He's been climbing up draft boards recently and would probably play ILB in our scheme. He sounds a lot like the smart, hard-working player that Mangini covets. If the draft breaks this way, it might be a good idea to take him: 1. J. Long 2. C. Long 3. G. Dorsey 4. V. Gholston 5. (someone trades up) D. McFadden 6. Rivers? We could take a CB like McKelvin or Rodgers-Cromartie, but I'm more and more intrigued by Rivers. Our holes on defense are currently: OLB, ILB, CB and S. (B. Thomas, E. Barton, J. Miller/Barrett, Smith/Elam) It definitely gives us a guy that could contribute right away. How high is everyone on Rivers? BTW, best site for watching some video of whomever: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/specials/draft/2008/video/
i hold this kid in high regard... if he's picked, people will question the money we will have to throw at him. He's gunna be a awesome player though, so maybe it'll pay off immediately. Him and Harris and the FAs, i can see the D going in the top 10.
For some reason I dreamt we drafted him last night, and I don't follow the draft at all and had only seen his name once. Is he a similar player to Harris?
If he was the pick at 6 none of us would have a right to complain....He's the guy that could ignite our defense.
Theres nothing that would stop him from being a great 3-4 ILB. He has the ability to come up and fill his gap and can also find the window underneath the play and and still have the speed to make the tackle. He is an all out hustler and a would be a great linebacker in any defense simply because of the effort he puts out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Rivers College career USC linebacker coach Ken Norton, Jr. nicknamed Rivers "the Shark" for his aggressive play on the field, juxtaposed to his polite demeanor off of it. Rivers was on the watch list for the 2006 Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Bronco Nagurski Trophy, and Lott Trophy. He was 2006 Rivals.com and coaches first team all-Pac-10. The Trojans leading tackler as a junior in 2006, Rivers decided to stay for his senior season. Rivers was a 2007 preseason Sporting News, Street & Smith's, Lindy's, Phil Steele's, Blue Ribbon and NationalChamps.net All-American. At the end of the 2007 regular season, Rivers was selected to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team for the second year in a row by league coaches. He was also selected to the SI.com All-American First Team. Rivers is considered a first-round prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft. High School career Rivers was a highly decorated letterman in football at Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. His awards include include USA Today All-USA first team, Parade All-American, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, EA Sports All-American, Insiders.com All-American, Super Prep Elite 50, Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team, Lemming Top 10, Super Prep All-Dixie, Prep Star All-Southeast, FOX Sports Net All-South, Gatorade Florida Player of the Year and Florida Class 6A Mr. Football runner up as a senior linebacker. He played in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Rivers was heavily recruited. Then-University of Florida coach Ron Zook, noted for his recruiting ability, made a strong push, including talking to Rivers at 2 a.m. on National Signing Day in 2003. In the end Rivers went with USC; the Trojans promised Rivers he would wear the #55 jersey, which has traditionally been given to a promising linebacker and includes past players such as Junior Seau, Willie McGinest and Chris Claiborne.
SCOUTING REPORT http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/olb/keithrivers.html Strengths: Excellent athleticism...Great speed with a burst to close...Quick and agile...Terrific range and makes plays sideline-to-sideline...Does a fantastic job in pursuit...Good frame with long arms...Motor runs non-stop and he is really active...Fluid and does a terrific job in coverage...A big hitter who can lay the lumber...Decent pass rusher and blitzer...Aggressive and plays with an attitude...Works through the trash and traffic well..Good instincts and recognition...Offers some versatility..A hard worker. Weaknesses: Could stand to add some weight...Needs to get stronger..More of a finesse player and is not overly physical...Plays out of control at times...Doesn't take on or shed blockers all that well...Is not stout and can be run at...Needs to keep his pad level down...A playmaker in coverage?..Goes for the knockout rather than wrapping up. Notes: A elite recruit coming out of high school...Wore the #55 jersey for the Trojans that was made famous by guys like Junior Seau, Willie McGinest and Chris Claiborne...A outstanding all-around linebacker who shouldn't ever have to leave the field...Has an ideal blend of natural talent, physical tools, and intangibles...Prototypical WILL. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The only way the Jets consider him is if they trade down to the middle or the bottom of the first round. He is not a top 10 pick. He may not even be a 1st round pick. Besides that I think the Jets would have more interest in Mayo who is an ILB and one they may be able to get in the 2nd.
Hes a good player just not for our defense, an olb in the 4-3 yea he looks like a potential probowler, just not as an ilb in the 3-4. Curtis Lofton in the second. Thats our ilb, after either a corner Gholston or DMC in the first.
READ THIS: I've thought for a long time he was a definite possibility at #6. I feel as if he can be our 3-4 version of Jonathan Vilma. He is excellent in coverage just like Vilma but has a much more aggressive demeanor to his play. For example, Vilma excels at avoiding and moving around blockers to make sideline to sideline plays but Rivers has more of a straight line attack mentality and goes THROUGH blockers. Check out Mayock's analysis of his Senior Bowl week: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d806be9d2 The weird thing is I have read that people think attacking and shedding blockers is his weakness but this video seems to prove that wrong. I don't know how consistently he does that but from what I see it shows he is willing to do it. I read this quote and immediately knew he could fit our scheme. Vilma would never say this: "What is your favorite thing to do on the field?" "Take on an ‘iso’ block" - http://usc.scout.com/2/365946.html
My preference is to draft McFad if he's there and move Thomas Jones. If McFad gone then take Gholston and if he 's gone too then trade down if we can.
He's certainly got the size and speed to be an ILB in a 3-4. What makes you say he's not well suited for the position? At 6-3, 235 (for comparison, Harris is 6-2, 243), runs 4.55ish range. To me, the only concern would be if he doesn't have the smarts, doesn't work hard enough or isn't aggressive enough. Interestingly enough, he's being described by most scouts as smart, hard-working and aggressive.
THe main knock on him is his inability to shed blocks. Thats mainly what you do in 3-4 ilb. He works best in space, and he would not get space as an ilb. I would actually rather have him as a olb in the 3-4
I completely agree, I've only heard good things about him, and he's got more of a motor than Gholston on all the films I've seen.
since he plays a position of need, and with the statement you just made, how could he not have been a consideration for us before?
