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Jeanty ready to battle for starting spot at linebacker
COMMENT: Which linebackers should start for the Bengals?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
When you hear people talking about who might be in the starting lineup for the Cincinnati Bengals at the linebacker position on opening day, it seems you never hear Rashad Jeanty's name being mentioned. Don't know why.
Jeanty is entering his third season with the Bengals and has played in 22 games with the club, starting 16. Jeanty has a great on-field presence and is even better in the locker room. He's productive and a total team player.
Extras
Jeanty is a spark plug on defense and a player who gives his all. Yet the veteran linebacker finds himself in the midst of a heated battle with Darryl Blackstock, Ahmad Brooks and Corey Mays for the starting strong-side linebacker position.
The team is holding an open competition at the strong-side position and Jeanty is planning to make things difficult for those attempting to knock him out of the starting lineup. In other words, the Big Cat is ready to attack the field with a vengeance.
"I'm a firm believer in, 'May the best man win,' " Jeanty said. "It's not necessarily the best man, but the best guy who is going to help make this team a better team. If I were not to start, I wouldn't be upset because I know I'm going to work hard and give my all. If the coaches decide that another guy is best for the team, I'm not going to go walking around Paul Brown Stadium moping and have meetings with the coaches about why I'm not starting. Whoever starts at the SAM linebacker spot, that guy is going to deserve it because I'm working. I'm a guy who likes to compete and it brings out the best in me."
Jeanty has been working with the first team during OTA's and has no intention of relinquishing those duties. Right now, he's the man to beat.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound linebacker missed the first five games last season with a lower leg injury and his return to the lineup brought stability to a defense that was on a four-game losing streak.
Jeanty said the leg (shin) is at 90-95 percent and feeling good. He said he has recovered fully and he's looking forward to training camp so he can get to work.
As for the expectations of the defense this season, Jeanty laid it down like a bedtime story.
"We have to play better and more as a team on defense," he said. "We want to play together and win a championship. That's the ultimate goal. Coach says it every day — it has to happen right now. There's no more waiting until next year. It has to happen now. I think that's a positive look at the upcoming season."
Even with all the negative publicity the organization has received of late, Jeanty feels the team is on the right track.
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Comments
By scott
May 31, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
I still feel bad the way the odell thurman thing went down.
I remember this winter how fans were excited to imagine Brooks and Thurman together wreaking havoc. Looking like neither one will be there.
If Jeanty is healthy it’s gonna be tough to keep him off the field.
By casey
May 31, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Jeanty/Jones/Rivers will start at linebacker but the question is who will finish the year starting. brooks is going to be big this year, but when it comes down to it the bengals will be missin odell thurman
By james ashley
May 29, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
all the bengals need to be a good team is to stop playing for themselves and play as a team depending on each other and i think we need a little more pats on the back when a player makes a good play,all i’ve seen so far from lewis is he just stands there like a bump on a log.
jashley2@columbus.rr.com
By BengalRugby
May 29, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
I’m calling the darkhorse Blackstock to surprise people and win a starting spot on the outside. That’ll leave Brooks free to learn behind Dhani and come in for goal line (since he was a beast stuffing the middle against the run) and pure pass rushing downs. Jeanty would back up Blackstock.
Hope the starting lineup is Blackstock/Jones/Rivers, but have to say I have blind faith in whatever Fitzgerald decides on. Nice to have an elite linebacker coach for a change.
By JAH-BENGAL
May 29, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
Sam and Joe…you are both idiots with nothing useful to add to this column! Keith Rivers on the weak side, Dahani Jones in the middle, and Rashad Jeanty on the strong side. In pass rush downs, I would bring in Brooks to just full out rush the QB, nothing else. Why, he has not shown the abillity to this point, to absorb the playbook…mental, not physical, use his best attributes size and speed, and get after the QB…he is obviously not getting it right now!?
By Tim
May 28, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
Hey Everett Please learn how to turn off the capps
By d-town
May 28, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
gk- I know who wrote the article, you misread my post. Anyway, the o-line will be the achilles heel this year. I say 6-10 at best.
By JMo
May 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Brooks and Blackstock were animals at UVA. But this is not college and its time for them to start earning their stripes. Until Brooks proves that he can handle the mental part of the pro game and put his injured groin behind him, Jeanty has earned the SAM spot. Jeanty, Jones, and Rivers are the big three. However I must admit that I feel a little better about the overall depth at the position going into this year and I think the will be improved.
By JMo
May 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Brooks and Blackstock were animals at UVA. But this is not college and its time for them to start earning their stripes. Until Brooks proves that he can handle the mental part of the pro game and put his injured groin behind him, Jeanty has earned the SAM spot. Jeanty, Jones, and Rivers are the big three. However I must admit that I feel a little better about the overall depth at the position going into this year and I think the will be improved.
By gk
May 28, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
@d-town —> The article was written by Big C, not “The Chickster”, which may explain why the article is about someone who wants to be here and contribute to the Bengals.
By EVERETT B WILLIS
May 28, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
THE BENGALS PROBLEMS ARE NOT ON THE BACK HALF IT IS UP FRONT AND IF JASON SHIRLEY COMES IN TO COMPETE ALONG WITH PEKO, MARSHALL,THORNTON AND SIMS I THINK WE MIGHT FINALLY BE STOUT ENOUGH WHERE WE CAN STUNT BEHIND OUR TACKLES AND MAYBE CONFUSE SOMEONE, I LIKE MARVIN MOSTLY BECAUSE HE IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COACH AND HE DID GET HIS CHANCE BUT IF HE LOOKS CONFUSED AS HE DID IN A LOT OF GAMES LAST YEAR YOU FINALLY HAVE MY VOTE TO GET RID OF HIM. WE PASSED ON COWHER ONCE NOT TWICE
By Steelers Fan
May 28, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Put Chad Johnson at linebacker. He’s pretty good at stopping offenses.
By d-town
May 28, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
Finally, a positive light cast on the Bengals. Such a breath of fresh air from Chick Ludwig. If healthy Jeanty will EARN the spot, he was the CFL defensive POY. May not be much but he knows how to be successful.
By Doco
May 28, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
It doesn’t matter who starts. Whoever stays healthy should start. Some depth as insurance would be nice. I like Jeanty though and he’ll be in there if healthy.
By Todd Charske
May 28, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
Marvin needs to be a defensive coordinator. It’d be hard to demote him to that but he’s had some great defenses under his watch!
By Todd Charske
May 28, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Joe That’s crazy. Free agents would be subpar old and typically not in the Bengals future. Let’s keep the good players we have and work on complimentin them with more.
By Rob
May 28, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
I would start Jeanty, Jones, and Rivers. I still haven’t seen much from Brooks just hear what the so called experts think and that was all based on what he did in college before he got in trouble, which who knows after being accused of punching a woman. I think Jeanty has proven to be a solid player.
By Ryan
May 28, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
Jeanty @ Sam Jones @ Mike Rivers @ Will
Brooks can come in and blitz on 3rd.
By Antwan Odom in your face
May 28, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
My man Jeanty needs to be the starting SAM, Mays and Blackstock are Nickel Blitz/ Special Teamers, and Ahmad Brooks will be nursing his groin again……….Jeanty is the Smashmouth Tweener OLB/DE type that can dominate against the Rush or follow Odom or Geathers on a kamikaze blitz attack.
93’s bringing the noise in ‘08By #1 Bengals Fan
May 28, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
Jeanty is a beast and with Rivers and Jones as the linebackers this defence will be tough as nailsand should win their league
By bob
May 28, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this
The bengals need to start Jeanty because he is a scary guy. Now that they have Rivers, and Jones starting, that run defense, or just defense will be just down right scary
By sam
May 28, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this
Ain’t gonna matter who plays linebacker, this team will finish 6-10 at best. Marvin Lewis needs to go!
By joe
May 28, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
I would release all of the current linebackers and sign some free agents.