NFL Draft Profile: USC Outside Linebacker Keith Rivers a Possible First Rounder?
Over the past 5+ years, the USC Trojans have become a pro football factory for the NFL Draft. Their top offensive talent has stolen most of the headlines in that time but that doesn't mean they haven't put out great defenders, either.
Names like DT Mike Patterson, MLB Lofa Tatupu, and DE Kenechi Udeze have all been first-rounders in that time period among other top USC draft picks on the defensive side of the ball.
Keith Rivers seems to be a lock to join that group in the 2008 NFL Draft. He is one of the most athletic linebacker prospects to come out in a while when you take into account his speed, quickness, and hard-hitting tackling ability. Rivers is also a hard-working player who never seems to take a split-second off during a play. He's constantly chasing down ballcarriers and hustling until the referee blows the whistle. Because he is both fast and strong he is good enough to play in either the 3-4 or the 4-3 although he might be best suited for a 3-4 defense. Rivers' aggressiveness is one of his greatest attributes and that would make him a good pass rusher in a 3-4 NFL defensive scheme.
His weaknesses are that he needs a little more lower-body strength and sometimes he goes for the big hit a little too often instead of making a sure tackle. Part of that may be he was so much more talented than many of his opponents that he tried to go for the big play more often because he could away with it. In the NFL that won't be as much of a problem.
Opinions on where Rivers could are split but a lot depends on the needs of the teams picking. He could go as high as 10th to the New Orleans Saints in the 2008 NFL Draft or all the way down to the NFL Champion New York Giants at #32.
If New England trades down out of their #7 slot in the NFL Draft there's a good chance they will target Rivers somewhere in the middle of the draft because he's a great fit for their 3-4 system.
[More at www.associatedcontent.com ]
