just don't want folks placing ALL of it on Mr. Rivers to solve. He will be solid, think of a young Brian Simmons, and if the scheme is decent, like when LeBeau was DC, this team will give 3 less points a game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ickey44 Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Those are all good questions, but I think our secondary will be solid barring injury. JJ and Hall will be good. I think White, and eventually Ndukwe will be our safeties. Linebackers will be ok. I think our major problem in the line. I'm hoping that the new DT's can come in and play because Thornton just can't get it done. I don't know why we've kept him so long. If Geathers can get back to 06 form and Odom is what he's hyped up to be, it's the DT play that will define this season. And Zimmer's play-calling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agreen_112 Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I wouldnt put that on his shoulders, Hes going to be good, yea, but thats because look who hes playing with. Hell HAVE to be good. Now will he be as agood as Thurman in his rookie year? If he can then ill be pleased, but i doubt he does.He'll be as good as Thurman was his rookie season.. maybe even better... It's pretty obvious that Rivers will immediately fill a Bengals need.. we have no great LB's.. we really don't have any really good LB's either. Rivers will most definitely stand out and make an impact... To say that he will most definitely be the rookie of the year though is possibly a stretch. I'd love to see that happen, but I just don't think we should make those type of predictions this early... I hope he can stay healthy all season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurmanation Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I wouldnt put that on his shoulders, Hes going to be good, yea, but thats because look who hes playing with. Hell HAVE to be good. Now will he be as agood as Thurman in his rookie year? If he can then ill be pleased, but i doubt he does.He'll be as good as Thurman was his rookie season.. maybe even better... It's pretty obvious that Rivers will immediately fill a Bengals need.. we have no great LB's.. we really don't have any really good LB's either. Rivers will most definitely stand out and make an impact... To say that he will most definitely be the rookie of the year though is possibly a stretch. I'd love to see that happen, but I just don't think we should make those type of predictions this early... I hope he can stay healthy all season.I really can see him winning it though, usually its a LB that gets it, and he really has no competition other then Jerod Mayo who will be a back up behind an aging LB core. I can see the final 5 for DROTY being:-Rivers-Gholston-Long-Rodgers Cromartie-Ellis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalPimp Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I really can see him winning it though, usually its a LB that gets it, and he really has no competition other then Jerod Mayo who will be a back up behind an aging LB core. I can see the final 5 for DROTY being:-Rivers-Gholston-Long-Rodgers Cromartie-EllisHmm...maybe you should contemplate a name change to.....RiversNation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalPimp Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 On second thought, better not. Don't want to jinx Rivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurmanation Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I really can see him winning it though, usually its a LB that gets it, and he really has no competition other then Jerod Mayo who will be a back up behind an aging LB core. I can see the final 5 for DROTY being:-Rivers-Gholston-Long-Rodgers Cromartie-EllisHmm...maybe you should contemplate a name change to.....RiversNation?Yea maybe huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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