Keith Rivers impress anyone?

[walzav29]

The defense has improved, but I haven't seen any big plays out of him. Has anyone else?

[ChadJohnson-85]

The defense has improved, but I haven't seen any big plays out of him. Has anyone else?

He is no sack machine. But have I seen any BIG plays out of him? Not many. But when he gets the chance he'll pop you good. But I haven't seen him do anything bad either. So I'm fine with Rivers.

[walzav29]

It seems to me I notice Brandon Johnson more when he's on the field. I like Rivers, but nothing has jumped of the screen to me.

[Pidge]

Well, look at this way. Were he f**king up and being a liability, you'd be well aware of it. I'm not sure he'll ever be a game changer but 20 games into his pro career he seems to be doing well enough. He can be our Dan Morgan, a player we'd only miss when he's not there.

[Pidge]

Agree about Brandon J btw. Each game he's adding a few more zeros to his next contract.

[Kazkal]

Early one he was laying the wood with authority,As of late still playing good hence why our defense is doing as well as it is though I haven't seen as much wood.

Agree about Brandon J btw. Each game he's adding a few more zeros to his next contract.

I Just can't see him commanding huge deal but a very respectable one for a starting Linebacker,WHich I say pay the guy we have Two young starting linebackers that won't need new contracts for a few years Pay Brandon now then draft his replacement when it's time to pay Rey & Keith...

I'd have np with Brandon starting at SLB he's as big as over half SLB's in the NFL does a good job blitzing and our best coverage linebacker....I'd much rather see him replace Rey then a rookie.

[derekshank]

Rivers is the highest rated LB on the Bengals roster.

When he was drafted, he was known for being a consistent reliable player even if he wasn't the flashy one in all te highlights. A little like Brian Simmons.

All that said, while he may not be known as a human highlight reel, I've noticed on multiple occasions that when a big hit was handed out, it's been 55 a lot more often than 58... the guy that's much more known for that sort of thing.

[Pidge]

Early one he was laying the wood with authority,As of late still playing good hence why our defense is doing as well as it is though I haven't seen as much wood.

Agree about Brandon J btw. Each game he's adding a few more zeros to his next contract.

I Just can't see him commanding huge deal but a very respectable one for a starting Linebacker,WHich I say pay the guy we have Two young starting linebackers that won't need new contracts for a few years Pay Brandon now then draft his replacement when it's time to pay Rey & Keith...

I'd have np with Brandon starting at SLB he's as big as over half SLB's in the NFL does a good job blitzing and our best coverage linebacker....I'd much rather see him replace Rey then a rookie.

Agreed on the contract. Offer a fair deal for a starting LB in the league. He's not pro-bowl level or anything, right now at least if ever, but he's making plays. I think he has the talent individually but playing alongside two other quality LBs helps him as it would any other player.

Once again, about Rivers - he is similar to so many good players who fly under the radar. My college bias made point out Morgan. Such an underrated player, until he kept getting concussed and was forced to retire. The Panthers really missed him. Not flashy but disciplined, consistent and productive and more importantly one of those players that improves the play of others around him by being consistent. Remove that player and suddenly the other LBs aren't making so many of those eye-catching plays etc - you don't just lose the production of one player.

Now, that is overstating the case right now in all probability but he'll be the captain of the D soon enough and he won't relinquish it, injury willing, for the best part of a decade.

[volcom69]

I think B Johnson is the most complete LB on this team, he has the speed to cover TE and the speed to sack the QB. I know he is not a starter but i think he is the best LB on this team and should play more.

[Kazkal]

I think B Johnson is the most complete LB on this team, he has the speed to cover TE and the speed to sack the QB. I know he is not a starter but i think he is the best LB on this team and should play more.

Well he's not starting he may as well be considered one for us,Because he's always the first the bench when there is a injury and also the Primary Nickle Linebacker(I think we'd be better off with BJohnson & Keith as our nickle backers but gotta keep Dhani in because he has the radio Helmet :|

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Drafted a bit too high, but at the time the Bengals' LB's were a mess and the emphasis on that group the last two years shows with the improvement on defense.

You have to balance need versus BPA in the 1st round, and Rivers was the logical choice.

Not quite a disappointment...not exactly a guy who's achieved or surpassed expectations either.

Personally I think he's too quiet and nice for a LB in Marvin's style of defense - no nasty streak, lacks explosive bursts and agility, but makes up for it with instincts and a balance of size/speed, and solid tackling ability. Packer fans are saying the same things about AJ Hawk - but AJ makes more plays at this point.

He's still young and missed a lot of time last year obviously, so there's still hope he'll grow into his role and have a few stellar years. He would benefit from some more protection and a more dynamic MLB than Jones.

[wpeldios]

Keith Rivers style of play isn't meant to jump off the screen at you. Maualuga will jump off the screen at you. But at times he will make mistakes, and when he does, Rivers is there to clean up. Rivers is the most consistent of the linebackers on this team. He just doesn't miss many tackles, and is almost never out of position. Brandon Johnson is the best against the pass in my mind. But I really think a lot of people undervalue what Rivers does simply because he isn't flashy. 1 on 1, I feel safer with him making the tackle than anyone on our defense, and its not even close for second.

[Dadraftnick]

I have said many times , and been trashed for it , that I believe Brandon Johnson is a better LB.

I didnt like drafting Keith Rivers where we took him.

My take on him before the draft and still is that, he is a very good LB but, just not that special, he is not super fast, not an overly agressive player,not the kind of player that brings up the play of the rest of the LB's -just not what you expect when you spend a #1 pick on a LB.

I just didnt think he worthy of a 1st rnd pick.

There were just too many guys that went in the middle rounds that have the same kind of play.

Plus, I think Brandon Johnson (who I would have drafted and was in my mock drafts for the Bengals)is a better all-around player.

[wpeldios]

not an overly agressive player

Personally I think this is part of what makes him so valuable to this team. I enjoy watching Maualuga and Johnson run around like maniacs, but I also enjoy knowing if they get too crazy, Rivers is almost always there to clean up the mess.

[Dadraftnick]

not an overly agressive player

Personally I think this is part of what makes him so valuable to this team. I enjoy watching Maualuga and Johnson run around like maniacs, but I also enjoy knowing if they get too crazy, Rivers is almost always there to clean up the mess.

Maybe I should have put that differently. What I mean by not overly aggressive is- He does not knock the hell out of people not wearing the same color jerseys.- he does not make people sorry they came to his side of the field.

I like Rivers, Im glad we have him , I just have never seen anything out of him that says top 10 draft pick.

I cant put my finger on what is missing in his game,if I had to pick something I guess it be would passion.

When I see Johnson out there he seems to be more of an all-around better, I think he looks alot better in pass coverage and blitzing.

In fairness to Rivers, he got put out by the dirtiest player in football before he finished his 1st year so, he has barley finished the # of games he would have played his rookie year.

But, for instance , Dhani Jones was a 6th round pick , that is leading the LB's tackles.

The point is there are so many good LB's in most drafts that if you take one with a top 10 pick he should be the next LT, Ray Lewis, ect.

[Pidge]

Last yr he was about the best LB available. I don't think it's much of an argument to say he was BPA - he just plain wasn't. The team felt they needed to fill the need of LB more than BPA. So yeah, bit of a reach but like you said, glad we have him and he's in no way a bust or anything. Plus, he's still only 20 or so games into his career.

[derekshank]

Rivers does play sideline to sideline, and does have the speed for it.

Despite not being as well known for "violent hits" as Maualuga, I've noticed him giving those violent hits much more often than his USC counterpart.

Last year, despite a late start due to a holdout, along with missing a good part of the season with a broken jaw... he finished 2nd for defensive rookie of the year voting.

His LB coach in college Ken Norton Jr nicknamed Rivers "the Shark" for his aggressive play on the field, juxtaposed to his polite demeanor off of it. I have noticed his aggressive play and overall violence when it comes to hitting. He simply doesn't run around like a madman, because he is very disciplined.

His demeanor isn't the type to jump around and celebrate after a hit, and that might have something to do with why he goes unnoticed, but he is in my opinion the best LB on the team.

Johnson played very well in his absence, but Rivers consistency and lack of mistakes are a big part of what makes this defense one of the best in the NFL.

[jjakq27]

I think he is still learning the ropes a bit but I haven't seen any great, glaring issue with his play thus far. Someone compared him to Brian Simmons but I truly hope that he ascends to a higher level than that. I think we may see some great things from him next year as he settles in more and has an off-season where he is able to completely focus on his position.

[7/11]

like some of you, i think of brian simmons when i see rivers out there.

but (also, like someone said), rivers gets around and i am still sometimes surprised to see #55 get up after a pretty damn good hit.

he's nothing crazy, nothing flashy, but he's a good pro to have on our defense.

[HAPPYJAQ]

The weakside LB in a 4-3 defense should almost always be a playmaker. I think Keith Rivers is a solid player, but he's made very few dynamic plays on defense. His play in the running game has been good-to-great, and he's evem shown an ability to get into the backfield, at times.

I thought he was really coming on before the "Whines Hard" attack on him last year, but I'm not so sure that he's rugged enough to play in the middle in the brutal AFC North, which might be his best position if you consider his skill set. Not to rag on this guy, but it's also interesting that he's become mostly a 2-down player, when pass coverage was thought to be one of his strengths.

Maybe we could flip flop Rivers and Rey, as Rey looks a lot more explosive as a pash rusher and would be an absolute terror on the blitz when matched up with a RB.

Many know that I believe Brandon Johnson's the best all-around player on defense, and he needs to be seeing a lot more action. I say give him Jeanty's salary after the season, boosting him to around 3 million per, and see what you've got in Dan Skuta as the 5th LB (Dhani to the bench as a key backup to all three spots), who looks more and more impressive the more he plays. Rivers, Rey and BJ could end up being a top 2 or 3 trio in the league by next season, as your starting LBs.

The bigger question is where you play 'em all.

[HoTbOy]

BSimmons was overshadowed by the more aggresive TSpikes, just like KRivers is overshadowed by the more aggresive RMauluga, with that said I'm going to give him a little more time because he didn't play every game last year and is playing steady this year...I think that BJohnson was a starter @ 1 time for the Cardinals, taking the spot of KDansby who was either injured or drafted and I know they wanted to keep him...I would like to see BJohnson in more also, you notice him on the field he gets to the QB, he plays good coverage and he makes tackles...

[Dimster28]

The defense has improved, but I haven't seen any big plays out of him. Has anyone else?

still think he isnt impressive?

[Kazkal]

Rivers saw this thread and thought I'm not a player maker? bs lol

Good game Keith

[Pidge]

He won some battles today and he lost some battles today. Pretty much like every single player out there on the field, on both teams. I still like him. A lot.

[ChadJohnson-85]

I said in a thread before the game that if Rivers gets enough balls thrown his way he'll get his chance at getting an interception. I also said that we'd win 28-24... I was almost right....