USC LB Rey Maualuga scheduled to visit Today | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

USC LB Rey Maualuga scheduled to visit Today

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The Dolphins will spend Tuesday with one of the top defensive players available in the upcoming draft and seemingly a long shot for a team with the No. 25 pick.

USC inside linebacker Rey Maualuga, the 2008 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, is projected by many draftniks to be selected in the late teens, at worst. But even if he doesn’t fall to the mid-20s, Bill Parcells and Co. might consider moving up to grab him.
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http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...b-rey-maualuga-scheduled-to-visit-on-tuesday/
 
Interesting. I could see a scenario where the Dolphins trade up to #15 to get Rey. The Texans are a prime trade down candidate this year, and they have a history of it.
 
TXFinFan said:
Interesting. I could see a scenario where the Dolphins trade up to #15 to get Rey. The Texans are a prime trade down candidate this year, and they have a history of it.
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Not sure we'll have to trade up to get him. I've seen mocks that have him fall past us at #25. I think he will be the last of the three LBs from USC to get picked. Although he'd be my first choice out of those three.
 
I like this kid, but getting him scares me....is it really possible that USC had 3 LBers that were that good?
 
houtz said:
Not sure we'll have to trade up to get him. I've seen mocks that have him fall past us at #25. I think he will be the last of the three LBs from USC to get picked. Although he'd be my first choice out of those three.
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I don't think there's any way that Rey could fall to #25. I could see him going to any of the following teams ahead of us. Denver, Washington, San Diego, New England, or Atlanta.
 
I can't see Denver taking him when they already have DJ Williams and Boss Bailey in the middle. SD needs someone like Tyson Jackson after losing Olshansky. Atlanta has Curtis Lofton who was tearing it up for a while last season. I definitely can't see him getting past NE with Bruschi being 428,000 years old and injury prone. They already have Mayo who can run things for them in there, allowing Rey to make plays without having to call the plays in there. This is similar to what we would have with him and Crowder. The thing that makes me think Matthews and Cushing will go before him is their versatility. Rey is strictly an ILB/MLB whereas the other two are capable of playing multiple positions. ILB just happens to be a need of ours and he is a proven play maker. I think it is a very real possibility of him falling to around 20 or 21 and we would have to give some serious consideration to trading up for him if that happened. Washington would also be a wild card possibility, though.
 
My concern with him falling is he falls to the Pats and gets teamed up with Mayo, that would be a sweet ILB combo. It would be interesting to see Rey lined up next to Crowder.

I think they had three good lbs, but I think teams planned for Rey which allowed for Cushing and Matthews to have more space. Maybe I'm wrong but Rey was good there for a while in the middle for USC and allowed others to flourish. I think his game translates to the NFL well because of his size and aggrssiveness. Hopefully we can teach him not to over run on some plays.
 
I go back and forth on Maualuga because there's something to be said for the intimidation factor and Rey provides that in spades. When he reads a play, correctly, he goes for the kill with great speed and viciousness and it's usually a highlight reel type play. But he ends up on the ground often. I wonder how much he's really reading the plays or can direct a defense. He was bailed out by a TON of good players on that USC team. He needed to be babysat by his teammates on the road because they couldn't trust him to stay out of trouble.

It's tough. I guess at #25 you're not going to get hold of a perfect prospect though.

I do have a little bit of a tough time seeing Rey playing next to Channing. If coverage was already an issue for Channing Crowder, Rey Maualuga's not going to help much with that. Brian Cushing would be a better fit in that regard.

Miami's going to probably have a tough choice to make. Between Hakeem Nicks, Sean Smith, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Robert Ayers and Michael Johnson...this could be a tough decision.
 
ckparrothead said:
I go back and forth on Maualuga because there's something to be said for the intimidation factor and Rey provides that in spades. When he reads a play, correctly, he goes for the kill with great speed and viciousness and it's usually a highlight reel type play. But he ends up on the ground often. I wonder how much he's really reading the plays or can direct a defense. He was bailed out by a TON of good players on that USC team. He needed to be babysat by his teammates on the road because they couldn't trust him to stay out of trouble.

It's tough. I guess at #25 you're not going to get hold of a perfect prospect though.

I do have a little bit of a tough time seeing Rey playing next to Channing. If coverage was already an issue for Channing Crowder, Rey Maualuga's not going to help much with that. Brian Cushing would be a better fit in that regard.

Miami's going to probably have a tough choice to make. Between Hakeem Nicks, Sean Smith, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Robert Ayers and Michael Johnson...this could be a tough decision.
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I think Maualuga is severly overhyped....

Yeah he has some big hits....but he also makes himself useless a lot by always looking for it...

Also, Maualuga has to have a clean shot on you to knock you out....basically you have to be not paying attention out there...all you have to do is see him...and easily make him miss...he'll get owned by some offensive lineman in the NFL too....engulfed...his lower body is lacking in mass...

Crowder is bad enough at misdiagnosing plays, guessing wrong, etc....which is Maualuga's tendency as well...no way would I pair these two clowns up...I think it could be potentially disasterous for Miami...

Crowder needs a partner to compliment him.....to be everything he isn't...

No way does Miami trade up for what amounts to a 2 down linebacker without much versatility.....
 
ckparrothead said:
I go back and forth on Maualuga because there's something to be said for the intimidation factor and Rey provides that in spades. When he reads a play, correctly, he goes for the kill with great speed and viciousness and it's usually a highlight reel type play. But he ends up on the ground often. I wonder how much he's really reading the plays or can direct a defense. He was bailed out by a TON of good players on that USC team. He needed to be babysat by his teammates on the road because they couldn't trust him to stay out of trouble.

It's tough. I guess at #25 you're not going to get hold of a perfect prospect though.

I do have a little bit of a tough time seeing Rey playing next to Channing. If coverage was already an issue for Channing Crowder, Rey Maualuga's not going to help much with that. Brian Cushing would be a better fit in that regard.

Miami's going to probably have a tough choice to make. Between Hakeem Nicks, Sean Smith, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Robert Ayers and Michael Johnson...this could be a tough decision.
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You know, I actually had a dream a few nights ago that Miami got Hakeem Nicks AND Sean Smith. Sigh, if only dreams did come true.
 
ckparrothead said:
I go back and forth on Maualuga because there's something to be said for the intimidation factor and Rey provides that in spades. When he reads a play, correctly, he goes for the kill with great speed and viciousness and it's usually a highlight reel type play. But he ends up on the ground often. I wonder how much he's really reading the plays or can direct a defense. He was bailed out by a TON of good players on that USC team. He needed to be babysat by his teammates on the road because they couldn't trust him to stay out of trouble.

It's tough. I guess at #25 you're not going to get hold of a perfect prospect though.

I do have a little bit of a tough time seeing Rey playing next to Channing. If coverage was already an issue for Channing Crowder, Rey Maualuga's not going to help much with that. Brian Cushing would be a better fit in that regard.

Miami's going to probably have a tough choice to make. Between Hakeem Nicks, Sean Smith, Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, Robert Ayers and Michael Johnson...this could be a tough decision.
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I see what your saying here, I guess I'm hoping that a 2nd year in our system will help Channing make better reads and react faster and this would help teach Rey as well. Did Rey not stay in on Third and longs for the Trojans?? I'm asking this honestly without sacasm, because I believe he did and if there were someone better, ala Cushing then shouldn't they have done so and had him play on thrid down?
 
If everyone agrees that the Dolphins are going after a rush linebacker...then why Maualuga?

The ONLY reason why....is they are comfortable with Wake...and are using the OLB's...as smoke.

Rumors are spreading that the Miami Dolphins are reportedly targeting Southern California LB Rey Maualuga.

http://www.eastcoastsportsnews.com/als09scoop.html
 
He'll never fall to 25, and I wouldn't move up to get him. I watch a lot of USC's games and he is a hard hitter but there are a lot of other linebackers who have just as good a range and bring guys down without trying to knock someone out.
 
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