Yardbarker: Keith Rivers

The Pros: USC vs. Ohio St.

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:24:03 -0500

The Pros pits two college football rivals against one another and sees which has produced a more eligible pro team.

The Offense

Quarterback

USC currently has 4 quarterbacks in the league. Two of whom won Heisman's in Leinart and Palmer and two of whom have yet to start an NFL game in Cassel and Booty. Meanwhile the Buckeyes have only one quarterback in the league now that Krenzel is gone, and that is Troy Smith. The undersized mobile QB who's yet to make a dent in the NFL.

Edge: USC

Running Backs

USC of course has the double headed monster from the Colliseum in Bush and White still roaming the NFL as starters. In addition they have Justin Fargas whose playing the role of starter for the Raiders and Chauncey Washington in Jacksonville. The Buckeyes lone running back rep is Antonio Pittman whom like Troy Smith has yet to make an impact in the NFL.

Edge: USC

Wideouts

The Trojans currently have 5 wideouts suiting up in the NFL, none of whom have made a significant impact. If you had to chose a starting 3 for the Trojans it would probably be Steve Smith (not of the Panthers but of the Giants), Keary Colbert and perhaps Dwayne Jarrett. Not that impressive. Meanwhile the Buckeyes have the emerging Santonio Holmes, Joey Galloway and Anthony Gonzalez amongst their 7 total wideouts in the NFL.

Edge: tOSU

Tight Ends

Ben Hartsock vs. Rookie Fred Davis and Billy Miller. Pretty nondescript. Edge to USC for the rookie with potential.

Edge: USC

Offensive Line

Overall the Buckeyes have a handful more lineman but let's just take a look at whom would be the starters for each team.

Center: Ryan Kalil vs. Nick Mangold
Guards: Deuce Lutui & Chilo Rachal vs. Adrien Clarke & Rob Sims
Tackles: Winston Justice & Sam Baker vs. Orlando Pace & Kirk Barton

A lot of youngsters for both sides other than Orlando Pace who will be a hall of lineman. Neither team has two guards in the NFL that are currently starting.

Edge: tOSU

The Defense

D-Line

Tackles: Mike Patterson & Sedrick Ellis vs. Ryan Pickett & Tim Anderson
Ends: Kenechi Udeze & Frostee Rucker vs. Will Smith & Jay Richardson

Will Smith is probably the best player amongst this batch but Udezi isn't far behind and the Trojans have much more depth than does tOSU.

Edge: USC

Linebackers

Lofa Tatupu, Keith Rivers, Willie McGinest vs. AJ Hawk, Mike Vrabel, Na'il Diggs

The Trojans agter their top three only have Thomas Williams (who?) to turn while the Buckeyes have Bobby Carpenter, Vernon Gholsten (overrated) and Matt Wilhelm as other options. For me its too close to call.

Edge: Push

Secondary

Corners: Brian Kelly & Terrell Thomas vs. Antoine Winfield & Nate Clements
Safeties: Sammy Knight & Troy Polamalu vs. Donte Whitner & Will Allen

The Buckeyes are very deep at corner with Youboty, Shawn Springs & Chris Gamble as other options so feel free to disagree with my top two choices. Other way, despite the dominant Polamalu the Buckeyes have a much deeper secondary.

Edge: tOSU

The Special Teams

Return Men

Reggie Bush vs. Ted Ginn. Both have been highly disappointing at their actually poosition in the NFL, but both still pack some punch on special teams. As solid as Reggie Bush was as a punt returner in college he's not as fast nor as dangerous as Ginn on returns. Ginn adds the kickoff of return dimension which Bush currently lacks as well.

Edge: tOSU

Kickers

Neither team has a punter in the NFL, which is surprising to me given it seems like every tOSU punter kicks the ball 70 yards against Michigan, and only Ohio St. has kicker Mike Nugent of the Jets who got injured and limped around last weekend.

Edge: tOSU

Who Would Win?

Overall the Buckeyes have 9 more alumni in the NFL than do the Trojans (46-37). Their roster would have much more depth. The Trojans obviously have a much more skilled passer, but he would have no receivers to throw the ball to especially with the corners that the Buckeyes would throw out there. Both teams have dominant linebackers who could stuff the run. It's difficult to say who would be victorious but I'd give the edge to the Buckeyes mostly due to depth at offensive line and wideout

All Rosters Pulled from ESPN

Colts v. Bengals Preview: It’s Finally Over!

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:53:11 -0500

The preseason is coming to an end this week. In 7 days, the NFL will kickoff, and on Sunday, September 7th, we will see the official opening of Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday Night Football. So what is the goal for this game? DON'T GET HURT! The Colts are continuing tradition of dropping like flies,

TGIF: Prepping for the Saints

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:24:16 -0500

Keith Rivers writes that he had fun in his first game at PBS. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome is a lot smarter than Mike Brown. Not that we didn't know that already. Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will be a free agent after this season, is piling up some preseason highlights for his video resume. Doc praises

Last Offer to Harvey was $16.8M Guaranteed

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:46:32 -0500

The Florida Times-Union is reporting that the stalemate between holdout Derrick Harvey and the Jags is all about the money that the Jaguars have not upped since July 28th. The report says that the team hasn't changed the offer since the end of July, and that offer was for $16.885 million in guarantees. That amount is close to $1.4 million above the $15.445 million that Keith Rivers of Cincinnati got in the ninth spot. Word is Harvey's agent, Ken Kremer, has made an offer that is about halfway between the 7th and 9th picks. The Jaguars' base package offer of $21.140 million is about $1 million more than Rivers received and their maximum offer of $33.64 million is $8.6 million more than Rivers' max package of $25 million, but much of it is tied to 70 percent playing time.

Site Maintenance

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:32:01 -0500

Reminded by Kirkendall's opening paragraph in this post, I finally got around to updating and organizing Stripe Hype's links and blogroll. Check it out. Anyone have a site they think should be added, let me know in comments. A few notes of interest that have been added to the list: – Chinedum Ndukwe and Keith Rivers [...]

USC football players who stay, get paid

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:18:44 -0500

It paid to stay. When former USC linebacker Keith Rivers ended a holdout and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals this week, the Trojans' celebrated senior class of 2007 allowed Coach Pete Carroll to offer nearly 50 million reasons why players should exhaust their eligibility before turning pro. Rivers, defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, offensive lineman Sam Baker and defensive end Lawrence Jackson all considered declaring for the NFL draft after their junior seasons in 2006. They returned and parlayed their decisions into first-round selections last April and five-year contracts that guarantee a combined $49.2 million. "Those numbers, they wow me," said senior linebacker Rey Maualuga, the defensive MVP of the 2008 Rose Bowl who opted to return for a final season. Carroll said it wasn't difficult to determine the benefit of staying for a final season -- unless a junior is projected as the top player at his position. "We don't have to try and build it up because it's so obvious, it's crazy," Carroll said. Ellis, the seventh overall pick this year by the New Orleans Saints, signed for a guaranteed $19.5 million and could make as much as $49 million. Rivers is guaranteed $15.6 million and could earn as much as $23 million. Baker got an $8-million bonus and could earn $14 million. Jackson is guaranteed $6.1 million of an $11.25-million deal. Offensive lineman Chilo Rachal left after his junior season and was taken in the second round with the 39th pick, signing a four-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers that included an undisclosed bonus. Tight end Fred Davis, taken 48th by the Washington Redskins after a Mackey Award-winning senior season, received a $1.8-million bonus. The New York Giants picked cornerback Terrell Thomas in the second round and signed him for an undisclosed sum. "Overall, how they ended up, it made my decision a lot more clear," Maualuga said. "I'm happier with it."

Bengals Finally Ink Rivers

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:49:01 -0500

The Bengals and Keith Rivers have agreed on a deal, ending the first-round pick's holdout. Terms of the contract were not been released, but reports indicate it's a six-year deal with a voidable year that would reduce it to five. The linebacker is expected to be on the field for his first workout of training [...]

Bengals Finally Ink Rivers

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:49:01 -0500

Rivers Deal Done?

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:46:15 -0500

Muckraker Mike says the Bengals and holdout first round pick Keith Rivers have reached a deal and that Rivers is en route to Cincinnati to sign it. On the other hand, Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson says that despite talks, no deal appears imminent Believe who you will. Me, I'm rooting for Mike.

Report Says Rivers and Bengals Close to Getting a Deal Done

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:19:37 -0500

As camp drags on for the Bengals, it's being reported that the team finally appears close to coming to a deal with rookie LB Keith Rivers. The number 9 overall pick may have his deal done in time for him to be at camp on Tuesday morning according to reports. ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that the [...]

Report Says Rivers and Bengals Close to Getting a Deal Done

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:19:37 -0500

Bengals, Rivers Close to Deal?

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:02:26 -0500

Muckraker Mike says the Bengals and first-round pick Keith Rivers are closing in on a contract and that Rivers could be in camp by tomorrow. Stay tuned.

THINGS I LEARNED TODAY -- TAVERN TALK

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:10:52 -0500

Patriot Linebacker Jerod Mayo is going to be a very good three-down player for the Patriots. His ability to learn the scheme will enhance his production. He will make a huge difference in the Pats defense this year. Prior to the draft, I graded Mayo as my best linebacker because I was not sure that Keith Rivers could impact the game on third down.

The Broncos will miss Brandon Marshall in the first three games of the year. Denver opens with a killer schedule: at Oakland, home against the Chargers, and then home versus New Orleans. I expect Darrell Jackson to fill the role. If he can be more consistent, he might be a huge sleeper this year.

Willis McGhee's knee does not like the way new coach John Harbaugh is practicing. When a knee is swelling from practice this early in camp, there may be trouble all year. Ray Rice is going to get his chance.

I wish someone would pay for Hall of Famer Fred Dean to get his Super Bowl ring back. I have the same one and without him, I would never be able to cherish that moment.

Every time there are trade talks and rumors coming from Green Bay, they never quite seem right. This I know for a fact.... When I was working at the Hotel California, the same type of stuff was floating around about Randy Moss and talks with Oakland. Someone out there has bad sources in Green Bay.

I believe Brad Childress and the Vikings. I doubt the Packers would ever call them.

Miami's depth chart does not mean a single thing -- they will be making changes throughout the preseason and it will remind some of a hockey game with all the line changes. Most teams' preseason depth charts are more acts of confusion than a means for clearing up things.

How can Aaron Rodgers beat out Favre? Rodgers has never played and would have to work with a 50% Green Bay playbook. Favre has played and will run a sophisticated scheme and system. There is no competition.

The answer is "Yes." Someone asked me if Raheem Morris, the defensive back coach of the Bucs, is head coaching material. Personally, I have never seen him coach. However, I have heard from people I respect and they regard him very highly. He has even managed to get Phillip Buchanon to at least attempt to tackle, and that alone is a miracle.

Shawn Andrews is battling depression and has decided to come to camp on Friday. There is no better medical care than what the NFL offers, and it's good he is in camp. He can get the help he needs so that he can deal with what he's enduring. I feel very badly for Shawn, but he should have let the Eagles help him earlier. He could have saved himself $200,000.

Jags Accused of Lowballing Harvey

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:35:32 -0500

Any deal with Bengals' first-round pick LB Keith Rivers is apparently stalled until the guy just ahead of him, Jacksonville DE Derrick Harvey signs. In an interview with the Florida Times-Union, Harvey's agent, Ken Kremer, says the problem is that the Jaguars are lowballing his client. Kremer said the Jaguars waited for the market to be [...]

TGIF: Jags, Harvey ‘Getting Close’

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:47:28 -0500

Jacksonville's prodigal rookie DE, Derrick Harvey, told fellow rookie DE Quentin Groves that he and the Jaguars were getting close to a deal. That would nail down both the floor and ceiling for AWOL Bengals LB Keith Rivers and likely spur getting him into camp. The Bengals hold their annual intrasquad scrimmage tonight. Just a week into [...]