DC: Scouting Report: Grading Tape On Newly Signed Linebacker Keith Rivers

jobberone

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Scouting Report: Grading Tape On Newly Signed Linebacker Keith Rivers
Thursday, March 05, 2015 2:20 PM CST
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By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout

@BryanBroaddus

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IRVING, Texas – A brief film study of veteran linebacker Keith Rivers, who the Cowboys signed to a one-year contract on Wednesday evening.

Name: Keith Rivers
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 6-2/236

College: USC

Experience: 7 seasons

Games Studied: Buffalo 'Bills '14 vs. Chicago, Houston, New England

Showed the ability to line up at both a Sam and Will linebacker. Thought his best position was when he played over the tight end on the strong side. Really good football intelligence in his assignments and where he needed to fit in the scheme. Has some short area quickness more than a long extended burst. Made the effort to play with some range, but I would say that he is limited in his overall speed.

Doesn’t cover the ground like he once did. Good reactions to what is happening to him – but I would not call him a fluid, moving athlete. Would have liked to seen better change of direction but most likely because of that lack of quickness. Felt like his upper body strength was good along with that ability to play with his hands. When stood up over the tight ends against the Texans, he was able to control them off the line.

I didn’t see many explosive plays from him. Tackling was in and out. Thought I would have seen a more consistent player in this area from the number of times that he was in position to finish. Would wrap up one-on-one then the very next play would just flat miss. Liked what I saw from the coverage aspect. Showed good discipline in zone to make his drop, then work to the ball. Only bust I saw in coverage was in man where he whiffed on the back out of the backfield against the Texans when he missed on the jam. Overall showed awareness to key and diagnose. Not out of place.

He played in more third down situations against the Bears than he did against the Texans and Patriots. Didn’t give the scheme anything as a blitzer. Did see him attack the line one time, but he lacked counter moves to really make anything happen. Was stuck along the line. His best trait is his intelligence, while his worst one is his ability to play with a burst and speed. Studied the New England and Green Bay special teams tape and only played in the Packers game as the left tackle on the kickoff return.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ing-tape-newly-signed-linebacker-keith-rivers
 

speedkilz88

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Amazing the bungles thought he was worthy of the 9th overall pick.
 

iceberg

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It should probably just be a comparison of how he looks relative to Cam Lawrence. He only needs to be better than Cam Lawrence to be an upgrade for the team.

And sad. Lawrence is still my cat.
 

jobberone

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It should probably just be a comparison of how he looks relative to Cam Lawrence. He only needs to be better than Cam Lawrence to be an upgrade for the team.

That is a decent point. Maybe just camp fodder with slight chance of improvement.
 

speedkilz88

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at CHI (9/7): Totaled four tackles before leaving the game in the second half with a groin injury.

• Vs. MIA (9/14), Inactive
vs. SD (9/21): Inactive

At HOU (9/28): Totaled six tackles including one tackle for loss as the defense held Houston to just 37 rushing yards.
• At DET (10/5): Saw action at linebacker on a defense that held Detroit scoreless in the second half.
Vs. NE (10/12): Made his 50th career start and had five tackles on the day.

• Vs. MIN (10/19): Saw action on defense and special teams.
• At NYJ (10/26): Saw action on defense and special teams.
• Vs. KC (11/9): Added one tackle on defense and saw action on special teams.
• At MIA (11/13): DNP
• Vs. NYJ (11/24): Saw action on defense and special teams.
• Vs. CLE (11/30): DNP
• At DEN (12/7): Saw action on special teams.
• Vs. GB (12/14): Saw action defensively and on special teams.
• At OAK (12/21): Saw action on defense and special teams.

http://prod.static.bills.clubs.nfl.com/assets/pdf/pdf-bios/Rivers_Keith.pdf
 
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Future

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It should probably just be a comparison of how he looks relative to Cam Lawrence. He only needs to be better than Cam Lawrence to be an upgrade for the team.
Not if he can't/won't play Special Teams.
 

CCBoy

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This player just might really grow again, under Marinelli. He's still young enough to be able to elevate and with some strength.
 

Sasquatch

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I am very excited about this signing after reading that assessment.
 

xwalker

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Scouting Report: Grading Tape On Newly Signed Linebacker Keith Rivers
Thursday, March 05, 2015 2:20 PM CST

By Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout

@BryanBroaddus




IRVING, Texas – A brief film study of veteran linebacker Keith Rivers, who the Cowboys signed to a one-year contract on Wednesday evening.

Name: Keith Rivers
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 6-2/236

College: USC

Experience: 7 seasons

Games Studied: Buffalo 'Bills '14 vs. Chicago, Houston, New England

Showed the ability to line up at both a Sam and Will linebacker. Thought his best position was when he played over the tight end on the strong side. Really good football intelligence in his assignments and where he needed to fit in the scheme. Has some short area quickness more than a long extended burst. Made the effort to play with some range, but I would say that he is limited in his overall speed.

Doesn’t cover the ground like he once did. Good reactions to what is happening to him – but I would not call him a fluid, moving athlete. Would have liked to seen better change of direction but most likely because of that lack of quickness. Felt like his upper body strength was good along with that ability to play with his hands. When stood up over the tight ends against the Texans, he was able to control them off the line.

I didn’t see many explosive plays from him. Tackling was in and out. Thought I would have seen a more consistent player in this area from the number of times that he was in position to finish. Would wrap up one-on-one then the very next play would just flat miss. Liked what I saw from the coverage aspect. Showed good discipline in zone to make his drop, then work to the ball. Only bust I saw in coverage was in man where he whiffed on the back out of the backfield against the Texans when he missed on the jam. Overall showed awareness to key and diagnose. Not out of place.

He played in more third down situations against the Bears than he did against the Texans and Patriots. Didn’t give the scheme anything as a blitzer. Did see him attack the line one time, but he lacked counter moves to really make anything happen. Was stuck along the line. His best trait is his intelligence, while his worst one is his ability to play with a burst and speed. Studied the New England and Green Bay special teams tape and only played in the Packers game as the left tackle on the kickoff return.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ing-tape-newly-signed-linebacker-keith-rivers

I pulled up the coaches film and reviewed him in the Chicago game week 1 and the Houston game week 4.

He had rock solid performances in both games. Nothing spectacular but no real problems either.

He looks reasonably strong and did decent job of taking on and shedding blocks.

His coverage was good in both zone and man. He had Forte in man coverage about 20 yards down-field and prevented him from catching the ball. He seemed comfortable in man coverage against TEs. He seemed to be in the right place in zone coverage.

I would say that his speed is similar to Sean Lee speed. Fast enough but far from Bruce Carter.

He plays somewhat conservative and plays within the scheme. His tackling is conservative. He does not go for the big hit.

He looked like he had a very good understanding of the scheme and didn't have any brain freeze moments like we've seen from some LBs in the past.

He's not a hair on fire type of guy. He seems a little cautious in that way that we've seen from players that have a history of hamstring or groin injuries. I see Murray as that type of player that appears to run at about 95% speed most of the time and only really kicks into top gear on occasion.

There is a common element with LBs and players in general that Marinelli seems to like and he fits in that mold. IMO, Marinelli prefers players that play within the scheme and have good football intelligence over super athletes or guys that might make big plays but also give up a lot of big plays. He is similar to Hitchens in that way.

Summary: It appears to be all about injuries with this player. He definitely has the talent to be at least an average NFL LB if healthy. I think they have plans for him to be a backup which obviously lowers the injury risk. He has played special teams so that projects well to being a backup.
 

speedkilz88

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50 6-2 245 Sean Lee ----------52 6-1 240 Justin Durant -----56 6-2 240 Dekoda Watson 40 6-2 230 Will Smith
55 6-4 249 Rolando McClain 59 6-0 235 Anthony Hitchens 48 6-3 252 Mister Alexander 53 6-2 236 Cam Lawrence 6-2 251 Troy Davis
54 6-2 240 Bruce Carter ------51 6-4 252 Kyle Wilber -----------6-2 235 Keith Rivers ------57 6-0 230 Keith Smith
 
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xwalker

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Not if he can't/won't play Special Teams.

I didn't watch him on ST, but it appears that he does play on ST.

• Vs. MIN (10/19): Saw action on defense and special teams.
• At NYJ (10/26): Saw action on defense and special teams.
• Vs. KC (11/9): Added one tackle on defense and saw action on special teams.
• Vs. NYJ (11/24): Saw action on defense and special teams.
• At DEN (12/7): Saw action on special teams.
• Vs. GB (12/14): Saw action defensively and on special teams.
• At OAK (12/21): Saw action on defense and special teams.
 

MichaelWinicki

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There is a common element with LBs and players in general that Marinelli seems to like and he fits in that mold. IMO, Marinelli prefers players that play within the scheme and have good football intelligence over super athletes or guys that might make big plays but also give up a lot of big plays. He is similar to Hitchens in that way.

Summary: It appears to be all about injuries with this player. He definitely has the talent to be at least an average NFL LB if healthy. I think they have plans for him to be a backup which obviously lowers the injury risk. He has played special teams so that projects well to being a backup.

I watch a lot of Bills games and the guy seems competent. He's never lived up to his draft spot status but he seems to be a little better than "just a guy" linebacker. Won't ever be as good as Sean Lee but he's not going to be someone on defense you have to "hide" either.
 
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