Bengals Banter: Kevin Zeitler Continues to Shine, Rivers’ Return, & Palmer Faces Old Mate in Williams
By Jason Marcum
Apr 27, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals second first round draft pick guard Kevin Zeitler speaks during the press conference at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE
Rookie guard Kevin Zeitler has started every game for the Bengals at right guard this season, and has continued to be a bright spot on what had been a down year, and Pro Football Focus just released their Mid-season All-Rookie Team, and making the list at guard was none other than Zeitler:
"Zeitler’s worst game was back in Week 1, but he’s progressed ever since. He’s tied for sixth among guards with a PBE of 98.2 while grading at +3.0 in the running game."
The 4th-quarter has been the demise of the Bengals this year, as each defeat in the current four-game losing streak came with the game within one possession in the final 10 minutes, and Marvin Lewis knows hi team has to be more consistent in the games’ final period:
"Our guys are where they need to be, doing what they need to do, we’ve just got to do it repetitively. We are seeing it on Sunday but just not repetitive enough and in critical moments. We got to make critical plays at critical moments and finish these games out."
Keith Rivers was expected to be the star linebacker of Mike Zimmer’s resurgent defense, but his time in Cincinnati was a disappointment to say the least after he was limited to just 35 games after being drafted by the Bengals with the 9th pick 2008 NFL Draft., and his short time in New York hasn’t been much better. The first-year Giant has battled wrist injuries, something that cost him his entire 2011 campaign as a Bengal, and his last year in stripes before the team shipped him off to New York for a 5th-round draft pick. He’s listed as questionable for Sunday, but he believes he’ll play:
"I don’t think it’s ever been a question of my play. It’s been a question of being healthy. I feel good. I was able to make it through practice."
When the Oakland Raiders take on the Baltimore ravens on Sunday, it will be a matchup of former Bengals teammates as Carson Palmer faces one of his former lineman in Bobbie Williams, who blocked for Palmer every year he as the starting QB for Cincinnati. Williams know that Carson will be looking to take advantage of the Ravens’ struggling defense when the two teams kick-off Sunday:
"He’s always looking for the big home run. That’s something that hasn’t changed. If it’s there, then he’ll definitely go after it. That’s just one thing that you know about him, a guy that’s looking for the big home run. If you give him time, he can be pretty accurate. The thing with him is you have to get in his face and get around him and get him unnerved and then have him kind of go through his progressions. With a defense like ours, it will be hard for him to do. When he’s deadliest, he likes to sit back and pick you apart if you give him time."
Want more Bengals news? Like Stripe Hype on Facebook, or grab our RSS feed.