Keith Rivers will be in stripes!

[Jackshanks]

Rivers has been regarded by many as the top linebacker in the draft. I know it's not in our history to draft a linebacker as high as #9 but...with Landon's departure to Carolina and Dorsey/Ellis probably off the board by then, I think you'll see Keith Rivers here in stripes.

Thoughts?

[eoxyod]

Maybe, but if this was in the draft forum, this would make more sense

I think he will if we don't get Ellis/Dorsey. A combination of Brooks, Thurman, Rivers would be amazing

[CincyChili#9]

Could happen but I am still crossing my fingers for Ellis

[UofCbengalfan]

No, Thank You... if Dorsey/Ellis/C. Long/Gholston are gone when Bengals are on the clock they shouldn’t reach with the #9 pick (I think Rivers would be a reach). I think we would be better off simply taking the best player available... you can never go wrong there, and with Marvin wanting to move shift back to a run oriented offense don't be surprised if we take a RB like Mendenhall with our first pick. Sure, defense is a need, but I would rather pick up a quality guy in the second round for less money than overpay a guy like Rivers with #9 money.

[eliminate08]

Originally Posted by UofCbengalfan

No, Thank You... if Dorsey/Ellis/C. Long/Gholston are gone when Bengals are on the clock they shouldn’t reach with the #9 pick (I think Rivers would be a reach). I think we would be better off simply taking the best player available... you can never go wrong there, and with Marvin wanting to move shift back to a run oriented offense don't be surprised if we take a RB like Mendenhall with our first pick. Sure, defense is a need, but I would rather pick up a quality guy in the second round for less money than overpay a guy like Rivers with #9 money.

You can definately go wrong by taking the best player available. Go by need.

I agree that Rivers might be a reach, but i still like him. I agree if we had no choice of
getting one of those DT's we should get Mendenhall or trade down and get Balmer. One
of those 2 options i think would be better than picking up either Rivers or Harvey.

Best player available for our needs.

[BengalBug]

Originally Posted by UofCbengalfan

No, Thank You... if Dorsey/Ellis/C. Long/Gholston are gone when Bengals are on the clock they shouldn’t reach with the #9 pick (I think Rivers would be a reach). I think we would be better off simply taking the best player available... you can never go wrong there, and with Marvin wanting to move shift back to a run oriented offense don't be surprised if we take a RB like Mendenhall with our first pick. Sure, defense is a need, but I would rather pick up a quality guy in the second round for less money than overpay a guy like Rivers with #9 money.

rivers at 9 is not a reach, if we dont get him at 9, he will be gone at 10

[Dennyg2]

I still think the bengals will move up and get Ellis or Dorsey, this is a year you see them pull a trade for what they really need

[spinksjinx]

If Mendenhall could complete on 3rd and short he will be an element to the defense. We can manage the clock with the run game and game our defense off the field to rest. I'm not totally opposed to it. However, its just our bad luck that RBs in the first round have never panned out for us in Cincy. Plus im weary of Mendenhall, the guy hasnt put up consistent numbers like Stewart, Jones, and McFadden has.

[stinger223]

I'm fine with "settling" for Rivers @ 9. But I swear to god if we have a chance to get Ellis & pass him up for someone else I'm walking to Cincy with a flamethrower & camping out @ PBS waiting for somebody to barbeque!

I would like to see Marvin/SOB get aggressive & try to move up 2 or 3 spots to get Ellis or Gholston. Dorsey in stripes would be a dream. But we know he'll be gone within the first 3 picks & it will cost too much to move up that far to get him.

[spinksjinx]

Originally Posted by stinger223

I'm fine with "settling" for Rivers @ 9. But I swear to god if we have a chance to get Ellis & pass him up for someone else I'm walking to Cincy with a flamethrower & camping out @ PBS waiting for somebody to barbeque!

I would like to see Marvin/SOB get aggressive & try to move up 2 or 3 spots to get Ellis or Gholston. Dorsey in stripes would be a dream. But we know he'll be gone within the first 3 picks & it will cost too much to move up that far to get him.

Gholston wont last. Even if he did the Patriots and Jets already have interest in him.

[Jackshanks]

Originally Posted by UofCbengalfan

No, Thank You... if Dorsey/Ellis/C. Long/Gholston are gone when Bengals are on the clock they shouldn’t reach with the #9 pick (I think Rivers would be a reach). I think we would be better off simply taking the best player available... you can never go wrong there, and with Marvin wanting to move shift back to a run oriented offense don't be surprised if we take a RB like Mendenhall with our first pick. Sure, defense is a need, but I would rather pick up a quality guy in the second round for less money than overpay a guy like Rivers with #9 money.

I do like Mendenhall at #9 as well, but after the pro day numbers that Rivers just put up I don't think it's a jump to take a guy with a 42 inch vertical and 4.5 40 time. He has moved up to a top 10-15 draft pick. If Ellis is gone how can you pass on a stand up guy with a hard work ethic like Rivers? Not to mention he's a beast on the field.

[Carsons-Arsenal]

Rivers at #9 IMO is not a reach. The most talented LB in the draft. We do need help there too. It's all a crap shoot anyway. If we pass on Rivers and take Ellis then Rivers will be great. If we pass on Rivers and take Ellis then Rivers will be great. I'll be happy with either.

[JAH-BENGAL]

How can you classify a guy as a reach at the 9th pick, who is a 2 time 1st team all american LB, and had an absolutely awsome pro-day! This guy time in at 4.5sec in the 40, and had a mind blowning 43" verticle...those are outstanding #'s for a 240 lb. man!!!

[fredtoast]

Originally Posted by JAH-BENGAL

How can you classify a guy as a reach at the 9th pick, who is a 2 time 1st team all american LB, and had an absolutely awsome pro-day! This guy time in at 4.5sec in the 40, and had a mind blowning 43" verticle...those are outstanding #'s for a 240 lb. man!!!

Jerod Mayo is bigger than Rivers and just as athletic.

The only difference is that Mayo had almost TWICE as many tackles as Rivers while playing against tougher competition and with weaker DTs in front of him.

Mayo will be a better NFL player than Rivers and would not be a reach at #9.

[eliminate08]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

Jerod Mayo is bigger than Rivers and just as athletic.

The only difference is that Mayo had almost TWICE as many tackles as Rivers while playing against tougher competition and with weaker DTs in front of him.

Mayo will be a better NFL player than Rivers and would not be a reach at #9.

Really? Nice to know. What about Lofton?

[Redfox]

If the impact defenseive players Dorsey/Ellis/Gholston/C.Long are gone at #9 we might as well trade down and pick a lesser DL.

[JAH-BENGAL]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

Jerod Mayo is bigger than Rivers and just as athletic.

The only difference is that Mayo had almost TWICE as many tackles as Rivers while playing against tougher competition and with weaker DTs in front of him.

Mayo will be a better NFL player than Rivers and would not be a reach at #9.

Jerod Mayo is listed as 6'2" - 230lbs, Keith Rivers is listed as 6'3" - 236lbs...I wouldn't say there is a huge size differential. I do like Mayo's athletecism and speed, but, correct me if I am wrong, didn't he play MLB not OLB? Even so, I think he could make an easy transition to the weak side backer. I still prefer Rivers, if for nothing else, he sounds like a very intelligent player, as witnessed during his pro day interview...very sharp young man! We need more players like that!

[CincyGuy344]

Originally Posted by eliminate08

You can definately go wrong by taking the best player available. Go by need.

I agree that Rivers might be a reach, but i still like him. I agree if we had no choice of
getting one of those DT's we should get Mendenhall or trade down and get Balmer. One
of those 2 options i think would be better than picking up either Rivers or Harvey.

Best player available for our needs.

ilike kieth riversif ellis isnt there and Laws in the second Okam in the 4th

[Carsons-Arsenal]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

Jerod Mayo is bigger than Rivers and just as athletic.

The only difference is that Mayo had almost TWICE as many tackles as Rivers while playing against tougher competition and with weaker DTs in front of him.

Mayo will be a better NFL player than Rivers and would not be a reach at #9.

Honestly I'm not that familiar with Mayo, But I do know that Rivers played with and around alot of other talent and still showed great ability and poise. I think playing for a bigtime school and currently winning program could speak volumes for the young LB.

At the same time it's easy to let the hype of somewhat big name player from a big school blind you from the other talents that he might be overshadowing.

[TheChosenOne]

Here is why I don't think we are going to draft Rivers:
1.) Because he is a weak side linebacker, the same position as Dhani Jones. Rivers would be an upgrade for athleticism but not leadership. I think the Bengals want Dhani to start because they want him to be the leader for the defense. They will accept the less athleticism for more leadership. Which the defense really needs
2.) In a normal year for linebackers, Rivers is a late first round pick
3.) Next years draft is going to be stacked at linebacker. No matter where we pick in the first round we are going to be able to find an impact player.
4.) OLB is one of the easiest positions to find a good player.
5.) Coaches put little stock in pro days because almost everyone improves their 40 and verticle leap. They look at the positional drills and "Despite posting some exceptional measurable, LB Keith Rivers said he wasn’t all that pleased with his work in positional drills. In fact, several reports have suggested that Rivers indeed looked a tad stiff in the positional drills." http://www.gbnreport.com/index.htm

[true fan]

Rivers is a great athlete but his instincts leaves a lot to be desired right now he gets by on Athleticism you won’t be able to do that in the nfl

[CincyGuy344]

Originally Posted by true fan

Rivers is a great athlete but his instincts leaves a lot to be desired right now he gets by on Athleticism you won’t be able to do that in the nfl

with the rtight coaching next to odell thurman learning from dhani he could learn fast

Originally Posted by eliminate08

You can definately go wrong by taking the best player available. Go by need.

I agree that Rivers might be a reach, but i still like him. I agree if we had no choice of
getting one of those DT's we should get Mendenhall or trade down and get Balmer. One
of those 2 options i think would be better than picking up either Rivers or Harvey.

Best player available for our needs.

DO NOT draft for need. How many times does this need to be said? Every great team , unless it comes down to the best player and the player you need being very close, takes the best player. Ted Thompson of the Packers, whose record speaks for itself, will only draft best player, because you aren't just drafting for this year, you're building a football team, and what isn't a need can very quickly become one. Just keep adding outstanding players. Look at the good teams and see how they draft. This draft can improve this team, without a doubt, but if you can get a star, get him, use him. It can come down to scaletippers, of course--defense over offense, someone with unique abilities which perfectly fit your system, etc. You can't reach more than a few spots, which drafting for need leads teams to do. Seems like if you fraft for need, you always end up needing.

Personally, I don't care who they draft as long as he is a #9 kind of player. Just get someone really good, someone who make the team better, and it would be nice if he could throw a little fear into the hearts and minds of every other team.

[BengalUSCfan]

Even though I suspect fredtoast was trying to provoke a USC fan, I have to take the bait.

Would that tough comptetion that Tennessee/Jerod Mayo played against include, say, CAL from the PAC 10? What was that score again? Oh yeah, CAL hung 41 points on Jerod and his buddies. I thought that might calm down the SEC worshipers, but I guess the Buckeyes gave them their confidence back...

OK, now that I got that out of my system, I like and trust Mike Mayocks analysis from NFL network and he rates Jerod Mayo as the top Inside Linebacker coming out.

I would be thrilled if we got either Rivers or Mayo, but only if Ellis is gone.

[SouthernStripes]

Originally Posted by Jackshanks

Rivers has been regarded by many as the top linebacker in the draft. I know it's not in our history to draft a linebacker as high as #9 but...with Landon's departure to Carolina and Dorsey/Ellis probably off the board by then, I think you'll see Keith Rivers here in stripes.

Thoughts?

OF COURSE we all want Ellis or Dorsey to fall.

At this point Im trying to think realisticly.

I think our pick will be Harvey or Rivers if we dont trade down.