Thinking Inside the Box (version 2.01)

A little while ago I posted an article stating who I thought would be the starting linebacking corps on opening day as follows:

• OLB - Odell Thurman
• MLB - Keith Rivers
• OLB - Dhani Jones or Rashad Jeantucky

Wow, I could not have been more wrong.  This picture has changed drastically since the time I posted that article, now that Odell has been peaced and that they made the decision to put Rivers at his "natural" spot on the outside. It looks now like the starting lineup is going to be this:

• OLB - Keith RIvers
• MLB - Dhani Jones
• OLB - Ahmad Brooks or Rashad Jeantucky

This could very well turn out to be one of the better LB corps in recent history.  But this hinges on a few things:

1. Rookie Keith Rivers learns quickly and can step his level of play up to the NFL before too long.  Every great player in college has the potential to be great in the NFL.  But does Rivers have the attitude and drive that it takes to do so? It seems like he does, but we will have to wait and see.
2. Ahmad Brooks is fully recovered from his "sore" hamstring. If this turns out to be a lingering injury that keeps him from any amount of playing time, this could be a repeat of last year.
3. Dhani Jones starts acting like a football player instead of a rich frat kid from UVA. No but seriously, Dhani has never really played the middle for an extended period of time, so WDR does not know what to expect from him.  What we do know is that he is consistent, and can tackle well. What more can you ask for?

Also in order for any of these players to have success, we need solid play from our interior defensive line.  If just one of the two rookies pans out (Sims or Shirley) we should do OK.  If both of them show up and play to their potential, then watch out.  This defense could actually turn some heads this year. 

Stay tuned to WDR for the latest news and analysis of the Bengals.  And please join the revolution if you dont want to settle for a 5-11 record this year.

Comments

[raindogzilla]

Another big issue, unless something has happened that I'm unaware of, is Ahmad Brooks' legal problem. Last I heard, the court date is set for June 6th. I'm still holding out hope that it's some trumped up BS from a psychologically challenged attention seeker but it's entirely possible we could end up without both Thurman and Brooks. In that case, we'd be looking at Rivers, Jones, and Jeanty with Blackstock, Johnson, Mays, and, I'm guessing they'd scrap plans for Henderson at DE and move him back to perhaps challenge Jeanty on the outside.

As for Jones, I think he's more of a free spirit than a frat boy, a hippie without the attitude adjustment. A breath of fresh air, if not all that imposing in the middle.

[Winn]

Rain Dog,
I agree about Jones. I like the fact that he is a modern renaissance man. I only brought up the UVA thing because I was there over the weekend for my brother in laws med school graduation and I saw more bow ties than I have ever seen in my life.