Bengals1181 Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Notes: Zimmer says Bengals will miss Rey if he leaves; Little Geathers challenges Geno Posted 4 hours ago Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer offered a stout defense of middle linebacker Rey Maualuga on Sunday here at the NFL Scouting Combine and said he'd like to sign him back in free agency. Rey Maualuga INDIANAPOLIS — Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer offered a stout defense of middle linebacker Rey Maualuga on Sunday here at the NFL Scouting Combine and said he'd like to sign him back in free agency. "He is, as you will find out when this free agency period starts, a lot better than what a lot of people give him credit for," said Zimmer, alluding to how defensive end Justin Smith became a Pro Bowler when he left Cincinnati. "I think that’s going to be what people are going to find out if he goes. If he’s not here people are going to miss him and say we should have had him. That’s how it works, like Justin Smith.” Zimmer likes Maualuga's versatility and the Bengals could use a starting SAM backer, which is where Maualuga played his first two seasons in the NFL. Which sends a smile fleeting across Zimmer's face. “He can (play SAM), but if I remember correctly after his second year and Dhani (Jones) left, everyone was saying he should move to the MIKE when he played pretty good at SAM," Zimmer said. "But he’s got to go to the MIKE linebacker, wasn’t that what everyone was saying? 'Oh, Maualuga is going to MIKE, yeah.' Now everyone is going 'he should have stayed at SAM.' You can’t win.” The conventional wisdom is that the Bengals are going to move Vontaze Burfictto the middle after his breakout rookie year at WILL. "Be careful what you wish for," Zimmer said, "because that is what they said about Maualuga two years ago, right?” Zimmer also confirmed that the Bengals met with Notre Dame inside linebacker Manti Te'o on Saturday night in a 15-minute interview and came away impressed. “Good. Pretty sharp,” Zimmer said, but he also admitted he doesn't know much about the girlfriend hoax story and the Bengals didn't spend much time on it. “You look at it all from everything, but we didn’t get too involved with that,” Zimmer said. “You talk about everything, but it was a lot about football.” Zimmer says he'll use that interview. “You find out about them from the way they handle themselves. A little bit about the background. Talk about some of those things. Just a basic first-blush talking-to for me anyway,” Zimmer said. “Some guys you can tell when they get excited talking about certain things. If they don’t. Stuff like that. You go back and start watching the tape; I will have known a little bit about his background, watched a little more tape." GEATHERS DOUBLE TAKE: If the big defensive tackle from Georgia sounds, smiles and looks just like Bengals left end Robert Geathers, it's because he does. Meet Kwame Geathers, the latest star in the Geathers galaxy of family football. And Robert's "little" brother (342 pounds 60 heavier than his 29-year-old brother), smiled Sunday when asked who is the better player. Him or former Georgia teammate Geno Atkins. "I'm a better player. I'm a better player," Geathers said and when told that Atkins is the best defensive tackle in the NFL he said, "I know. I'm coming for it." Kwame Geathers, 22, of course, knows Atkins from his Cincinnati visits. "I keep up with what he's doing on the field and we've talked when I've gone to visit my brother," he said. The 6-5 Kwame really is the little brother now that he's cut eight pounds off his playing weight of 350 with an eye to 335. He's been busy. He hasn't been to a Bengals game since he was a senior in high school. His other older brother, 6-8 Clifton, a sixth-round pick of the Browns three tears ago, is now with the Colts. Two of Kwame's linemates at Georgia are also here, but that room is not nearly as competitive as the holiday dinners. "My family is very competitive. I would say my family because football runs in our blood. Every day no matter what we're doing we talk about football," he said. Kwame could end up going in the same round as Robert did in 2004. A massive two-gap tackle, the knock on him is that he's pretty much only a run stopper and that he wasn't a full-time player. But the upside is he comes from a solid family serious and dedicated to the game. "You're going to get a hard-working guy that comes into work every day who is very athletic for his size," Kwame said. "He's going to give it his all every time he steps on the field." There's no need for the Bengals to visit with Kwame here since they met him as an eighth- grader, but they did see him in an informal setting. It all left defensive line coach Jay Hayes saying, "I feel old." Robert is a free agent, but both sides are looking to re-up in Cincinnati for at least a 10th season. That would make him the club's first decade-long defensive lineman since nose tackle Tim Krumrie retired after his 12th season in 1994. But since the Bengals drafted defensive tackles Devon Still and Brandon Thompsonin the second and third rounds, respectively last year, don't look for a family reunion via the draft. SLANTS AND SCREENS » The NFL Network's Mike Mayock said after Sunday's workouts that playoff teams like the Bengals "must be laughing" heading into the April 25-27 draft. "If you're drafting 20 to 30, it's not a whole lot different than the fifth or sixth pick," he said. » Here's a guy you know isn't going to be there when the Bengals pick at No. 21. Not after Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson destroyed the Combine on Sunday with a 4.72-second 40-yard dash, a 34-inch vertical leap, and 9-10 broad jump. Mayock observed that was faster than Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin at the 2003 Combine, the same vertical leap of Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green at the 2011 Combine and the same broad jump as Patriots running back Stevan Ridley at last year's Combine. "Think about those three things as a 300-pound offensive lineman," Mayock said. » After the QBs worked out Sunday, no one seemed to be flying up the ladder. Mayock said West Virginia's Geno Smith did what he did on film in the workout and threw naturally with a big arm, but he's still dogged by consistency questions that Mayock says take him out of the top 20. He says he's more like 20-32. Florida State's E.J. Maunel had a nice day running and throwing but Mayock is still saying "this is a difficult class to figure out." Because there is so much going on with receivers and routes, Mayock is waiting to view the NFL tapes before he passes judgment on what happened Sunday. Southern Utah's Brad Sorensen, a pojected fifth to sixth rounder, caught his eye "a couple of times." http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Notes-Zimmer-says-Bengals-will-miss-Rey-if-he-leaves-Little-Geathers-challenges-Geno/7059ae2b-f957-4120-9578-6859ee177e1d?campaign=cin:fanshare:twitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SocalBengalEd Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 I think Zimmer is under the influence of a controlled substance, possibly crack cocaine punishable by up to a year in a county jail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Zimmer says Bengals will miss Rey if he leaves Yeah, the same way you miss having the flu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scharm Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 If Geno slides that could provide good trade opportunities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Hard to believe Geathers isn't 30 yet. Seems like he has played forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals1181 Posted February 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Hard to believe Geathers isn't 30 yet. Seems like he has played forever. Was 20 when drafted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|westside bengal| Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 He is just bragging Rey up so a team will sign him away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|kennethmw| Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Walks into room, Looks around, Walks back out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Robert is one of the reasons we have been fairly stout against the run. You need a good anchor to go up against that road grader at RT. We have been lucky to have the guy. BTW, did Justin Smith play LDE or RDE? Seems like he would be a natural fit for LDE, but IIRC, he played RDE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Alice Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 IIRC, he played RDE. Correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unleashed Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 I'll miss Rey too....I've never seen another bengals player in the Milford area bar drink himself into oblivion. Wonder if he'd I've me my money back for his jersey if I see him again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalsfan850 Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 won't miss rey when burfict provides that upgrade next year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phatcat Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Zimmer really going to bat for Rey. And in Zim I trust. Guess I need to start warming up to the fact Rey will be back in some role. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Zimmer really going to bat for Rey. And in Zim I trust. Guess I need to start warming up to the fact Rey will be back in some role. :) Hopefully waterboy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hackettj22 Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 And we all wonder why he can't get a head coaching job ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicoli Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 I'll miss Rey too....I've never seen another bengals player in the Milford area bar drink himself into oblivion. Wonder if he'd I've me my money back for his jersey if I see him again? huh? I live in Milford, what bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinci1fan1 Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Sure looks like there are lot of arm chair GMs in this thread. Guess a lot of people here know about coaching D and about LBs than Zim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 We will miss Rey like he misses a lane assignment. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Sure looks like there are lot of arm chair GMs in this thread. Guess a lot of people here know about coaching D and about LBs than Zim Or he's talking Rey up so someone else will sign him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinci1fan1 Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Or he's talking Rey up so someone else will sign him. Did Zim ever strike like that kinda guy?. I mean look at his track record ever since he got here and even before that. I know I am trying to preach to the choir here so I am not going to say anything more since majority on this board have already made up their mind on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Did Zim ever strike like that kinda guy?. I mean look at his track record ever since he got here and even before that. I know I am trying to preach to the choir here so I am not going to say anything more since majority on this board have already made up their mind on this topic. All I know is this. Rey improved, particularly against the run, after he lost weight. But he was EXPOSED by Houston in pass coverage. If I were an opposing OC I would target Rey in coverage at least 50% of the time until they stopped it. If they want to make Rey a 2 down SLB, then ok. Maybe. But any OC who does not target him repeatedly until he proves he can make them pay needs to be fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spicoli Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Or he's talking Rey up so someone else will sign him. we can only hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alleycat Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Our coaches always tell the truth. Like saying Armon Binns and Tate were going to be there guys last year. Then they draft two WR and Binns doesn't even stay on the roster. Rey was exposed against houston - four years ago. As a backup I think he'd be a great get, but I cant imagine anyone is thinking of him being a starting anything. Of course, I would have said the same thing about Cook last year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengals1181 Posted February 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 Our coaches always tell the truth. Like saying Armon Binns and Tate were going to be there guys last year. Then they draft two WR and Binns doesn't even stay on the roster. Rey was exposed against houston - four years ago. As a backup I think he'd be a great get, but I cant imagine anyone is thinking of him being a starting anything. Of course, I would have said the same thing about Cook last year... I think they had every intention of Binns being the guy, but he didn't earn it and got benched. They got in a bind with injuries at other spots and they temporarily cut him. Both the team and Binns said the plan was to bring him back after that week's game, but he was claimed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.B. Posted February 25, 2013 Report Share Posted February 25, 2013 I think they had every intention of Binns being the guy, but he didn't earn it and got benched. They got in a bind with injuries at other spots and they temporarily cut him. Both the team and Binns said the plan was to bring him back after that week's game, but he was claimed. So either they're lying...or bad at evaluating talent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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